JUHASZ—Let us not talk about that, Paula. The important thing is that you
are happy. Is his excellency well?
PAULA—[_Nervously._] He is a perfect gentleman. One must say that for him.
JUHASZ—Certainly.
PAULA—After he had gone to the trouble and expense of buying and
furnishing a whole house for me.... You probably know the place ... that
little mansion in Biedermeyer style that belonged to the late Count
Schattenheim....
JUHASZ—Yes....
PAULA—He bought it for me and furnished it beautifully and then he had
the tact to go off to Monte Carlo. And when he got there he sent me a
thousand-word telegram.
JUHASZ—A thousand. That’s a lot of words.
PAULA—A telegram to the effect that he had gone off because he didn’t
wish to influence my decision in any way.... I must be free to shape my
own destiny, he said.... The mansion was mine ... on the day that ... of
my own free will ... I entered it. On the desk in my boudoir ... he said
... I would find a telegram already written and addressed. It consists of
a single word, “Come.” ... Twenty-eight hours after I send that telegram
he will knock on my door.... So far ... that is all that’s happened....
Tactful of him, wasn’t it?
JUHASZ—Very.
PAULA—That was ten days ago.
JUHASZ—Yes?
PAULA—[_More and more nervously._] I haven’t sent the telegram yet.
[_There is a pause._]
JUHASZ—[_More and more calmly._] I can imagine how eagerly he must be
awaiting it.
PAULA—He said he would wait fourteen days. I have four days left....