(_He kisses her, and she returns the kiss; their lips remain joined for a long time_) YOUNG MAN Shall I tell you something, Emma? It is now for the first time that I know what happiness is. YOUNG WIFE (_Sinks back into the armchair_) YOUNG MAN (_Sits on the arm of the chair, and puts one arm lightly about her neck_) … or rather, I know now what happiness might be. YOUNG WIFE (_Sighs deeply_) YOUNG MAN (_Kisses her again_) YOUNG WIFE Alfred—Alfred, what are you doing to me! YOUNG MAN Wasn’t I right?—It isn’t so awfully uncomfortable here… And we are so safe here. It’s a thousand times better than those meetings outdoors… YOUNG WIFE Oh, don’t remind me of them. YOUNG MAN I shall always recall them with a thousand delights. Every minute you have let me spend with you is a sweet memory. YOUNG WIFE Do you remember the ball at the Manufacturers’ Club? YOUNG MAN Do I remember it…? I sat beside you through the whole supper—quite close to you. Your husband had champagne… YOUNG WIFE (_Looks at him with a hurt expression_) YOUNG MAN I meant to speak only of the champagne. Emma, would you like a glass of cognac? YOUNG WIFE Only a drop, but first give me a glass of water. YOUNG MAN Surely… But where is—oh, yes, I remember… (_He opens the portières, and goes into the bedroom_) YOUNG WIFE (_Follows him with her eyes_) YOUNG MAN (_Comes back with a water-bottle and two glasses_) YOUNG WIFE Where have you been? YOUNG MAN In … the adjoining room. (_Pours her a glass of water_) YOUNG WIFE Now I’m going to ask you something, Alfred—and you must tell me the truth. YOUNG MAN I swear— YOUNG WIFE Has there ever been any other woman in these rooms? YOUNG MAN But, Emma—this house was built twenty years ago!— YOUNG WIFE You know what I mean, Alfred … in these rooms, with you! YOUNG MAN With me—here—Emma!—It’s not kind of you even to imagine such a thing. YOUNG WIFE Then there was … how shall I… But, no, I’d rather not ask. It is better that I shouldn’t ask. It’s my own fault. Every fault has its punishment. YOUNG MAN But what is wrong? What is the matter with you? What fault? YOUNG WIFE No, no, no, I mustn’t think… Otherwise I would sink through the floor with shame. YOUNG MAN (_With the water-bottle in his hand, shakes his head sadly_) Emma, if you only knew how you hurt me. YOUNG WIFE (_Pours a glass of cognac_) YOUNG MAN I want to tell you something, Emma. If you’re ashamed of being here—if you don’t care for me—if you don’t feel you are all the happiness in the world for me—then you’d better go.— YOUNG WIFE Yes, I shall go. YOUNG MAN (_Taking hold of her hand_) But if you feel that I cannot live without you, that a kiss upon your hand means more to me than all the caresses of all the women in the whole world… Emma, I’m not like other young men, who are experienced in love-making—perhaps, I am too naïve … I… YOUNG WIFE But suppose you were like other young men? YOUNG MAN