if it does, what will Rafael say, to-morrow?
AARON.
Eh? Why, if he finds her gone and she left no word, let him draw his
own conclusions; that she was afraid to stand by him; afraid to
share his poverty. You say "to-morrow"? He may be back to-night!
It's your one chance. If it succeeds, the girl goes, with two
hundred guilders in her pocket; Rafael stays home--in due time
marries Rebecca--becomes a successful Jew. If it fails--then this
Christian robs you of him anyway! [_SACHEL ponders; then suddenly
touches him; they listen; AARON whispers._] Only casually; not an
effort to convince her! She can't help believing it, then!
SACHEL.
Sh--!
_Enter ROSA, by the bridge; she drops her hands, hopelessly, and
stays near the bridge, turned away from them._
AARON.
[_Without looking about, whispers._] Was that her step? [_SACHEL
nods; a pause; AARON begins in a moderate tone._] Yes; but a man who
gives his word to one girl and then deserts her, would desert
another girl. Shall I let my daughter risk that? No!
SACHEL.
But I tell you it is not a parallel case! A marriage solemnised in a
synagogue is one thing; but a marriage such as this--which we all
know is not a marriage, either inside or outside the Ghetto--I tell
you it's totally different!
AARON.
Didn't he commit himself morally? Very well! Then he goes and finds
that he has been tricked by a venial under-magistrate, for the sake
of thirty guilders; and he finds that it was no marriage at all! The
girl is reduced merely to the position of his mistress----
SACHEL.
Well, doesn't that dispose of _her_? Doesn't that rid him of
responsibility?
AARON.
Yes; but it is a high moral consideration that occupies me. The boy
found that he could rid himself of his burden; the discovery came
when he had been looking about for a week, and finding nothing but
poverty, privation and despair on every side; no one would lend him
money; none of his former friends would speak to him; there was only
the choice between an absolutely hopeless struggle and running away.
He ran! And I say a young man who has thus been tried and found
wanting is no man to be my daughter's husband!
SACHEL.
O! Because Rafael has had one mistress is he not good enough to be
your daughter's husband?
ROSA.
What do you mean! What do you mean, Sachel! [_The two men rise,
affecting surprise._] It is a lie! It is a cruel lie!
AARON.
Eh? Doesn't the _girl_ know about it?
ROSA.
What do you mean by saying that he ran away from me? How do you know
that he ran away from me? Where is he! Tell me where he is! Quick,
you shall!
AARON.
No one will know where he is until he has spent the money he sent
for. And that ought to keep him a year, even in England.
ROSA.
England--you say he has gone to England? You tell me he has deserted
me? After what he said before the synagogue? I say it's a lie--a
preposterous lie! It isn't true that I am only his mistress--it's a
lie!
AARON.
I'll tell you what _is_ true; after this escapade with you he'll
have to prove himself a man before he marries my daughter.
ROSA.
He can't marry your daughter! He's mine! O, God, what does this
mean? Can't you find him? Can't you let me see him? He would have
written to me--I know he would! Sachel, let me go to him. Sachel,
tell me where he is!
AARON.
What could Sachel do, even if he could reach the boy? After seven
days, at the very moment Sachel has been persuaded to accept all
this--to treat you as his daughter--here slinks Rafael along the
canal and up through the warehouse and whispers that he has given
you up! Then he wheedles his father out of more money than I would
give ten sons, and then boards a ship for England! [_To SACHEL._] Do
you think I'll see my daughter marry such a man? If he wants to
return next year on the hope of marrying Rebecca, you tell him to
remain in England!
ROSA.
It's a lie! He couldn't desert me. He's a man of soul--of honour! It
isn't true. My God, it can't be true!
AARON.
You'd better find a place to sleep, and then compose yourself to
make the best of it. I have a friend in the country who will receive
you. With the money that Rafael has persuaded his father to give
you, begin life over again. Come! [_Touches her._
ROSA.
No, I will not come! It is a lie. You try to convince me because
you know I will kill myself--because you----
AARON.
Has any one tried to convince you? Sachel is the only one to gain by
your going. Has he tried to convince you?
ROSA.
I know--I know--O God! Sachel, Sachel, as you fear your God, swear
to me that he has deserted me! Swear to me that he wants to marry
Rebecca!
SACHEL.
I--I----
AARON.
Shall _I_ take an oath, on the Law of Moses, that is fastened to the
lintel there?
ROSA.
