HELENE. Renounced me, cursed me--called me vile names--threatened me!
They said you are a---- [_Trying to laugh_]
LASSALLE. A Jew and a demagogue!
HELENE. Would to God they had used terms so mild.
LASSALLE. Did they attack my honor--my personal character?
HELENE. Why ask me? What they said is nothing. They are furious, blind
with rage--I escaped to save my life--and--I am here.
LASSALLE. [_Coolly, taking his seat in a chair opposite her_] Yes, you
are here, that is irrefutable. You are here. Now we must consider the
situation and then decide on what to do. First, let me ask you how you
came to mention me to them.
HELENE. Is it necessary that we should enter into details? Pardon me, I
am so sick with fear and humiliation. When I reached home I found the
whole household joyous over the news of my sister's betrothal to Count
Kayserling. They are to be married in June. I thought it a good time to
tell my own joy. You see, I hesitated about your coming to our home in a
false position--you and I meeting as if we had never met. I told my
sister first. She was grieved, but satisfied since it was my will. She
kissed me in blessing. I am an honest woman, Ferdinand--that is, I want
to be honest. I scorn a lie--my prayer is to leave every prevarication
behind. So I told my mother of you--knowing of course there would be a
storm, but never guessing the violence of it. She called in my father
and cried, "Your daughter has been debauched by a Jew!" I resented the
insult and tried to explain. I upheld you--my father seized the
bread-knife from the table and brandished it over me, trying to make me
swear never to see you. I refused--he choked me and called me a harlot.
To save my life I promised never again to see you. Their violence
abated, and when their vigilance relaxed, I escaped and came here--here!
[Holds out her arms toward him; and cowers into her seat as she
sees he does not respond.]
LASSALLE. Yes, you are here.
HELENE. Do you not see?--I have come to you.
LASSALLE. [_Musingly_] I see!
HELENE. Yes, and in doing this I have burned my bridges. I can never go
back--I have broken my promise with them--for you. They are no longer my
parents. The Paris Express goes in half an hour----
LASSALLE. You studied the time-table?
HELENE. [_Trying to smile_] Yes, I calculated the time. To be caught
here is death to me, and prison to you. In this town my father is
supreme--the law is construed as he devises--safety for us lies in
flight!
LASSALLE. But my belongings!
HELENE. Your valet can attend to them.
LASSALLE. And I run away, flee?
HELENE. [_Trying to be gay_] Yes, with me.
LASSALLE. [_Exasperatingly cool_] It would be the first time I ever ran
away from danger.
HELENE. If you remain here you may never have another chance.
LASSALLE. You mean that your father or that little prince, Yanko, may do
me violence?
HELENE. No one can tell what my father may do in his present state of
mind.
LASSALLE. Then I will remain and see.
HELENE. [_In agony_] We are wasting time. Do you understand that as soon
as my absence is discovered, they will hunt for me--even now the police
may be notified!
LASSALLE. Let cowards and criminals run--we have done nothing of which
we need be ashamed.
HELENE. Surely not--but what more can I say! Oh, Ferdinand, my
Ferdinand!