Pandora's Box Part 4

ALVA. I do not love thee less for that. One kiss!

LULU. Bend your head back. (_She kisses him with deliberation._)

ALVA. You hold back the fire of my soul with the most dexterous art.

And your breast breathes so virginly too. Yet if it weren't for your two great, dark, childish eyes, I must needs have thought you the cunningest wh.o.r.e that ever hurled a man to destruction.

LULU. (_In high spirits._) Would G.o.d I were! Come over the border with us to-day! Then we can see each other as often as we will, and we'll get more pleasure from each other than now.

ALVA. Through this dress I feel your body like a symphony. These slender ankles, this cantabile. This rapturous crescendo. And these knees, this capriccio. And the powerful andante of l.u.s.t!--How peacefully these two slim rivals press against each other in the consciousness that neither equals the other in beauty--till their capricious mistress wakes up and the rival lovers separate like the two hostile poles. I shall sing your praises so that your senses shall whirl!

LULU. (_Merrily._) Meanwhile I'll bury my hands in your hair. (_She does so._) But here we'll be disturbed.

ALVA. You have robbed me of my reason!

LULU. Aren't you coming with me to-day?

ALVA. But the old fellow's going with you!

LULU. He won't turn up again.--Is not that the divan on which your father bled to death?

ALVA. Be still. Be still....

CURTAIN.

ACT II

_A s.p.a.cious salon in white stucco. In the rear-wall, between two high mirrors, a wide folding doorway showing in the rear room a big card-table surrounded by Turkish upholstered chairs. In the left wall two doors, the upper one to the entrance-hall, the lower to the dining-room. Between them a rococo-console with a white marble top, and above it Lulu's Pierrot-picture in a narrow gold frame let into the wall. Two other doors, right; near the lower one a small table.

Wide and brightly-covered chairs stand about, with thin legs and fragile arms; and in the middle is a sofa of the same style (Louis XV.)._

_A large company is moving about the salon in lively conversation.

The men--*Alva*, *Rodrigo*, Marquis *Casti-Piani*, Banker *Puntschu*, and Journalist *Heilmann*--are in evening dress. *Lulu* wears a white Directoire dress with huge sleeves and white lace falling freely from belt to feet. Her arms are in white kid gloves, her hair done high with a little tuft of white feathers. *Geschwitz* is in a bright blue hussar-waist trimmed with white fur and laced with silver braid, a tall tight collar with a white bow and stiff cuffs with huge ivory links. *Magelone* is in bright rainbow-colored shot silk with very wide sleeves, long narrow waist, and three ruffles of spiral rose-colored ribbons and violet bouquets. Her hair is parted in the middle and drawn low over her temples. On her forehead is a mother-of-pearl ornament, held by a fine chain under her hair.

*Kadidia*, her daughter, twelve years old, has bright-green satin gaiters which yet leave visible the tops of her white silk socks, and a white-lace-covered dress with bright-green narrow sleeves, pearl-gray gloves, and free black hair under a big bright-green hat with white feathers. *Bianetta* is in dark-green velvet, the collar sewn with pearls, and a full skirt, its hem embroidered with great false topazes set in silver. *Ludmilla Steinherz* is in a glaring summer frock striped red and blue._

_Rodrigo stands, centre, a full gla.s.s in his hand._

RODRIGO. Ladies and gentlemen--I beg your pardon--please be quiet--I drink--permit me to drink--for this is the birthday party of our amiable hostess--(_taking Lulu's arm_) of Countess Adelaide d'Oubra--d.a.m.ned and done for!--I drink therefore----and so forth, go to it, ladies! (_All surround Lulu and clink with her. Alva presses Rodrigo's hand._)

ALVA. I congratulate you.

RODRIGO. I'm sweating like a roast pig.

ALVA. (_To Lulu._) Let's see if everything's in order in the card-room. (_Alva and Lulu exeunt, rear. Bianetta speaks to Rodrigo._)

BIANETTA. They were telling me just now you were the strongest man in the world.

RODRIGO. That I am. May I put my strength at your disposal?

MAGELONE. I love sharp-shooters better. Three months ago a sharp-shooter stepped into the casino and every time he went "bang!"

I felt like this. (_She wriggles her hips._)

CASTI-PIANI. (_Who speaks thruout the act in a bored and weary tone, to Magelone._) Say, dearie, how does it happen we see your nice little princess here for the first time to-night? (_Meaning Kadidia._)

MAGELONE. Do you really find her so delightful?--She is still in the convent. She must be back in school again on Monday.

KADIDIA. What did you say, mama?

MAGELONE. I was just telling the gentleman that you got the highest mark in geometry last week.

HEILMANN. Some pretty hair she's got!

CASTI-PIANI. Just look at her feet: the way she walks!

PUNTSCHU. By G.o.d, she's got breeding!

MAGELONE. (_Smiling._) But my dear sirs, take pity on her! She's nothing but a child still!

PUNTSCHU. That'd trouble me d.a.m.ned little! (_To Heilmann._) I'd give ten years of my life if I could initiate the young lady into the ceremonies of our secret society!

MAGELONE. But you won't get me to consent to that for a million. I won't have the child's youth ruined, the way mine was!

CASTI-PIANI. Confessions of a lovely soul! (_To Magelone._) Would you not agree, either, for a set of real diamonds?

MAGELONE. Don't brag! You'll give as few real diamonds to me as to my child. You know that quite the best yourself. (_Kadidia goes into the rear room._)

GESCHWITZ. But is n.o.body at all going to play, this evening?

LUDMILLA. Why, of course, comtesse. I'm counting on it very much, for one!

BIANETTA. Then let's take our places right away. The gentlemen will soon come then.

GESCHWITZ. May I ask you to excuse me just a second. I must say a word to my friend.

CASTI-PIANI. (_Offering his arm to Bianetta._) May I have the honor to be your partner? You always hold such a lucky hand!

LUDMILLA. Now just give me your other arm and then lead us into the gambling-h.e.l.l. (_The three go off so, rear._)

MAGELONE. Say, Mr. Puntschu, have you still got a few Jungfrau shares for me, maybe?

PUNTSCHU. Jungfrau-shares? (_To Heilmann._) The lady means the stock of the funicular railway on the Jungfrau. The Jungfrau, you know,--the Virgin--is a mountain up which they want to build a wire railway. (_To Magelone._) You know, just so there may be no confusion;--and how easy that would be in this select circle!--Yes, I still have some four thousand Jungfrau-shares, but I should like to keep those for myself. There won't be such another chance soon of making a little fortune out of hand.

HEILMANN. I've only one lone share of this Jungfrau-stock so far. I should like to have more, too.

PUNTSCHU. I'll try, Mr. Heilmann, to look after some for you. But I'll tell you beforehand you'll have to pay drug-store prices for them!

MAGELONE. My fortune-teller advised me to look about me in time. All my savings are in Jungfrau-shares now. If it doesn't turn out well, Mr. Puntschu, I'll scratch your eyes out!