Well,—there must be something in it—! Otherwise, they wouldn’t do it. HUSBAND It is nothing … an intoxication. YOUNG WIFE (_Pensively_) An intoxication… HUSBAND No, it is not even intoxication. Like everything—it is dearly paid for, that much is certain. YOUNG WIFE Well … it has happened to you, hasn’t it? HUSBAND Yes, Emma.—And it is the thing I most regret. YOUNG WIFE Who was she? Tell me! Do I know her? HUSBAND The idea! YOUNG WIFE Was it long ago? Was it very long before you married me? HUSBAND Don’t ask me. Please, don’t ask. YOUNG WIFE But, Karl! HUSBAND She is dead. YOUNG WIFE Are you in earnest? HUSBAND Yes … it sounds almost ridiculous, but I have the feeling that all such women die young. YOUNG WIFE Did you love her very much? HUSBAND One doesn’t love women who lie. YOUNG WIFE Then why… HUSBAND An intoxication… YOUNG WIFE Really? HUSBAND Don’t talk about it any more, please. All that is passed long ago. I have only loved one woman—that is you. You only love where there is purity and truth. YOUNG WIFE Karl! HUSBAND Oh, how secure, how happy one feels in such arms. Why didn’t I know you as a child? I am sure I wouldn’t then even have looked at other women. YOUNG WIFE Karl! HUSBAND And how beautiful you are!… beautiful!… Oh, come… (_He puts the light out_) * * * * * YOUNG WIFE Do you know what I am thinking of to-night? HUSBAND What, sweetheart? YOUNG WIFE Of … of … of Venice. HUSBAND Our first night… YOUNG WIFE Yes… HUSBAND What then? Tell me! YOUNG WIFE You love me as much to-day. HUSBAND Yes, just as much. YOUNG WIFE Oh … if you would always… HUSBAND (_In her arms_) If I would what? YOUNG WIFE My Karl! HUSBAND What do you mean? If I would always?… YOUNG WIFE Well, yes. HUSBAND Well, what then, if I would always?… YOUNG WIFE Then I would always know that you love me. HUSBAND Yes. But you must know that anyway. One cannot always be a lover, sometimes one has to go out into the cold world to struggle and achieve! Don’t forget that, my child. There is a time for everything in marriage—that is the beauty of it. There are not many who can remember their Venice after five years. YOUNG WIFE True! HUSBAND And now … good-night, my child. YOUNG WIFE Good-night! THE HUSBAND AND THE SWEET YOUNG MISS _A private dining-room in the Riedhof, comfortably furnished with moderately good taste. A gas-grate is burning. The HUSBAND and the SWEET YOUNG MISS are disclosed. The remains of dinner are on the table, cream-cakes, fruit, cheese. In the wine-glasses is a Hungarian white wine._ HUSBAND (_Is smoking a Havana cigar, and leaning against the corner of a sofa_) MISS (_Sits beside him in an armchair, eating the cream out of a cake with a spoon, and tasting it with satisfaction_) HUSBAND Is it good? MISS (_Without stopping_) Oh! HUSBAND Do you want another? MISS No. I’ve eaten too much already. HUSBAND