Roses: Four One-Act Plays / Streaks of Light—The Last Visit—Margot—The Far-away Princess
Author: Hermann Sudermann Genre: Literature
Roses: Four One-Act Plays / Streaks of Light—The Last Visit—Margot—The Far-away Princess
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Get the APPRoses: Four One-Act Plays / Streaks of Light-The Last Visit-Margot-The Far-away Princess
Chapter 3 THE LAST VISIT
Word Count: 6318
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Released on: 01/12/2017
Y IN
RAC
nknow
ant Von
, a horse
Wi
their d
ler
i, an
Gr
resen
id in a large G
LAST
Mulbr
n our poor, dear capt
bri
low, our captain and--
Mulbr
e been standing here all alone, and yet, u
is
well from here
e (cares
ttle girl. Yes--
Mulbr
hush now. (A bell rings, right.) There's the bell;
e (to th
be off to
Mulbr
e Lieu
e (to th
es the Groom
iform of an Uhlan. Kellermann, a self-possessed, sharp-eyed man, follows him. While they are entering, Temp
Wol
for the moment, then stiffly, trying to conceal his
ler
ervice, L
Wol
iged to you. You understand that the removal of the coffin
ler
nant. My business sort of carri
Wol
re to accompany the casket to be here at half past six. At the church-
ler
nt. I shall see that eve
Wol
uous ostentation is to be rigorously avoide
ler
nant--because of the
Wol
not concern yo
en years. I've been in Germany nearly eighteen years--have a German wife and daughter. I'm not as
Mulbr
s horses. Why, if ever you want to speak to him, you have to go an
bri
at help to me,
Wol
on our last journey together. He especially commended you and your f
Mulbr
the heir,
Wol
es. But be assured that whoever
bri
u! (He says a few words aside t
Wol
else to do here,
ler
s out at the centre, carrying several wreaths, and
Wol
s forward, v. Wolters continues aside to her.) My dear child,
is
he
Wol
to come here before the casket is r
is
ell. S
ters (
--? Sh
is
must be
Wol
t l
is
whom he let h
Wol
You kn
is
of course. Who
Wol
anger--should still be here when it begins to grow dark, throw on a w
is
I will. An
Wol
i, faithful
is
ever around i
oking at her i
ke to get rid of Tempski myself. Thank you, my child. (Gives her his hand, the
Mulbr
lieutenant
is
ular--something a
coming in fr
He was a fine man, he was--a highly respected man! And on horseback! Why, I've wo
Mulbr
sometimes--so light-hearted and happy--like a little boy
is
oving, lost in thought.)
Mulbr
re right. Temp
ngs in a wre
--our-
Mulbr
perfectly natural
mp
-our-
Mulbr
reath from
is
(She does so. Temps
reaching for
that must go
is
l d
ann (in
you th
Mulbr
she looks af
ler
y--else it'll fall off when the
is
ath. During the following conversatio
Mulbr
here. I don't see why they've
ler
his murdering business of late. But, of course, that's not the real reason. The truth of the matter is that several very influential la
Mulbr
you know
ler
at twilight. And if these mirrors could speak--! That reminds me--I'd almost forgotten--we
Mulbr
be taken away in less tha
ler
rs have got to be draped. It would be a ble
Mulbr
is
is
other,
Mulbr
ace curtains to ha
is
dear. (She do
Mulbr
u're not
is
dear. You asked
Mulbr
fetch a pair of
is
dear. (Goes
Mulbr
mann, do you know anything about the cause of the d
ler
the dead are my friends. I never say anything
Mulbr
ot him, is he still wal
ler
arms. But, see here, getting into a duel with that fellow, that Baron Renoir--why it was nothing short of suicide! I tell you, where that man goes, no grass grows! On the turf, at the c
Mulbr
y think that
ler
(Daisy enters with two vases, whi
Mulbr
at you're
is
and filled
Mulbr
o get a pair o
is
. I thought you said vases.
