SCENE—_A little shop. Down left is the display window; up left
the entrance from the street; between the two a cashier’s desk
with a cash register upon it. There is a counter along the back
wall and another along the right wall with shelves behind them
and, over them, a little balcony._
_A broad space between the counters leads through an archway up
right to a rear room of the establishment. Before the window
down left stands a table, displaying open boxes of cravats,
suspenders, ladies’ girdles, colored scarfs and bottles of
perfume. Near it stands a rack of walking-sticks. There are two
stools in front of each counter._
_It is evening. ADELE sits behind the cashier’s desk. OSCAR
stands behind the counter at back speaking in low tones to the
UNASSUMING LADY, who sits on a stool facing him across a heap
of merchandise on the counter. JUHASZ stands in front of the
counter at right, waiting on the ARISTOCRATIC LADY, who sits on
one of the stools with an assortment of summer-weight material
for blouses before her._
ARISTOCRATIC LADY—If I remember rightly, Mr. Juhasz, I saw some of this
on Countess Hohensperg at Tatralomnicz.
JUHASZ—That may be. I must look it up in the book. [_To ADELE._] Tell me,
dear. [_Shows her the material._] Is this the same Agreable we sold to
the Countess Hohensperg a few months ago?
ADELE—It may be. I am not sure.
OSCAR—[_To the UNASSUMING LADY._] Excuse me, madame. [_Loudly to JUHASZ._]
Yes, the Countess Hohensperg got some of that....
ARISTOCRATIC LADY—I thought so.
OSCAR—Yes, madame, this Chatterton Agreable comes in twelve different
colors. The countess took five.
ARISTOCRATIC LADY—Then, of course, I can’t consider it. I am really sorry
to give you so much trouble, Mr. Juhasz.
JUHASZ—But it is no trouble at all.
ARISTOCRATIC LADY—You are perfectly charming, Mr. Juhasz. Just as if you
had been born to cater to the caprices of women. You never lose patience——
JUHASZ—[_Clearing away the materials._] But that’s what we are here for,
madame.
ARISTOCRATIC LADY—[_Rummaging through the materials._] This is nice,
but it isn’t becoming to me. This is for a bigger woman ... this for a
thinner woman ... this is too youthful ... and this is too old. This is
nice, but it’s a bit loud ... and this is too dull. Now this is very nice
indeed, but Countess Hohensperg has it. So it is out of the question.
JUHASZ—Suppose we let the Agreable go, and look at some Biarritz instead.
The fact is, I consider Biarritz a much better grade. It is kept back
here. Will you step this way, or shall I bring it out to you here?
ARISTOCRATIC LADY—[_Rises._] I wouldn’t think of putting you to so much
trouble. You have turned out half your stock for me already. [_Turns to
ADELE._] Your wife must be impatient to go home.
ADELE—Not at all.
ARISTOCRATIC LADY—It’s past seven. You are usually closed by this time.
ADELE—Oh, we are very glad to serve you. [_Points to OSCAR._] There, you
see ... and there is still another customer in there.
OSCAR—[_Has approached JUHASZ._] The lady heard us mention the Agreable
that Countess Hohensperg——
ARISTOCRATIC LADY—Quite out of the question!
OSCAR—No, no—[_Low._] The lady heard us talking about it [_meantime
JUHASZ has gone over to the UNASSUMING LADY_] and wants to have a look
at it. [_Takes the material with a pitying smile._] Thank you. She’s from
a different social sphere.
ARISTOCRATIC LADY—One would never believe that people could be such apes.
JUHASZ—[_In the archway._] If you will step this way, please.
ARISTOCRATIC LADY—I shan’t detain him much longer, Mrs. Juhasz. [_JUHASZ
lets her past him, then follows her off through the archway._]
UNASSUMING LADY—I’ll take this for the sixth.
OSCAR—[_Counting the patterns._] One, two, three, four, five and the
Agreable makes six.
UNASSUMING LADY—Will it take long?
OSCAR—No, indeed, madame. We know that madame goes to Lelle on the
twentieth, and from there to Lake Pusztaban, and later to Post
Berettyo—Saint Peter. [_The UNASSUMING LADY rises._] Is there anything
else I can show you? We have just got in some very beautiful girdles.
[_Reaches for a box on the table._]
UNASSUMING LADY—Thank you, but it’s too late now.
OSCAR—But, madame, that’s what we are here for. [_Shows her a bonnet._]
Auto bonnets ... just arrived ... really the newest thing of its kind.
UNASSUMING LADY—[_Takes it in her hand._] I shall be coming in again
toward the end of next week.... How much is this?
OSCAR—May I see? [_Looks at the tag._] Seventy kronen.
UNASSUMING LADY—For this?
OSCAR—It’s the style that costs, madame. We have some cheaper ones ...
some between forty and fifty.
UNASSUMING LADY—Thanks.... Next time I come, perhaps. You have my address?
OSCAR—[_Rapidly._] Forty Nagykorona Street, first floor, apartment two.
UNASSUMING LADY—That’s right. Now please see to it that my things are
delivered on time. Good night.
OSCAR—[_Opens the door for her._] You can rely on us absolutely. Thank
you. Good night. [_She exits. He closes the door behind her and returns
to his counter. As he speaks he clears away the materials, folds up those
he sold and makes notes on the tags._] A couple of evening stars ...
those two ... always popping up just as we are about to close ... and
it’s almost impossible to get rid of them.
ADELE—Philip is still busy with a customer, too.
OSCAR—[_Glances through the archway._] And your husband is just starting
to climb the ladder. [_Looks at his watch._] This is a nice time. [_ADELE
takes her hat out of the lowest drawer of the desk._] What are you doing?
ADELE—Getting my hat.
OSCAR—[_Excitedly._] But, my dear, where do you expect to talk to him?
ADELE—Now don’t get excited.... And I told you before you are not to call
me dear in the shop.
OSCAR—[_With a glance through the archway._] He can’t hear me. He’s up on
the ladder. And no matter if he does hear me to-day. You are not going
home with him, are you?
ADELE—No; I’m only getting my hat.
OSCAR—You settle everything with him right here ... in the shop.