Chapter XII: Act THREE

_Scene:_ A bedroom in the Metropolitan Hotel, Berlin.

[Lassalle in shirt-sleeves, putting on his collar before the
mirror. Jacques standing by, brushing his coat.]

LASSALLE. [_Wrestling with unruly collar-button_] Yes; that is the coat. A long, plain, priestly coat. [_Gaily, half to himself and half to valet_] You see, I am going on a delicate errand, and I must not fail----

JACQUES. They say you never fail in anything.

LASSALLE. Which is not saying that I might not fail in the future.

JACQUES. Impossible.

LASSALLE. Now, today I am going to call on a man who hates me--who totally misunderstands me--and my task is to convince him, without mentioning the subject, that I am a gentleman. In fact--[_A knock at the door_] In fact--answer that, please, Jacques--to convince him that a man may be earnest and honest in his efforts for human betterment, and that----

JACQUES. [_To porter at door_] The master, Herr Lassalle, is dressing. I will give him her card.

PORTER. She says she knows him, and demands admittance. She will give neither her name nor her card.

JACQUES. Herr Lassalle can not receive her here--patience--I will tell him, and he will see her in half an hour in the parlor!

_Enter HELENE_

[Pauses breathlessly on the threshold, then pushes past the porter.
The valet confronts her with arms outstretched to stay her
entering.]

HELENE. Ferdinand--I--I am here!

[Lassalle turns and stares, surprised, overcome, joyous--seizes the
valet by the shoulder and pushes him out of the door, bowling over
the porter who blocks the entrance. Lassalle and Helene face each
other. He is about to take her in his arms; she backs away.]

HELENE. Not yet, dear, not yet!

[She sinks into a chair in great confusion, struggling for breath.]

LASSALLE. [_Leaning over her tenderly_] Tell me what has happened!

HELENE. The worst.

LASSALLE. You mean----

HELENE. That I told my father and mother!

LASSALLE. And they----

HELENE. Renounced me, cursed me--called me vile names--threatened me! They said you are a---- [_Trying to laugh_]

LASSALLE. A Jew and a demagogue!

HELENE. Would to God they had used terms so mild.

LASSALLE. Did they attack my honor--my personal character?

HELENE. Why ask me? What they said is nothing. They are furious, blind with rage--I escaped to save my life--and--I am here.

LASSALLE. [_Coolly, taking his seat in a chair opposite her_] Yes, you are here, that is irrefutable. You are here. Now we must consider the situation and then decide on what to do. First, let me ask you how you came to mention me to them.

HELENE. Is it necessary that we should enter into details? Pardon me, I am so sick with fear and humiliation. When I reached home I found the whole household joyous over the news of my sister's betrothal to Count Kayserling. They are to be married in June. I thought it a good time to tell my own joy. You see, I hesitated about your coming to our home in a false position--you and I meeting as if we had never met. I told my sister first. She was grieved, but satisfied since it was my will. She kissed me in blessing. I am an honest woman, Ferdinand--that is, I want to be honest. I scorn a lie--my prayer is to leave every prevarication behind. So I told my mother of you--knowing of course there would be a storm, but never guessing the violence of it. She called in my father and cried, "Your daughter has been debauched by a Jew!" I resented the insult and tried to explain. I upheld you--my father seized the bread-knife from the table and brandished it over me, trying to make me swear never to see you. I refused--he choked me and called me a harlot. To save my life I promised never again to see you. Their violence abated, and when their vigilance relaxed, I escaped and came here--here!

[Holds out her arms toward him; and cowers into her seat as she
sees he does not respond.]

LASSALLE. Yes, you are here.

HELENE. Do you not see?--I have come to you.

LASSALLE. [_Musingly_] I see!

HELENE. Yes, and in doing this I have burned my bridges. I can never go back--I have broken my promise with them--for you. They are no longer my parents. The Paris Express goes in half an hour----

LASSALLE. You studied the time-table?

HELENE. [_Trying to smile_] Yes, I calculated the time. To be caught here is death to me, and prison to you. In this town my father is supreme--the law is construed as he devises--safety for us lies in flight!

LASSALLE. But my belongings!

HELENE. Your valet can attend to them.

LASSALLE. And I run away, flee?

HELENE. [_Trying to be gay_] Yes, with me.

LASSALLE. [_Exasperatingly cool_] It would be the first time I ever ran away from danger.

HELENE. If you remain here you may never have another chance.

LASSALLE. You mean that your father or that little prince, Yanko, may do me violence?

HELENE. No one can tell what my father may do in his present state of mind.

LASSALLE. Then I will remain and see.

HELENE. [_In agony_] We are wasting time. Do you understand that as soon as my absence is discovered, they will hunt for me--even now the police may be notified!

LASSALLE. Let cowards and criminals run--we have done nothing of which we need be ashamed.

HELENE. Surely not--but what more can I say! Oh, Ferdinand, my Ferdinand!

LASSALLE. Listen to me----

[Knocking is heard at the door. She involuntarily moves toward him
for protection. He enfolds her in his arms just an instant. More
knocking and louder. Lassalle tenderly puts her away from him and
goes to the door, opens it. The landlord stands there with the
porter behind him.]

LANDLORD. [_Entering_] You will pardon me, Herr Lassalle--but the mother and sister of the Fraulein are in the parlor below. They had spies follow her--it is all a misunderstanding, I know. But the young lady should--you will pardon me, both--should not be here with you. She will have to go. I declared to her mother that she was not here; the porter told her otherwise. The police are at the entrance, and you understand I can not afford to have a scene. Will the Fraulein be so good as to go below and meet her mother?

HELENE. My mother! I have no mother.

LANDLORD. You will excuse me if I insist.

[Lassalle starts toward the landlord as if he would throttle him.
Then bethinks himself and smiles.]

LASSALLE. Certainly, kind sir, she will go, and I will go with her. We will excuse you now!

[Puts hands on shoulder and half-pushes landlord out of the door.
Closes door.]

HELENE. [_In terror_] What shall I do?

LASSALLE. Do? Why, there is only one thing to do--meet your mother and sister. I will go, too. [_Adjusts his collar and puts on his vest and coat_] There, I am ready--we go!

HELENE. You do not know them. It is death.

LASSALLE. Nonsense! Have I not addressed a mob and won? Do you trust me?

[Kisses her on the forehead, and putting his arm around her, leads
her to the door.]

HELENE. [_In agony, striving to be calm_] I--I trust you. To whom can I turn!

[_Exeunt._]

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