I will not believe _you_ on any oath! I will only believe
Sachel--Sachel, who could not deceive me--[_turns to
SACHEL_]--because you know that if you make me go away and kill
myself Rafael will hate you, for ever and ever! Sachel, Sachel,
can't we get him back? I'll do anything--anything. I'll become a
Jewess if you'll get him back! Sachel, Sachel!
[_Cries hysterically._
AARON.
The poor girl wants your oath. That's a simple matter. [_To
SACHEL._] There is no reason why I should stay here to witness this.
Good-night!
[_Exit by the bridge._
SACHEL.
Such as you to kill yourself--h'm! Now take your money and be off!
I'm going to lock my door.
ROSA.
_You_ haven't said the marriage was false! _You_ haven't said he
went away! _You_ haven't said he wants to many her--you dare not! It
can't be true! It _can't_ be true!
SACHEL.
Dare not--dare not. What do you mean? You thankless hussy! You wreck
my home, you rob me of my son, and then when he has gone and I offer
you money to leave me in peace you dare to say I lie!
ROSA.
No, I did not say _you_ lied, because _you_ have not said that he is
deserting me! You will not! You dare not! He loves me; he is coming
back! I will stay until he comes!
SACHEL.
He wants to be rid of you. He has gone to England. He wants Aaron
to----
ROSA.
Sachel, Sachel, think what you are saying! Tell me he is dead--tell
me anything but that he's left me! O, could your son dishonour me?
Think what you are saying! No, no--not unless you swear it in the
sight of God! Sachel, Sachel--[_as he puts hand on the
lintel_]--don't swear to it--[_on her knees_]--don't swear to it!
SACHEL.
[_With a burst of rage._] God!--Hear me then. You have been nothing
but Rafael's mistress! Rafael has deserted you! Rafael wants to
marry Rebecca! Rafael has sailed from Amsterdam! By the sacred Law
of Moses, by all that is holy in the sight of God, I swear it! I
swear it! Now go! Take your money and go!
[_She goes towards the canal._
ROSA.
And so--and so--Dear God--dear God!
SACHEL.
Where are you? Here, take it--take it! Where are you going?
ROSA.
[_At the canal._] Dear God--dear God--No more--no more!
SACHEL.
Come away!
ROSA.
Rafael! [_She jumps into the canal._
SACHEL.
Stop! O--O God! It isn't true! Rosa! Rosa! [_At the wall._] A stick!
A stick! I cannot find one! Where are you? For God's sake, answer!
Don't you hear? O God! O God! [_Turns to the house, where music is
being played._] Daniel! Samson! Open the door! [_The music drowns
his voice._] Help! help! [_He rushes back._] Rosa! Reach out your
hand! Where are you--where are you? Answer me--[_the music ceases
abruptly_]--answer. [_A silence. He slinks away from the wall. A
pause._] What will Rafael do? What will God do?
[_He hears the footsteps of RAFAEL._
_Enter RAFAEL, joyously._
RAFAEL.
Hello, father, father! I'm home again! Why haven't I heard from you?
I--what's the matter?
SACHEL.
[_Trembling._] I--I--don't mind me! I--I--I thought you wouldn't
come back. We didn't get your letters until to-day. But you've
come--you've come! Rafael, for God's sake, don't leave me! For God's
sake--I'm sick, I'm blind, I've only a little while left! Stay with
me. Don't leave me alone--you mustn't leave me alone!
RAFAEL.
You are not well. Have you been in the heat? Father, why do you
tremble so?
SACHEL.
I'm not trembling, my boy. I--I--my boy, my boy, ask me anything and
I will give it to you! I can't live without my son! If you speak a
harsh word to me I shall drop dead, Rafael.
RAFAEL.
Father, father, be calm; Heaven knows I don't want to be harsh to
you; there's a clean page to begin on if you like. We'll leave this
place; come and live with Rosa and me. She has never spoken a harsh
word to you, has she? Don't you see now that she has the gentleness
of an angel? Wait till our people know her!
SACHEL.
Yes, yes, I know; my God, I know--I--I--[_RAFAEL makes as if to go
in._] Rafael, for God's sake, don't leave me!
RAFAEL.
Where is she, father? She was afraid to stay here; but I told her
she was my wife, and that you loved your son, and that ought to be
enough to reassure her. I had to go with Hanakoff. I have made a
success, do you hear? Don't worry, don't tremble. I must find Rosa.
Where is she? Rosa! I've something to tell you!
SACHEL.
No, no; don't speak so loud!
RAFAEL.
Yes, but she does not hear me! Isn't she in the house? Rosa! What have
you said to her? Where is she? She is not here. Where is she?
SACHEL.
Don't ask me, don't ask me!
