But even had they been your best friends—they couldn’t possibly have recognized you… I, myself … if I didn’t know it was you … this veil— YOUNG WIFE There are two. YOUNG MAN Won’t you come closer?… And take off your hat, at least? YOUNG WIFE What are you thinking of, Alfred? I promised you: Five minutes… Not a moment more … I swear it, no more— YOUNG MAN Well, then, your veil— YOUNG WIFE There are two of them. YOUNG MAN Very well, both of them—you will at least let me see your face. YOUNG WIFE Do you really love me, Alfred? YOUNG MAN (_Deeply hurt_) Emma! You ask me… YOUNG WIFE It’s so warm here. YOUNG MAN You’re still wearing your fur-coat—really, you will catch cold. YOUNG WIFE (_Finally enters the room, and throws herself into the armchair_) I’m tired—dead tired. YOUNG MAN Permit me. (_He takes off her veil, removes her hat-pin, and puts hat, pin, and veil aside_) YOUNG WIFE (_Permits it_) YOUNG MAN (_Stands before her, and shakes his head_) YOUNG WIFE What is the matter? YOUNG MAN You’ve never been so beautiful. YOUNG WIFE How is that? YOUNG MAN Alone … alone with you—Emma— (_He kneels down beside her chair, takes both her hands, and covers them with kisses_) YOUNG WIFE And now … now let me go again. I have done what you asked me to do. YOUNG MAN (_Lets his head sink into her lap_) YOUNG WIFE You promised me to be good. YOUNG MAN Yes. YOUNG WIFE It is stifling hot in this room. YOUNG MAN (_Gets up_) You still have your coat on. YOUNG WIFE Put it with my hat. YOUNG MAN (_Takes off her coat, and puts it on the sofa_) YOUNG WIFE And now—good-by— YOUNG MAN Emma—! Emma—! YOUNG WIFE The five minutes are long past. YOUNG MAN Not one yet!— YOUNG WIFE Alfred, tell me truly now, how late it is. YOUNG MAN It is now exactly a quarter past six. YOUNG WIFE I should have been at my sister’s long ago. YOUNG MAN You can see your sister any time… YOUNG WIFE Oh, Merciful Heaven, Alfred, why did you tempt me to come? YOUNG MAN Because … I adore you, Emma! YOUNG WIFE To how many have you said the same thing? YOUNG MAN Since I met you, to no one. YOUNG WIFE What a foolish woman I am! If anybody had predicted … just a week ago … or even yesterday… YOUNG MAN But you had already promised me the day before yesterday. YOUNG WIFE You plagued me so. But I didn’t want to do it. God is my witness—I didn’t want to do it… Yesterday, I was firmly decided… Do you know I even wrote you a long letter last night? YOUNG MAN I didn’t receive any. YOUNG WIFE I tore it up later. Oh, if only I had sent it to you. YOUNG MAN It is better as it is. YOUNG WIFE Oh, no, it’s awful … of me. I don’t understand myself. Good-by, Alfred, let me go. YOUNG MAN (_Seizes her, and covers her face with burning kisses_) YOUNG WIFE So … is that the way you keep your word… YOUNG MAN One more kiss—one more. YOUNG WIFE The last.