He Who Gets Slapped - BestLightNovel.com
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[_Nods approval_]: That's not bad. Look here, think a bit--find something. Everyone here thinks for himself.
[_Silence. The gentleman stands with a finger on his forehead, thinking._]
GENTLEMAN
Find something--find something ... Eureka!
POLLY
That means _found_. Come!
GENTLEMAN
Eureka---- I shall be among you, he who gets slapped. [_General laughter. Even_ BRIQUET _smiles_.]
GENTLEMAN
[Looks at them smiling]: You see I made even you laugh--is that easy?
[_All grow serious. Polly sighs._]
TILLY
No, it's not easy. Did you laugh, Polly?
POLLY
Sure, a lot. Did you?
TILLY
I did. [_Imitating an instrument, he plays with his lips a melody at once sad and gay._]
JACKSON
"He Who Gets Slapped," that's not bad.
GENTLEMAN
It's not, is it? I rather like it myself. It suits my talent. And comrades, I have even found a name--you'll call me "HE." Is that all right?
JACKSON
[_Thinking_]: "HE"--Not bad.
CONSUELO
[_In a singing, melodic voice_]: "HE" is so funny--"HE"--like a dog.
Daddy, are there such dogs?
[_Jackson suddenly gives a circus slap to the gentleman. HE steps back and grows pale._]
GENTLEMAN
What!--[_General laughter covers his exclamation._]
JACKSON
HE Who Gets Slapped. Or didn't you get it?
POLLY
[_Comically_]: He says he wants more---- [_The gentleman smiles, rubbing his cheek._]
GENTLEMAN
So sudden.--Without waiting.--How funny--you didn't hurt me, and yet my cheek burns.
[_Again there is loud laughter. The clowns cackle like ducks, hens, c.o.c.ks; they bark._ ZINIDA _says something to_ BRIQUET, _casts a glance toward_ BEZANO, _and goes out_. MANCINI _a.s.sumes a bored air and looks at his watch_. _The two actresses go out._]
JACKSON
Take him, Papa Briquet--he will push us.
MANCINI
[_Again looking at his watch_]: But bear in mind, that Papa Briquet is as close as Harpagon. If you expect to get good money here you are mistaken. [_HE laughs._] A slap? What's a slap? Worth only small change, a franc and a half a dozen. Better go back to society; you will make more money there. Why for one slap, just a light tap, you might say, my friend, Marquis Justi, was paid fifty thousand lire!
BRIQUET
Shut up, Mancini. Will you take care of him, Jackson.
JACKSON
I can.
POLLY
Do you like music? A Beethoven sonata played on a broom, for instance, or Mozart on a bottle?
HE
Alas! No. But I will be exceedingly grateful if you will teach me. A clown! My childhood's dream. When all my school friends were thrilled by Plutarch's heroes, or the light of science--I dreamed of clowns.
Beethoven on a broom, Mozart on bottles! Just what I have sought all my life! Friends, I must have a costume!
JACKSON
I see you don't know much! A costume [_putting his finger on his forehead_] is a thing which calls for deep thought. Have you seen my Sun here? [_Strikes his posterior._] I looked for it two years.
