Последний отзыв
По всем вопросам обращайтесь на: info@litportal.ru
(©) 2003-2024.
✖
The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 07
Настройки чтения
Размер шрифта
Высота строк
Поля
ECKHOF
Please Your Honor, yes.
WILHELMINE
Where is it? Did you take it?
ECKHOF
Please Your Honor, no. [Wheels and goes out.]
SONNSFELD
What a dreadful country! The general heartlessness penetrates even to the uneducated classes.
WILHELMINE
But how dare the Prince imagine that our sentry could forget all—all sense of propriety in this way?
SONNSFELD
Would you not have accepted it?
WILHELMINE
Never!
[A letter, attached to a little stone, is thrown in at the window.]
SONNSFELD
A letter? Through the window! Oh, how it frightened me!
WILHELMINE
Pick it up.
SONNSFELD (doing so).
But you won't accept it, you say. It can only be from the Prince—and it is addressed to Your Highness.
[Gives her the letter.]
WILHELMINE
To me? Why, then—why shouldn't I accept it? [She opens the letter.] It is—it is from the Prince. [She reads, aside.] "Adored one! Is there to be no end to these cruelties? Have they begun to torture you with England yet? They will come to you and will try to force you into this marriage. But Baronet Hotham, the English Envoy, is my friend and your friend, and will work for you while he seems to be working against you. It is a dangerous game, but it means your freedom and my life. Love comprehends—Love."
SONNSFELD
May I hear?
WILHELMINE
It is a little message of sympathy—from—from one of our faithful servants.
SONNSFELD
The good people are all so fond of you. You must answer it, I suppose?
WILHELMINE. Just a word or two-it is really of no importance whatever.
SONNSFELD. But we need not offend any one. [Aside.] What clever pretending! [Aloud.] Let me try if our grenadier is still as stubborn as before.
WILHELMINE
What are you thinking of?
SONNSFELD
We'll make the trial. [She goes to the door.] Here you—stern warrior—
ECKHOF (in the door).
At your service.
SONNSFELD
Why didn't you take the letter?
ECKHOF
It would mean running the gauntlet for me.
SONNSFELD
We would compensate you for any such punishment.
ECKHOF
You could not.
SONNSFELD
Would money be no compensation?
ECKHOF
Even if shame could be healed by money, that would be the one remedy you couldn't apply.
