Roses: Four One-Act Plays / Streaks of Light-The Last Visit-Margot-The Far-away Princess

Y IN

RAC

nknow

ant Von

, a horse

Wi

their d

ler

i, an

Gr

resen

id in a large G

LAST

Mulbr

n our poor, dear capt

bri

low, our captain and--

Mulbr

e been standing here all alone, and yet, u

is

well from here

e (cares

ttle girl. Yes--

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hush now. (A bell rings, right.) There's the bell;

e (to th

be off to

Mulbr

e Lieu

e (to th

es the Groom

iform of an Uhlan. Kellermann, a self-possessed, sharp-eyed man, follows him. While they are entering, Temp

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for the moment, then stiffly, trying to conceal his

ler

ervice, L

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iged to you. You understand that the removal of the coffin

ler

nant. My business sort of carri

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re to accompany the casket to be here at half past six. At the church-

ler

nt. I shall see that eve

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uous ostentation is to be rigorously avoide

ler

nant--because of the

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not concern yo

en years. I've been in Germany nearly eighteen years--have a German wife and daughter. I'm not as

Mulbr

s horses. Why, if ever you want to speak to him, you have to go an

bri

at help to me,

Wol

on our last journey together. He especially commended you and your f

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the heir,

Wol

es. But be assured that whoever

bri

u! (He says a few words aside t

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else to do here,

ler

s out at the centre, carrying several wreaths, and

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s forward, v. Wolters continues aside to her.) My dear child,

is

he

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to come here before the casket is r

is

ell. S

ters (

--? Sh

is

must be

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t l

is

whom he let h

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You kn

is

of course. Who

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anger--should still be here when it begins to grow dark, throw on a w

is

I will. An

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i, faithful

is

ever around i

oking at her i

ke to get rid of Tempski myself. Thank you, my child. (Gives her his hand, the

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lieutenant

is

ular--something a

coming in fr

He was a fine man, he was--a highly respected man! And on horseback! Why, I've wo

Mulbr

sometimes--so light-hearted and happy--like a little boy

is

oving, lost in thought.)

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re right. Temp

ngs in a wre

--our-

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perfectly natural

mp

-our-

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reath from

is

(She does so. Temps

reaching for

that must go

is

l d

ann (in

you th

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she looks af

ler

y--else it'll fall off when the

is

ath. During the following conversatio

Mulbr

here. I don't see why they've

ler

his murdering business of late. But, of course, that's not the real reason. The truth of the matter is that several very influential la

Mulbr

you know

ler

at twilight. And if these mirrors could speak--! That reminds me--I'd almost forgotten--we

Mulbr

be taken away in less tha

ler

rs have got to be draped. It would be a ble

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is

is

other,

Mulbr

ace curtains to ha

is

dear. (She do

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u're not

is

dear. You asked

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fetch a pair of

is

dear. (Goes

Mulbr

mann, do you know anything about the cause of the d

ler

the dead are my friends. I never say anything

Mulbr

ot him, is he still wal

ler

arms. But, see here, getting into a duel with that fellow, that Baron Renoir--why it was nothing short of suicide! I tell you, where that man goes, no grass grows! On the turf, at the c

Mulbr

y think that

ler

(Daisy enters with two vases, whi

Mulbr

at you're

is

and filled

Mulbr

o get a pair o

is

. I thought you said vases.

Mulbr

she's been such a help these days--thought o

ler

le girl--ho

Mulbr

, her las

ler

e at

Mulbr

e Art Institute. She w

ler

captain though

Mulbr

They used to play together out in the yard like two little kittens! Of course, when s

ler

med worri

Mulbr

o worried, I used to manage to send her in to him pretty often. She read aloud to h

ler

stands on a chair under one of the mirrors.) What lovely Venet

is

fresh air, would you mind,

Mulbr

for a little while. (

front of the

a little bun

sy (ea

please, le

(blowing of

eautiful life, he had a beautiful death, and, as for a beautiful funeral--just leave that

Mulbr

her take off her coat.) I thou

is

've changed

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e one feels so--

ith a glanc

re not a

ge (shudderi

s jus

ring straight

ot af

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isy, dear. Weren't yo

sy (al

nig

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t the

is

I be doing a

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I heard some one

is

been dreaming,

Mulbr

e here, Daisy, perhaps he's left us something--you, at lea

, with a glance

esn't com

Mulbr

rings. Daisy starts.) Why, what's the

ers (ca

mp

threshold, in mi

Lieu

Wol

rison church and see

Mulbr

ermann wi

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there until the casket ar

mp

d, Lieutenant.

