Complete Works of Henrik Ibsen (327 page)

PROFESSOR RUBEK.
Simply the dear domestic animals, Maia. All the animals which men have bedevilled in their own image — and which have bedevilled men in return.
[Empties his champagne-glass and laughs.]
And it is these double-faced works of art that our excellent plutocrats come and order of me. And pay for in all good faith — and in good round figures too — almost their weight in gold, as the saying goes.

MAIA.
[Fills his glass.]
Come, Rubek! Drink and be happy.

PROFESSOR RUBEK.
[Passes his hand several times across his forehead and leans back in his chair.]
I am happy, Maia. Really happy — in a way.
[Short silence.]
For after all there is a certain happiness in feeling oneself free and independent on every hand — in having at ones command everything one can possibly wish for — all outward things, that is to say. Do you not agree with me, Maia?

MAIA.
Oh yes, I agree. All that is well enough in its way.
[Looking at him.]
But do you remember what you promised me the day we came to an understanding on — on that troublesome point —

PROFESSOR RUBEK.
[Nods.]
— on the subject of our marriage, yes. It was no easy matter for you, Maia.

MAIA.
[Continuing unruffled.]
— and agreed that I was to go abroad with you, and live there for good and all — and enjoy myself. — Do you remember what you promised me that day?

PROFESSOR RUBEK.
[Shaking his head.]
No, I can’t say that I do. Well, what did I promise?

MAIA.
You said you would take me up to a high mountain and show me all the glory of the world.

PROFESSOR RUBEK.
[With a slight start.]
Did I promise you that, too?

MAIA.
Me too? Who else, pray?

PROFESSOR RUBEK.
[Indifferently.]
No, no, I only meant did I promise to show you — ?

MAIA. — all the glory of the world? Yes, you did. And all that glory should be mine, you said.

PROFESSOR RUBEK.
That is sort of figure of speech that I was in the habit of using once upon a time.

MAIA.
Only a figure of speech?

PROFESSOR RUBEK.
Yes, a schoolboy phrase — the sort of thing I used to say when I wanted to lure the neighbours’ children out to play with me, in the woods and on the mountains.

MAIA.
[Looking hard at him.]
Perhaps you only wanted to lure me out to play, as well?

PROFESSOR RUBEK.
[Passing it off as a jest.]
Well, has it not been a tolerable amusing game, Maia?

MAIA.
[Coldly.]
I did not go with you only to play.

PROFESSOR RUBEK.
No, no, I daresay not.

MAIA.
And you never took me up with you to any high mountain, or showed me —

PROFESSOR RUBEK.
[With irritation.]
— all the glory of the world? No, I did not. For, let me tell you something: you are not really born to be a mountain-climber, little Maia.

MAIA.
[Trying to control herself.]
Yet at one time you seemed to think I was.

PROFESSOR RUBEK.
Four or five years ago, yes.
[Stretching himself in his chair.]
Four or five years — it’s a long, long time, Maia.

MAIA.
[Looking at him with a bitter expression.]
Has the time seemed so very long to you, Rubek?

PROFESSOR RUBEK.
I am beginning now to find it a trifle long.
[Yawning.]
Now and then, you know.

MAIA.
[Returning to her place.]
I shall not bore you any longer. [She resumes her seat, takes up the newspaper, and begins turning over the leaves. Silence on both sides.

PROFESSOR RUBEK.
[Leaning on his elbows across the table, and looking at her teasingly.]
Is the Frau Professor offended?

MAIA.
[Coldly, without looking up.]
No, not at all. [Visitors to the baths, most of them ladies, begin to pass, singly and in groups, through the park from the right, and out to the left.

[Waiters bring refreshments from the hotel, and go off behind the pavilion.

[The INSPECTOR, wearing gloves and carrying a stick, comes from his rounds in the park, meets visitors, bows politely, and exchanges a few words with some of them.

THE INSPECTOR.
[Advancing to PROFESSOR RUBEK’s table and politely taking off his hat.]
I have the honour to wish you good morning, Mrs. Rubek. — Good morning, Professor Rubek.

PROFESSOR RUBEK.
Good morning, good morning Inspector.

THE INSPECTOR.
[Addressing himself to MRS. RUBEK.]
May I venture to ask if you have slept well?

MAIA.
Yes, thank you; excellently — for my part. I always sleep like a stone.

THE INSPECTOR.
I am delighted to hear it. The first night in a strange place is often rather trying. — And the Professor — ?

PROFESSOR RUBEK.
Oh, my night’s rest is never much to boast of — especially of late.

THE INSPECTOR.
[With a show of sympathy.]
Oh — that is a pity. But after a few weeks’ stay at the Baths — you will quite get over that.

PROFESSOR RUBEK.
[Looking up at him.]
Tell me, Inspector — are any of your patients in the habit of taking baths during the night?

THE INSPECTOR.
[Astonished.]
During the night? No, I have never heard of such a thing.

PROFESSOR RUBEK.
Have you not?

