It was a sensation. The people actually grew pale. POET You saw that? ACTRESS Benno said: Child, you acted divinely. POET Hm!… And so ill the day before. ACTRESS Indeed I was. And do you know why? Because I felt such a longing for you. POET A little while ago you said that you stayed away just to annoy me. ACTRESS But what do you know about my love for you? Everything leaves you cold. And I have been delirious for nights. In a high fever—hundred and four degrees. POET Rather high for a mood. ACTRESS You call that a mood? I am dying for love of you, and you call it a mood—? POET And Dick…? ACTRESS Dick?… Don’t talk to me about that galley-slave!— THE ACTRESS AND THE COUNT _The bedroom of the ACTRESS, luxuriously furnished. It is midday. The curtains are still down; a candle is burning on the dressing-table. The ACTRESS is disclosed in her four-poster bed. Many newspapers are strewn about on the cover. The COUNT in the uniform of a captain of the Dragoons enters. He remains standing at the door._ ACTRESS Ah, Count. COUNT Your mother said I might, otherwise I would not— ACTRESS Please, come closer. COUNT I kiss your hand. Pardon me—when you come in from the street … I can’t see a thing yet. So … here we are (_at her bed_). I kiss your hand. ACTRESS Please sit down, Count. COUNT Your mother said, My daughter isn’t well… Nothing serious, I hope. ACTRESS Nothing serious? I was on the verge of death. COUNT Oh, dear, oh, dear, is it possible? ACTRESS It is very good of you to have taken the trouble to call. COUNT On the verge of death! And only last night you acted divinely. ACTRESS It was a great triumph, wasn’t it? COUNT Tremendous!… The audience was carried away. I won’t say anything about myself. ACTRESS Thanks, for the beautiful flowers. COUNT Nothing at all, Mademoiselle. ACTRESS (_Indicating with her eyes a large flower-basket, which stands on a little table near the window_) There they are. COUNT You were literally overwhelmed with flowers and wreaths yesterday. ACTRESS They are still in my dressing-room. All I brought home was your flowers. COUNT (_Kissing her hand_) How sweet of you. ACTRESS (_Suddenly seizes his hand, and kisses it_) COUNT But, Mademoiselle. ACTRESS Don’t be frightened, Count, it doesn’t put you under any obligations. COUNT You are a strange being … a sort of a problem almost— (_Pause_) ACTRESS Miss Birken, I suppose, is much less of a problem. COUNT That little lady isn’t a problem at all, although … I really know her only very slightly. ACTRESS Oh! COUNT That’s the actual truth. But you are a problem. I’ve always had a yearning for a problem. It’s really been a deep personal loss to me, that until yesterday… I _never_ saw you act. ACTRESS Really? COUNT Yes! You see, going to the theater is so complicated. I am used to dining late … then when I get there, the best part of the play is over. Isn’t that true? ACTRESS