Pandora's Box Part 10

GESCHWITZ. Then let him come.

LULU. But you must throw yourself at his head, dear! Have you got the house-number?

GESCHWITZ. Three-seventy-six. But quick now!

LULU. (_Calls into the dining-room._) Ready, my darling?

RODRIGO. (_Entering._) The ladies will pardon my mouth's being full.

GESCHWITZ. (_Seizing his hand._) I implore you, have mercy on my need!

RODRIGO. A la bonne heure! Let us mount the scaffold! (_Offers her his arm._)

LULU. Good-night, children! (_Accompanies them into the corridor....

then quickly returns with Bob._) Quick, quick, Bob! We must get away this moment! You escort me! But we must change clothes!

BOB. (_Curt and clear._) As the gracious lady bids.

LULU. Oh what, gracious lady! You give me your clothes and put on mine. Come! (_Exeunt into the dining-room. Noise in the card-room, the doors are torn open, and Puntschu, Heilmann, Alva, Bianetta, Magelone, Kadidia and Ludmilla enter, Heilmann holding a piece of paper with a glowing Alpine peak at its top._)

HEILMANN. (_To Puntschu._) Will you accept this share of Jungfrau-stock, sir?

PUNTSCHU. But that paper has no exchange, my friend.

HEILMANN. You rascal! You just don't want to give me my revenge!

MAGELONE. (_To Bianetta._) Have you any idea what it's all about?

LUDMILLA. Puntschu has taken all his money from him, and now gives up the game.

HEILMANN. Now he's got cold feet, the filthy Jew!

PUNTSCHU. How have I given up the game? How have I got cold feet? The gentleman has merely to lay plain cas.h.!.+ Is this my banking-office I'm in? He can proffer me his trash to-morrow morning!

HEILMANN. Trash you call that? The stock in my knowledge is at 210!

PUNTSCHU. Yesterday it was at 210, you're right. To-day, it's just nowhere. And to-morrow you'll find nothing cheaper or more tasteful to paper your stairs with.

ALVA. But how is that possible? Then we *would* be down and out!

PUNTSCHU. Well, what am _I_ to say, who have lost my whole fortune in it! To-morrow morning I shall have the pleasure of taking up the struggle for an a.s.sured existence for the thirty-sixth time!

MAGELONE. (_Pa.s.sing forward._) Am I dreaming or do I really hear the Jungfrau-stock has fallen?

PUNTSCHU. Fallen even lower than you! Tho you can use 'em for curl-paper.

MAGELONE. O G.o.d in Heaven! Ten years' work! (_Falls in a faint._)

KADIDIA. Wake up, mama! Wake up!

BIANETTA. Say, Mr. Puntschu, where will you eat this evening, since you've lost your whole fortune?

PUNTSCHU. Wherever you like, young lady! Take me where you will, but quickly! Here it's getting frightful. (_Exeunt Puntschu and Bianetta._)

HEILMANN. (_Squeezing up his stock and flinging it to the ground._) That is what one gets from this pack!

LUDMILLA. Why do you speculate on the Jungfrau too? Send a few little notices on the company to the German police here, and then you'll still win something in the end.

HEILMANN. I've never tried that in my life, but if you want to help me--?

LUDMILLA. Let's go to an all-night restaurant. Do you know the Five-footed Calf?

HEILMANN. I'm very sorry--

LUDMILLA. Or the Sucking Lamb, or the Smoking Dog? They're all right near here. We'll be all by ourselves there, and before dawn we'll have a little article ready.

HEILMANN. Don't you sleep?

LUDMILLA. Oh, of course; but not at night. (_Exeunt Heilmann and Ludmilla._)

ALVA. (_Who has been trying to resuscitate Magelone._) Ice-cold hands! Ah, what a splendid woman! We must undo her waist. Come, Kadidia, undo your mother's waist! She's so fearfully tight-laced.

KADIDIA. (_Without stirring._) I'm afraid. (_Lulu enters lower left in a jockey-cap, red jacket, white leather breeches and riding boots, a riding cape over her shoulders._)

LULU. Have you any cash, Alva?

ALVA. (_Looking up._) Have you gone crazy?

LULU. In two minutes the police'll be here. We are denounced. You can stay of course, if you're eager to!

ALVA. (_Springing up._) Merciful Heaven! (_Exeunt Alva and Lulu._)

KADIDIA. (_Shaking her mother, in tears._) Mama, Mama! Wake up!

They've all run away!

MAGELONE. (_Coming to herself._) And youth gone! And my best days gone! Oh, this life!

KADIDIA. But I'm young, mama! Why shouldn't I earn any money? I don't want to go back to the convent! Please, mama, keep me with you!

MAGELONE. G.o.d bless you, sweetheart! You don't know what you say--Oh, no, I shall look around for an engagement in a Variete, and sing the people my misfortunes with the Jungfrau-stock. Things like that are always applauded.

KADIDIA. But you've got no voice, mama!

MAGELONE. Ah, yes, that's true!

KADIDIA. Take me with you to the Variete!

MAGELONE. No, it would break my heart!--But, well, if it can't be otherwise, and you're so made for it,--I can't change things!--Yes, we can go to the Olympia together to-morrow!