JUHASZ—You knew it was all a pretext to get rid of me? You knew it wasn’t
my money?
PAULA—Yes, I knew it, Mr. Juhasz.
JUHASZ—And while I was saying those boastful things to you ... and
making sacrifices for you ... with another man’s money ... you were
inwardly laughing at me all the time.
PAULA—I cried, Mr. Juhasz.
JUHASZ—It wasn’t necessary to cry or to laugh, or to take all these
secret precautions to get rid of me. You need only have told me the
truth. [_On the terrace at back a servant girl appears. She is carrying
JUHASZ’S overcoat and bag. He sees her and turns to PHILIP._] Come,
Philip. [_His voice is low and trembling with sorrow and humiliation._]
Let us go. [_They start up toward the door._]
PAULA—Mr. Juhasz ... won’t you forgive me ... and shake hands ... before
you go?
JUHASZ—[_Going; does not look at her._] Good-bye, Miss Paula.
PAULA—Have you forgotten all you said to me? You are leaving me alone ...
alone with him. [_JUHASZ stops, turns to her slowly. Seeing this, she
gathers courage._] You are leaving me like this because your pride is
hurt. You don’t care any more ... what becomes of me.
JUHASZ—[_Opens his mouth, closes it again, wavers, then suddenly roars at
PHILIP, who has been looking on in blank amazement._] Why do you stand
there like a blockhead? Why don’t you take me away from here? Can’t you
see I am about to stay? [_PHILIP takes his arm and leads him out at
back: There is a pause. PAULA watches them go, then she crosses slowly
to the COUNT’S desk. In the garden, coming from the right, the COUNT
appears. He stands in the doorway a moment, looking off left, apparently
watching JUHASZ and PHILIP depart._]
COUNT—Can I believe my eyes? Is that really Juhasz going toward the
station? [_She does not reply. He comes in. On the threshold he glances
again off left._] If they hurry they can still catch the 12.05. It just
pulled in the station. [_Looks off left once more; comes down._] Well,
sunbeam! [_PAULA looks at him sorrowfully then lowers her eyes._] We are
alone.
PAULA—Alone.
COUNT—It is hard to realize he is really gone. I shall go on expecting
him to pop in that door any moment, or appear at the window, or crawl
from under the table.... It doesn’t seem possible that I’m free of him at
last ... that we are free.
PAULA—[_Sadly._] Free.
COUNT—But it’s true, little sunbeam, it’s true! No more dictation. No
more political speeches. No more interruptions.... Now all that remains
to be done is have the car overhauled ... telegraph to Vienna, Salzburg,
Paris ... for the best rooms in the best hotels ... for the most
exquisite frocks ... for the most magnificent cabin on the swiftest boat
to the most beautiful seaport in Spain.... [_Comes toward her ardently.
The whistle of the departing train is heard. PAULA jumps up as if someone
had called her, and makes an involuntary movement toward the door at
back._] His train. [_Angrily._] Is he to hinder me even now? It was just
as if he had called back to us. [_PAULA goes toward the door at right._]
Why, Paula! Where are you going?
PAULA—[_Stops at the typewriting machine._] To my work.... Unless your
excellency wishes to give me dictation.
COUNT—Dictation? Are you serious?
PAULA—Yes.
COUNT—But why?... Did anything happen ... between you and Juhasz?