Mulbr
she's been such a help these days--thought o
ler
le girl--ho
Mulbr
, her las
ler
e at
Mulbr
e Art Institute. She w
ler
captain though
Mulbr
They used to play together out in the yard like two little kittens! Of course, when s
ler
med worri
Mulbr
o worried, I used to manage to send her in to him pretty often. She read aloud to h
ler
stands on a chair under one of the mirrors.) What lovely Venet
is
fresh air, would you mind,
Mulbr
for a little while. (
front of the
a little bun
sy (ea
please, le
(blowing of
eautiful life, he had a beautiful death, and, as for a beautiful funeral--just leave that
Mulbr
her take off her coat.) I thou
is
've changed
Mulbr
e one feels so--
ith a glanc
re not a
ge (shudderi
s jus
ring straight
ot af
Mulbr
isy, dear. Weren't yo
sy (al
nig
Mulbr
t the
is
I be doing a
Mulbr
I heard some one
is
been dreaming,
Mulbr
e here, Daisy, perhaps he's left us something--you, at lea
, with a glance
esn't com
Mulbr
rings. Daisy starts.) Why, what's the
ers (ca
mp
threshold, in mi
Lieu
Wol
rison church and see
Mulbr
ermann wi
Wol
there until the casket ar
mp
d, Lieutenant.
Wol
itor is coming here presently--a lady. (Frau Mulbridge glances anxiously at Daisy, who nods.) She is not to
Mulbr
What does
is
ght have gossi
Mulbr
let you op
is
gossip
Mulbr
t now! Why did I neve
is
in the stables with
Mulbr
child from any knowledge of the th
Wol
Frau Mulbridge. Daisy, you w
ridge (pr
at's t
sy (fi
ll rings softly.) Should
dge (callin
s out without not
Wol
au Mulbridge,
Mulbr
he door at the right, listens, and then opens it cautiously. The Unknown Lady enters. She is heavily veiled, dressed entirely in
o has softly l
tioningly toward the back. v. Wolters nods, and she goes out through the cur
ers (ca
dly see that no one enters the house while t
is
understan
Wol
e men should come for the casket before she has left, tak
is
wouldn'
Wol
hat sha
(breathin
ink of s
Wol
eves you, too
is
rns on the electric lamp, again walks to and fro, etc. At a slight movement of the curtain, he stops, expecta
La
fin before I--I had seen him--I must confess, I
Wol
st because of your coming. It was the
La
ss here. (Glancing toward the door.) I am only an unhappy w
Wol
care to rest
La
quite s
Wol
ide at the entrance. I have told her mother of your visit and she w
La
s it would be better no
Wol
y w
La
hair. A pause.) I wanted to lay my roses on his breast. Ah, Herr von Wolters, I loved that man with an infinite love. Perhaps grief will give my life
Wol
r, n
La
early this morning asking you
Wol
arious conclusi
La
nstan
Wol
ally, you must
La
hold the last rites over our sainted dead. His friend and his beloved who else has any right to be here? Herr v
Wol
h
La
ust be no concealment between us. An
rs (emba
s so many thi
La
has my name been assoc
Wol
ct from you, Countess.
(though
what my hu
Wol
not a shadow, not the sligh
La
else can
Wol
hen a woman is the centre of so much interest, it's not surp
somewhat i
-but
Wol
as observed th
La
o well. This was not the first time he had--been interested in a woman. And that was
Wol
untess. And as Baron Renoir was fre
(somewhat
have possessed that man Renoir--? But do tell me the rest. I've heard on
Wol
ssions which passed between them a few days ago--after they had been drinking--had something to do with it--no one knows. Perhaps there was some insult which
La
against him long ago. "That scoundrel will compromise you some day," he said, "and then I'll have to fight a d
Wol
change which came over him in the last
y (nerv
! Was I to blame if he insisted on having notions? T
Wol
es easily
La
ing when they re
Wol
ied on t
La
first name, H
Wol
tai
y (hesi
y chance--spe
Wol
betrayed his s
La
very last--when he wa
Wol
elicate--but did he ever call you by some little--li
La
o you
Wol
urmuring something that so
y (indi
ers, our intimacy was
Wol
t you yourself asked. (
La
e mirrors! They make me feel as if I
Wol
ke to have m
La
you something, Herr von Wolters.
ers (co
ou mean,
La
man shot himself under my window. It was on my account that my husband was transferred here from his former garrison. Tell me, what mark of Cain do I bear
ers (ca
have been a s
dy (se
von W
Wol
ty would be a sin--and I do not hesitate t
La
y knew one another--those few visits at my house don't count. To-day--this short conversation--and here we are,
Wol
ntess, please d
La
not worry. Did you
Wol
e when I was a young fellow quite alone in the world. He w
La
end! We must both
ters (
. You will not have
La
ore. Do you consider me ve
Wol
tess. That makes y
La
it. It has never been my way to undervalue my
ers (pu
e could my hum
La
own husband--who have ever seen me as you see me at this moment--so weak,
Wol
e not been incons
La
me lose my wits. The world had so long set me on a pedestal that I thought I belonged there.
