(_Hurt_) You can beg a long while then, you abominable poseur. COUNT But, see, we’ve been perfectly frank with each other so far … it seems to me it would be so much more beautiful after the play … much cozier than now, when … I have a sort of feeling the door might open any moment… ACTRESS It does not open from the outside. COUNT Well, you see, I have an idea one shouldn’t lightly spoil in advance something which may be very beautiful. ACTRESS Possibly!… COUNT To tell the truth, love in the morning seems rather horrible to me. ACTRESS Well—you are about the worst case of lunacy I have ever met! COUNT I am not talking about women in general … because in general it doesn’t make any difference anyway. But women like you … no, you may call me a fool a hundred times over. But women like you … one doesn’t take them before breakfast. And so … you know … so… ACTRESS Oh, but you are a darling! COUNT You understand, what I have said, don’t you? I sort of imagine it like… ACTRESS How do you imagine it? COUNT Like this… I wait for you in a carriage after the play, then we drive somewhere for supper— ACTRESS I am not Miss Birken. COUNT I didn’t mean to say you were. Only, it seems to me, you have to be in the right sort of mood for everything. In my case the mood doesn’t come until supper. The most beautiful thing of all is when we drive home together, and then… ACTRESS And then? COUNT And then … well, that depends upon circumstances. ACTRESS Do sit closer. Closer. COUNT (_Sitting down on the bed_) Seems to me, that out of the pillows comes a fragrance … mignonette—isn’t it? ACTRESS It’s very warm in here, don’t you think so? COUNT (_Bends down, and kisses her neck_) ACTRESS Oh, Count, that is contrary to your program. COUNT Who said anything about “program.” I never have any program. ACTRESS (_Drawing him close to her_) COUNT It really is very warm. ACTRESS Do you think so? And so dark, just as if it were evening… (_Draws him toward her_) It is evening … it is night… Close your eyes, if there is too much light for you. Come!… Come!… COUNT (_Offers no further resistance_) * * * * * ACTRESS And what about atmosphere now, you poseur? COUNT You are a little devil. ACTRESS What a thing to say! COUNT Well, then an angel. ACTRESS You should have been an actor! Really! You understand women! And do you know, what I shall do now? COUNT Well? ACTRESS I shall tell you that I shall never see you again. COUNT But why? ACTRESS Never, never. You are too dangerous! You would drive a woman mad. Here you are standing before me, as though nothing had happened. COUNT But… ACTRESS Please remember, Count, I have just given you everything. COUNT I shall never forget it! ACTRESS And what about to-night? COUNT What do you mean? ACTRESS Well—you wanted to wait for me after the theater? COUNT Oh, yes, let’s say, the day after to-morrow. ACTRESS