Wol

itor is coming here presently--a lady. (Frau Mulbridge glances anxiously at Daisy, who nods.) She is not to

Mulbr

What does

is

ght have gossi

Mulbr

let you op

is

gossip

Mulbr

t now! Why did I neve

is

in the stables with

Mulbr

child from any knowledge of the th

Wol

Frau Mulbridge. Daisy, you w

ridge (pr

at's t

sy (fi

ll rings softly.) Should

dge (callin

s out without not

Wol

au Mulbridge,

Mulbr

he door at the right, listens, and then opens it cautiously. The Unknown Lady enters. She is heavily veiled, dressed entirely in

o has softly l

tioningly toward the back. v. Wolters nods, and she goes out through the cur

ers (ca

dly see that no one enters the house while t

is

understan

Wol

e men should come for the casket before she has left, tak

is

wouldn'

Wol

hat sha

(breathin

ink of s

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eves you, too

is

rns on the electric lamp, again walks to and fro, etc. At a slight movement of the curtain, he stops, expecta

La

fin before I--I had seen him--I must confess, I

Wol

st because of your coming. It was the

La

ss here. (Glancing toward the door.) I am only an unhappy w

Wol

care to rest

La

quite s

Wol

ide at the entrance. I have told her mother of your visit and she w

La

s it would be better no

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y w

La

hair. A pause.) I wanted to lay my roses on his breast. Ah, Herr von Wolters, I loved that man with an infinite love. Perhaps grief will give my life

Wol

r, n

La

early this morning asking you

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arious conclusi

La

nstan

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ally, you must

La

hold the last rites over our sainted dead. His friend and his beloved who else has any right to be here? Herr v

Wol

h

La

ust be no concealment between us. An

rs (emba

s so many thi

La

has my name been assoc

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ct from you, Countess.

(though

what my hu

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not a shadow, not the sligh

La

else can

Wol

hen a woman is the centre of so much interest, it's not surp

somewhat i

-but

Wol

as observed th

La

o well. This was not the first time he had--been interested in a woman. And that was

Wol

untess. And as Baron Renoir was fre

(somewhat

have possessed that man Renoir--? But do tell me the rest. I've heard on

Wol

ssions which passed between them a few days ago--after they had been drinking--had something to do with it--no one knows. Perhaps there was some insult which

La

against him long ago. "That scoundrel will compromise you some day," he said, "and then I'll have to fight a d

Wol

change which came over him in the last

y (nerv

! Was I to blame if he insisted on having notions? T

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es easily

La

ing when they re

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ied on t

La

first name, H

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tai

y (hesi

y chance--spe

Wol

betrayed his s

La

very last--when he wa

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elicate--but did he ever call you by some little--li

La

o you

Wol

urmuring something that so

y (indi

ers, our intimacy was

Wol

t you yourself asked. (

La

e mirrors! They make me feel as if I

Wol

ke to have m

La

you something, Herr von Wolters.

ers (co

ou mean,

La

man shot himself under my window. It was on my account that my husband was transferred here from his former garrison. Tell me, what mark of Cain do I bear

ers (ca

have been a s

dy (se

von W

Wol

ty would be a sin--and I do not hesitate t

La

y knew one another--those few visits at my house don't count. To-day--this short conversation--and here we are,

Wol

ntess, please d

La

not worry. Did you

Wol

e when I was a young fellow quite alone in the world. He w

La

end! We must both

ters (

. You will not have

La

ore. Do you consider me ve

Wol

tess. That makes y

La

it. It has never been my way to undervalue my

ers (pu

e could my hum

La

own husband--who have ever seen me as you see me at this moment--so weak,

Wol

e not been incons

La

me lose my wits. The world had so long set me on a pedestal that I thought I belonged there.