Wol
only help y
smiling so
Who could know his worth better than we? Whose grief could be more eloquent than ours? No, no, no--I must not talk. Ah, I see
Wol
lead a fairly quie
La
-you're not a P
Wol
ers judge of t
La
"You sordid souls, you couldn't know how much I loved him! What do I care
rs (reas
y just
La
it's no
Wol
t the door, then opens it cautiously.) Daisy! (The L
is
t, Herr v
Wol
ra
is
s a w
rs (to T
s I su
dy (to
s forward.) You used to open
is
e
La
on't know
is
o
La
t try to
is
,
La
fond
is
,
La
been crying s
is
o
La
pretty li
isy (
y any more
La
give her anything? (v. Wolters shakes his head.) Thank you, dea
is
shall see my lady
La
as if she were wai
Wol
the suggestion, it was s
La
of something I was just about to--
Wol
worthy of that di
La
I may use the word. There's the anxiety--the fear that-- Yes, yes--I must tell you all. Herr von Wolters, he has my
Wol
, that I was ignorant of all
La
m--it's really too b
Wol
e just before the duel
La
through the
Wol
authorities. I didn't consider myself entitled
La
y
Wol
l the day bef
La
In who
Wol
n't
La
make any allus
Wol
id was that he had n
La
ves. Who is to inher
Wol
ark that I didn't quite understand, and that I--pa
La
pl
Wol
ve you pain
ady (
give me pain
Wol
aps he did not intend that I should notice it--he
La
loved him best if not I? (Terrified
Wol
Countess. That wou
La
his is hi
Wol
On you?
La
I-- But, as you have the keys, you w
Wol
vour, C
La
w. It seems to me your duty, not o
Wol
s his only great love. But his life was varied--and if we were t
La
would be letter
Wol
say n
La
es. I'll only look fo
Wol
doubtless inserted a clause authorising me as executor
La
so poetical, and I feel so near to you because of it--(Putting her hand over her eyes.) Oh, those curtains in front of the mirrors! They make me fe
Wol
the day is no
La
love, my grief, can outweigh this terrible fear. My
ters (
nte
La
p calling
Wol
. What sho
La
you not the legacy, as it were, that our dear dead has left me?--Ah, you and I must become like brother and sister, two
Wol
y dear, dea
dy (so
're not
Wol
ness to me makes me f
La
he could see us at this moment, he h
Wol
man who would let himself b
La
nt you to take this gre
Wol
, I am a man
La
ou call being tor
ers (tr
science--whether I can ever again think of him--withou
La
Herr von Wolters, you'll not le
Wol
ope
ying her han
ks! Ah, you
(taking o
feel as if he coul
uddering inv
hole unavailingly.) Won't it work?--Heavens,
h a last attemp
entrusted to
y (coax
writing-table and opens the drawer
(bending
pt
La
re that th
Wol
in which he kept his priv
taring stra
can you ex
Wol
e burned
pringing to
yed with the honour of the woman who gave him all! T
Wol
can do more than let him
La
this is really his revenge! Perhaps we'll live to see even more interesting disclosures
is
. My lady is look
La
n there eavesdro
is
ht in a
La
you know abo
is
from her dress and hands it to The Lady.) I int
La
and and looks at them.) How do y
y (wond
appen to have them?
La
o are you?
is
I would do exactly
(to v.
understa
ters (
tell you t
is
o come to see me sometimes. No one is to know about her--no
Wol
e say
is
here again. If she does, give her these letters.
Wol
oth
is
there in
xamining th
s! Unsealed
sy (sm
t I wouldn'
La
now on I shall
is
ady. And even if I did
(to v.
she
always res
ke to ask you a
La
hat could I den
is
he flowers that The Lady had brought.) Oh ple
La
oes th
y (impl
ase tak
La
to make such a sha
is
way you spoke about him before. And it seems to me
La
Wolters? This person acts as if
sy (pr
La
gh her lorgnette and
r bearing pu
died I became--his w
La
ke tea with me in the nea
Wol
icial duties will make i
La
covering herself.) Thank you
rts and looks
only my mother. (As the heavy steps of the soldiers are heard, to herself, in suppressed agony.) And meanwhile--they will--take the coffin--away! (Regaining possession of herself.) But wouldn't it be better to drop your veil? (Th
rt
Chapter End
