FREDERIQUE Why resist your fate? Is it so very repulsive after all? What you are to me, nobody else has ever been! AMADEUS And you want me to believe that? FREDERIQUE I shall not insist on it. But it is true nevertheless. Good-by now. Until to-morrow, Amadeus. Life is really much easier than you think.... It might be so very pleasant--and so it shall be! (_She goes out_) AMADEUS (_seats himself at the piano again and strikes a few notes_) It is getting serious ... or amusing perhaps...? (_He shakes his head_) ALBERT RHON (_enters; he is of medium height; his black hair, slightly streaked with gray, is worn long; he is rather carelessly dressed_) AMADEUS Oh, is that you, Albert? How are you? ALBERT I have come to ask how you are getting along with our opera, Amadeus. Have you done anything? AMADEUS No. ALBERT Again nothing? AMADEUS I doubt whether I can get a chance here. We'll have to wait until the season is over. I have too much to do. We are now putting on "Mignon" with new people in some of the parts.... ALBERT If I'm not very much mistaken, I saw Philine float by--with a rather intoxicated look in her eyes.... Oh, have I put my foot into it again? I beg your pardon! AMADEUS (_turning away from him_) That's right. She was here. Oh, that damned business of private rehearsals! But I hope it won't last much longer. The coming Winter is going to decide my future once for all. I have already got my leave of absence. ALBERT So you have made up your mind about that tour? AMADEUS Yes, I shall be gone for two months this time. ALBERT Within Germany only? AMADEUS I'll probably take in a few Italian cities also. Yes, my dear fellow, they know more about me abroad than here. I shall conduct my Third Symphony, and perhaps also my Fourth. ALBERT Have you got that far already? AMADEUS No. But I have hopes of the Summer. Once more I mean to do some real work. ALBERT Well, it's about time.--I have made out the schedule for our walking tour, by the by. And I brought along the map. Look here. We start from Niederdorf, and then by way of Plaetzwiesen to Schluderbach; then to Cortina; then through the Giau Pass to Caprile; then by way of the Fedaja[2].... [2] The names used in this passage occur a number of times in the various plays, indicating that their author probably has been drawing on experiences obtained during his own walking tours through the Dolomites. As far as Cortina, the route is identical with the one mentioned by _Wegrath_ in "The Lonely Way." The Giau Pass is a little known footpath across Monte Giau, showing that the intention of _Albert_ is to avoid the routes frequented by tourists. AMADEUS I leave all that to you. I rely entirely on you. ALBERT Then it's settled that we'll don knapsack and alpenstock once more, to wander through the country as we used to do when we were young...? AMADEUS