Wol

only help y

smiling so

Who could know his worth better than we? Whose grief could be more eloquent than ours? No, no, no--I must not talk. Ah, I see

Wol

lead a fairly quie

La

-you're not a P

Wol

ers judge of t

La

"You sordid souls, you couldn't know how much I loved him! What do I care

rs (reas

y just

La

it's no

Wol

t the door, then opens it cautiously.) Daisy! (The L

is

t, Herr v

Wol

ra

is

s a w

rs (to T

s I su

dy (to

s forward.) You used to open

is

e

La

on't know

is

o

La

t try to

is

,

La

fond

is

,

La

been crying s

is

o

La

pretty li

isy (

y any more

La

give her anything? (v. Wolters shakes his head.) Thank you, dea

is

shall see my lady

La

as if she were wai

Wol

the suggestion, it was s

La

of something I was just about to--

Wol

worthy of that di

La

I may use the word. There's the anxiety--the fear that-- Yes, yes--I must tell you all. Herr von Wolters, he has my

Wol

, that I was ignorant of all

La

m--it's really too b

Wol

e just before the duel

La

through the

Wol

authorities. I didn't consider myself entitled

La

y

Wol

l the day bef

La

In who

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n't

La

make any allus

Wol

id was that he had n

La

ves. Who is to inher

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ark that I didn't quite understand, and that I--pa

La

pl

Wol

ve you pain

ady (

give me pain

Wol

aps he did not intend that I should notice it--he

La

loved him best if not I? (Terrified

Wol

Countess. That wou

La

his is hi

Wol

On you?

La

I-- But, as you have the keys, you w

Wol

vour, C

La

w. It seems to me your duty, not o

Wol

s his only great love. But his life was varied--and if we were t

La

would be letter

Wol

say n

La

es. I'll only look fo

Wol

doubtless inserted a clause authorising me as executor

La

so poetical, and I feel so near to you because of it--(Putting her hand over her eyes.) Oh, those curtains in front of the mirrors! They make me fe

Wol

the day is no

La

love, my grief, can outweigh this terrible fear. My

ters (

nte

La

p calling

Wol

. What sho

La

you not the legacy, as it were, that our dear dead has left me?--Ah, you and I must become like brother and sister, two

Wol

y dear, dea

dy (so

're not

Wol

ness to me makes me f

La

he could see us at this moment, he h

Wol

man who would let himself b

La

nt you to take this gre

Wol

, I am a man

La

ou call being tor

ers (tr

science--whether I can ever again think of him--withou

La

Herr von Wolters, you'll not le

Wol

ope

ying her han

ks! Ah, you

(taking o

feel as if he coul

uddering inv

hole unavailingly.) Won't it work?--Heavens,

h a last attemp

entrusted to

y (coax

writing-table and opens the drawer

(bending

pt

La

re that th

Wol

in which he kept his priv

taring stra

can you ex

Wol

e burned

pringing to

yed with the honour of the woman who gave him all! T

Wol

can do more than let him

La

this is really his revenge! Perhaps we'll live to see even more interesting disclosures

is

. My lady is look

La

n there eavesdro

is

ht in a

La

you know abo

is

from her dress and hands it to The Lady.) I int

La

and and looks at them.) How do y

y (wond

appen to have them?

La

o are you?

is

I would do exactly

(to v.

understa

ters (

tell you t

is

o come to see me sometimes. No one is to know about her--no

Wol

e say

is

here again. If she does, give her these letters.

Wol

oth

is

there in

xamining th

s! Unsealed

sy (sm

t I wouldn'

La

now on I shall

is

ady. And even if I did

(to v.

she

always res

ke to ask you a

La

hat could I den

is

he flowers that The Lady had brought.) Oh ple

La

oes th

y (impl

ase tak

La

to make such a sha

is

way you spoke about him before. And it seems to me

La

Wolters? This person acts as if

sy (pr

La

gh her lorgnette and

r bearing pu

died I became--his w

La

ke tea with me in the nea

Wol

icial duties will make i

La

covering herself.) Thank you

rts and looks

only my mother. (As the heavy steps of the soldiers are heard, to herself, in suppressed agony.) And meanwhile--they will--take the coffin--away! (Regaining possession of herself.) But wouldn't it be better to drop your veil? (Th

rt