JUHASZ—Take it. You can’t get anything on the chain. It’s plated.
MATE—[_Pockets the watch. His voice is tearful._] People like you, Mr.
Juhasz, give a man faith again.
JUHASZ—Stop your crying.... I’ll speak to his excellency about you.
Maybe I can persuade him to keep you on.
MATE—He’s a good-hearted man.... I’d have spoken to him myself only——
[_With a hopeless gesture he indicates his tattered coat._] I couldn’t
let him see me in this condition.
JUHASZ—[_Grasps both lapels of his own coat; despairingly._] The man will
have the coat off my back!
MATE—[_Takes a protesting stride toward him._] But Mr. Juhasz ... you
don’t suppose that I——
JUHASZ—No, no ... but stop talking like that ... or I’ll have to take it
off.... Merciful heaven! To think that such poverty exists in our very
midst!
MATE—[_Weeping._] You have made a better man of me, Mr. Juhasz.
JUHASZ—There ... there, my boy ... don’t worry ... everything will be all
right.... Just rely on me.... I’ll take care of you. [_Puts an arm about
him; his voice quavers with tenderness and pity._] Come what may, I’ll
help you. [_The COUNT appears in the doorway at back._] We’ll overlook
what you have done ... and I’ll see to it that your wages are raised.
[_The COUNT enters. Seeing him, JUHASZ lets his arm fall from MATE’S
shoulder. There is a pause._]
COUNT—Is this the way you dismiss the man, Mr. Juhasz?
JUHASZ—[_In great embarrassment._] Your excellency....
COUNT—I gave you ten minutes to do it in. What time is it now?
JUHASZ—[_Involuntarily feels for his watch._] The ten minutes ... are up,
sir.
COUNT—Where’s your watch?
JUHASZ—My watch?... Er....
COUNT—You had it ten minutes ago. [_To MATE._] Have _you_ got it? [_MATE
nods, abashed._] Give it here. [_MATE gives it to him._] Now get out of
here. And don’t let me see your face about my place again. [_MATE slinks
out at left._] So you forgave him? [_JUHASZ is silent._] And promised to
raise his wages? [_JUHASZ is silent._] And gave him the watch you got
from me ten years ago?
JUHASZ—Excellency, I couldn’t help it.... I can’t bear to see people
suffer.
COUNT—Juhasz, you can’t stay here any longer. I’ll give you six months’
wages in lieu of notice.
JUHASZ—I don’t want to be paid for leaving.... I’ll go just the same....
COUNT—[_Crossly._] I can’t send you away without a kreutzer to your name!
What the devil _is_ one to do with you? Anyone else in your place would
have been thrown out bodily, but you!... [_Roars at him._] Am I to throw
you out because you have the disposition of a saint!
JUHASZ—You needn’t throw me out, sir. I’m going of my own account.
COUNT—[_Angrily._] Hold your tongue! You are too damned good for this
world!
JUHASZ—[_Pacifyingly._] You oughtn’t excite yourself, excellency....
There is really no need for it ... and you might bring on a stroke——
COUNT—It’s all very well to be soft-hearted and charitable and forgiving.
I’d like to be that way myself. But it’s a luxury I can’t afford.