_Scene:_ The Hotel-Parlor.
[Hilda, sister of Helene, hanging dejectedly out of window. Frau
Von Donniges standing statue-like in the center of room. Two hotel
porters making pretense of dusting furniture.]
_Enter LASSALLE with HELENE on his arm._
LASSALLE. [_To Helene_] Courage, my dear, courage!
[Bows to Frau Von Donniges, who is unconscious of his presence.
Lassalle and Helene hesitate and look at each other nervously.
Helene clutches Lassalle's arm to keep from falling--they both move
slowly around the statuesque Frau. The Frau suddenly perceives
them, turns and glares.]
FRAU VON DONNIGES. Away with that man--I will not allow him to remain in
this room!
LASSALLE. [_Bowing, with hand on heart_] Surely, Madame, you do not know
me. Will you not allow me to speak--to explain!
FRAU VON DONNIGES. Away, I say--out of my sight! Begone, you craven
coward--you thief!
[These are new epithets to Lassalle. He is used to being called a
Jew, a fanatic, a dangerous demagogue--something
half-complimentary. But there is no alloy in "coward," "thief." He
looks at Helene as if to receive reassurance that he hears aright.]
HELENE. Come--you see it is as I told you--reason in her is dead. Let us
go.
LASSALLE. [_Loosening Helene's hold upon his arm and stepping toward the
Frau_] Madame, you have availed yourself of a woman's privilege, and
used language toward me which men never use toward each other unless
they court death. I say no more to you, preferring now to speak to your
husband.
FRAU VON DONNIGES. Yes, you speak to my husband--and he will give you
what you deserve.
LASSALLE. [_Changing his tactics_] Your husband is a gentleman, I trust.
And you--are the mother of the lady I love, so I will resent nothing you
say. You speak only in a passion, and not from your heart. I resent
nothing.
FRAU VON DONNIGES. A man spotted with every vice says he loves my
daughter! Your love is pollution. My ears are closed to you--you may
stand and grimace and insult me, but I hear you not. Go!
LASSALLE. Very well, I will go and see Helene's father. Men may dislike
each other--they may be enemies, but they do not spit on each other. If
they fight, they fight courteously. I will see Helene's father--he will
at least hear me.
FRAU VON DONNIGES. You enter his house, and the servants will throw your
vile body into the street.
LASSALLE. I have written him that I will call.
FRAU VON DONNIGES. Your letter was cast into the garbage unopened.
LASSALLE. [_Stung_] It may be possible, Madame, for you to wear out my
patience.
FRAU VON DONNIGES. You have already succeeded in wearing out mine.
HELENE. [_In agony--wringing her hands_] Hopeless, Ferdinand, you see it
is hopeless!
LASSALLE. [_Aside to Helene_] Her outbreak will pass in a moment.
FRAU VON DONNIGES. You have ruined the reputation of my family--stolen
my child. You, who are known over an empire for your dealings with
women!
HELENE. [_Joining in the fray, in shrill excitement_] False! He did not
steal me--I went to him unasked. You who call yourself my mother, how
dare you traduce me so, you who bore me! I fled from you to save my
life--to escape your tortures, you killed my love. I am Lassalle's,
because I love him. He understands me--you do not. When you abuse him,
you abuse me. When you trample on him, you trample on me. I now choose
life with him in preference to perdition with you. I follow him, I am
his, I glory in him. Now!
[Helene turns to Lassalle in triumph, believing of course that
after she has just avowed herself, they will stand together--he and
she.]
LASSALLE. [_Calmly_] Well spoken, Helene, and now tell me, will you make
a sacrifice--a temporary sacrifice for me?
HELENE. [_Looking straight at him in absolute faith_] Yes, command me!
LASSALLE. Go home, with your--mother!
HELENE. Anything but that.
LASSALLE. Yes, that is what I ask.
HELENE. [_Writhing in awful pain_] You will not ask of me the
impossible.
LASSALLE. No, but this you can do. Your going will soften them. We will
win them. Go with them. Do this for me. I leave you here.
[Backs away, and goes out bowing low and very calm. Helene sinks
into a chair, crushed in spirit, wrenched, mangled.]
HILDA VON DONNIGES. [_Comes forward, and caresses the drooping head of
her sister_] Bear up, Helene, my sister! We are your friends, our home
is yours, no matter what you have done--we forgive it all. Our home is
still yours. Bear up--he is gone--now come with us. [_Helene merely
moans_]
FRAU VON DONNIGES. [_In Amazonian flush of success_] No more of this
foolishness--no more of it, I say! He is gone; I knew he could not
withstand my plain-spoken truths. He could not look me in the eye. You
heard me, Hilda; he could not answer--he dare not. Come, Helene!
[Shakes her by the shoulder. Commotion is heard outside.]
LANDLORD. [_Entering by backing into the room, striving by tongue and
hands to calm some one outside_] Be calm, kind sir! I am innocent in
this matter. The ladies are here--here in the parlor. The man is
gone--he never was here. In fact, he left before he came--be calm--I
keep a respectable house. The police will raid the place, I fear. Be
calm and I will explain all!
HERR VON DONNIGES. [_Purple with rage, big, prosperous--brandishing
cudgel_] The Jew--show me the Jew who seduced my daughter! Show him to
me, I say! That corrupt scum of society--the man who broke into my house
and stole my daughter. [_Waves his cane and smites the air_] Where is
that infidel Jew!
FRAU VON DONNIGES. Now, do not be a fool--I sent the Jew on his way. It
was not necessary that you should follow. I can take care of this little
matter.
HERR VON DONNIGES. Oh, so you protect her, do you? You side with her?
You are a party to her undoing! And has the Jew seduced you, too? Where
is he, I say? You seem to be deaf. This man who has ruined my home--he
is the man I want, not your apologies. The girl is my daughter, I say!
[_Suddenly sees Helene crouching in a chair, her face between her
knees_] Oh, so you are here, my pretty miss--you who brought ruin on
your father's house.
[Puts one foot against chair and overturns it. Kicks at prostrate
form of Helene. Then seizing her by the hair, drags her across the
room, striking her face with his open hands. The mother, daughter
and landlord try to restrain his fury.]
LANDLORD. You will kill her!
FRAU VON DONNIGES. She has brought it on herself! But stop--it is
enough.
HERR VON DONNIGES. [_Half-frightened at his own violence, reaching into
his pocket brings out purse and throws it at feet of landlord_] Not a
word about this!
LANDLORD. Trust me--you will tell of it first!
HERR VON DONNIGES. Is there a carriage at the door?
LANDLORD. Yes.
HERR VON DONNIGES. If any one asks, tell them my daughter is insane--a
maniac--and a little force was necessary--you understand?
LANDLORD. I understand.
HERR VON DONNIGES. Here, we must carry her out.
[Tears down curtains from windows and rolls Helene in the
curtains.]
LANDLORD. You must pay for those!
HERR VON DONNIGES. Name the amount!