RAFAEL.
Where is she?
SACHEL.
I couldn't stop her!
RAFAEL.
From what? Where is she?
SACHEL.
Don't know, don't know! She went away!
RAFAEL.
Where--why?
SACHEL.
You shall not blame me! It was not my doing. Aaron--Aaron--it was he
who bribed the postman! Before God it was not I!
RAFAEL.
Bribed the postman? She did not hear from me? Where is my wife?
SACHEL.
No, no, Rafael, my boy; my dearest boy--she's gone, she took money,
she deserted you!
RAFAEL.
You are lying!
[_People collect, looking over the canal wall._
SACHEL.
She said--she said she hated our race--she hated you--she hated all
of us; she was going away, out of the Ghetto, away, off there,
there--[_He points away from the canal. The excitement at the canal
wall increases. RAFAEL starts as if towards the wall._] Not there,
not there, Rafael, my boy, my boy!
RAFAEL.
What's the matter down there? [_Two men bring ROSA up the steps; the
crowd obscures her from RAFAEL._] Who is that? My God! Is it a
woman?
A MAN.
Yes.
RAFAEL.
[_Pushes through the crowd._] Rosa, Rosa--Rosa! Oh! oh! oh!
SACHEL.
Oh, my boy!--oh, my boy! Rafael! Rafael! I couldn't stop her!
RAFAEL.
[_Turning on his father._] Ugh! Off from me--off! Oh, oh, damnable,
damnable monster! Take him away!
AN OLD MAN.
He's your father! Shame! shame!
[_Hisses from crowd._
RAFAEL.
[_To SACHEL._] Keep your cursed talons off! Murderer! Murderer! You
made her drown herself!
A SECOND MAN.
Leave him alone! Shame! This is the man who blasphemes God!
A THIRD MAN.
He profaned the synagogue--he curses his father!
[_RAFAEL meanwhile looks upon the body of ROSA._
THE SECOND MAN.
Shall he do all this--this--in our teeth? [_Hisses from the crowd._]
Hide your face! Hide your face!
[_Advances on RAFAEL._
RAFAEL.
Stand away from her! [_Throws him down, turns to his father._] O
God, if I had not concealed your knavery from her, your holiest oath
would not have moved her! And now must you live on, while she lies
thus?
SACHEL.
[_To the crowd._] She poisoned my son; she took away his religion--she
killed my son's love for his father! She deserves it--she deserves it!
RAFAEL.
Rosa, my Rosa, you shall not die! Life, life, freedom--the blue
sweet sky, we two together singing in the sun--not the dead soul
sighing through the trees--not the whisper of night--the sorrowful
shade that passes in the mist! No, no, you must feel my breath upon
your cheek, you must feel my arms, you must live, live! [_ROSA
stirs._] Live! She breathes--she breathes! Air--distance--distance,
I say! Rosa, it is I, Rafael! You are safe! Not all the fiends in
God's grey world shall thrust an arm between us. Rosa! Rosa!
ROSA.
[_Raising her head a little._] Rafael, forgive me----
SACHEL.
Rafael--Rafael--she means me. Forgive _me_--for God's sake--[_on his
knees to RAFAEL, who turns his back_]--Rafael!
SECOND MAN.
Shame! shame! He hates his father!
THE CROWD.
Shame! shame! Punish him!
[_The crowd closes in on RAFAEL._
ROSA.
[_In fear._] Rafael!
RAFAEL.
Are you no better than a mob of Christians? Stand back! [_Pushes the
crowd back violently._] Rosa, Rosa--away--out of the Ghetto--into
the air! Rosa!
[_The crowd starts to close in again; he takes ROSA in his arms
and rushes across the bridge. The crowd follows, walking
rapidly. SACHEL is left solitary._
SACHEL.
Rafael! Raf---- [_He falls._
_Enter A WATCHMAN._
WATCHMAN.
Eleven o'clock, and all's--[_Stops and looks at SACHEL, who stirs and
sobs._] Eleven o'clock!
[_Exit WATCHMAN, thoughtfully._
Eleven o'clock!
THE END.
Printed by BALLANTYNE, HANSON & CO.
London & Edinburgh
* * * * *
Transcriber's note:
Text in italics is enclosed by underscores (_italics_).
Inconsistencies in spelling and hyphenation have been retained from
the original.
Obvious typographical errors have been corrected as follows:
Page 28: "ust" changed to "just"
Page 30: "manag" changed to "manage"
Page 120: "sustain" changed to "sustained"
Page 134: "want's" changed to "wants"
Errors in punctuation have been corrected without note.