THE INSPECTOR.
No, I don’t know of any one so ill as to require such treatment.

PROFESSOR RUBEK.
Well, at any rate there is some one who is in the habit of walking about the park by night?

THE INSPECTOR.
[Smiling and shaking his head.]
No, Professor — that would be against the rules.

MAIA.
[Impatiently.]
Good Heavens, Rubek, I told you so this morning — you must have dreamt it.

PROFESSOR RUBEK.
[Drily.]
Indeed? Must I? Thank you!
[Turning to the INSPECTOR.]
The fact is, I got up last night — I couldn’t sleep — and I wanted to see what sort of night it was —

THE INSPECTOR.
[Attentively.]
To be sure — and then — ?

PROFESSOR RUBEK.
I looked out at the window — and caught sight of a white figure in there among the trees.

MAIA.
[Smiling to the INSPECTOR.]
And the Professor declares that the figure was dressed in a bathing costume —

PROFESSOR RUBEK. — or something like it, I said. Couldn’t distinguish very clearly. But I am sure it was something white.

THE INSPECTOR.
Most remarkable. Was it a gentleman or a lady?

PROFESSOR RUBEK.
I could almost have sworn it was a lady. But then after it came another figure. And that one was quite dark — like a shadow — .

THE INSPECTOR.
[Starting.]
A dark one? Quite black, perhaps?

PROFESSOR RUBEK.
Yes, I should almost have said so.

THE INSPECTOR.
[A light breaking in upon him.]
And behind the white figure? Following close upon her — ?

PROFESSOR RUBEK.
Yes — at a little distance —

THE INSPECTOR.
Aha! Then I think I can explain the mystery, Professor.

PROFESSOR RUBEK.
Well, what was it then?

MAIA.
[Simultaneously.]
Was the professor really not dreaming?

THE INSPECTOR.
[Suddenly whispering, as he directs their attention towards the background on the right.]
Hush, if you please! Look there — don’t speak loud for a moment. [A slender lady, dressed in fine, cream-white cashmere, and followed by a SISTER OF MERCY in black, with a silver cross hanging by a chain on her breast, comes forward from behind the hotel and crosses the park towards the pavilion in front on the left. Her face is pale, and its lines seem to have stiffened; the eyelids are drooped and the eyes appear as though they saw nothing. Her dress comes down to her feet and clings to the body in perpendicular folds. Over her head, neck, breast, shoulders and arms she wears a large shawl of white crape. She keeps her arms crossed upon her breast. She carries her body immovably, and her steps are stiff and measured. The SISTER’s bearing is also measured, and she has the air of a servant. She keeps her brown piercing eyes incessantly fixed upon the lady. WAITERS, with napkins on their arms, come forward in the hotel doorway, and cast curious glances at the strangers, who take no notice of anything, and, without looking round, enter the pavilion.

PROFESSOR RUBEK.
[Has risen slowly and involuntarily, and stands staring at the closed door of the pavilion.]
Who was that lady?

THE INSPECTOR.
She is a stranger who has rented the little pavilion there.

PROFESSOR RUBEK.
A foreigner?

THE INSPECTOR.
Presumably. At any rate they both came from abroad — about a week ago. They have never been here before.

PROFESSOR RUBEK.
[Decidedly; looking at him.]
It was she I saw in the park last night.

THE INSPECTOR.
No doubt it must have been. I thought so from the first.

PROFESSOR RUBEK.
What is this lady’s name, Inspector?

THE INSPECTOR.
She has registered herself as “Madame de Satow, with companion.” We know nothing more.

PROFESSOR RUBEK.
[Reflecting.]
Satow? Satow — ?

MAIA.
[Laughing mockingly.]
Do you know any one of that name, Rubek? Eh?

PROFESSOR RUBEK.
[Shaking his head.]
No, no one. — Satow? It sounds Russian — or in all events Slavonic.
[To the INSPECTOR.]
What language does she speak?

THE INSPECTOR.
When the two ladies talk to each other, it is in a language I cannot make out at all. But at other times she speaks Norwegian like a native.

PROFESSOR RUBEK.
[Exclaims with a start.]
Norwegian? You are sure you are not mistaken?

THE INSPECTOR.
No, how could I be mistaken in that?

PROFESSOR RUBEK.
[Looks at him with eager interest.]
You have heard her yourself?

THE INSPECTOR.
Yes. I myself have spoken to her — several times. — Only a few words, however; she is far from communicative. But —

PROFESSOR RUBEK.
But Norwegian it was?

THE INSPECTOR.
Thoroughly good Norwegian — perhaps with a little north-country accent.

PROFESSOR RUBEK.
[Gazing straight before him in amazement, whispers.]
That too?

MAIA.
[A little hurt and jarred.]
Perhaps this lady has been one of your models, Rubek? Search your memory.

PROFESSOR RUBEK.
[Looks cuttingly at her.]
My models?

MAIA.
[With a provoking smile.]
In your younger days, I mean. You are said to have had innumerable models — long ago, of course.