[She walks angrily toward the hall. Just before she reaches the
door, it opens, and the servant ushers in HERR PAPPELMEISTER with
his umbrella. The BARONESS'S tone changes instantly to a sugared
society accent.] How do you do, Herr Pappelmeister?
[She extends her hand, which he takes limply.] You don't remember me? Non?
[Exit servant.] Ve vere with Mr. Quincy Davenport at Wiesbaden--ze Baroness Revendal.
PAPPELMEISTER
So!
[He drops her hand.]
BARONESS
Yes, it vas ze Baron's entousiasm for you zat got you your present position.
PAPPELMEISTER [Arching his eyebrows]
So!
BARONESS
Yes-zere he is!
[She turns toward the BARON.] Alexis, rouse yourself!
[She taps him with her parasol.] Zis American air makes ze Baron so sleepy.
BARON [Rises dazedly and bows]
Charmed to meet you, Herr--
BARONESS
Pappelmeister! You remember ze great Pappelmeister.
BARON [Waking up, becomes keen]
Ah, yes, yes, charmed-why do you never bring your orchestra to Russia, Herr Pappelmeister?
PAPPELMEISTER [Surprised]
Russia? It never occurred to me to go to Russia-she seems so uncivilised.
BARONESS [Angry]
Uncivilised! Vy, ve have ze finest restaurants in ze vorld! And ze best telephones!
PAPPELMEISTER
So?
BARONESS
Yes, and the most beautiful ballets-Russia is affrightfully misunderstood.
[She sweeps away in burning indignation. PAPPELMEISTER murmurs
in deprecation. Re-enter VERA from the hall. She is gay and
happy.]
VERA
He is coming round at once--
[She utters a cry of pleased surprise.] Herr Pappelmeister! This is indeed a pleasure!
[She gives PAPPELMEISTER her hand, which he kisses.]
BARONESS [Sotto voce to the BARON]
Let us go before he comes.
[The BARON ignores her, his eyes hungrily on VERA.]
PAPPELMEISTER [To VERA]
But I come again-you have visitors.
VERA [Smiling]
Only my father and--
PAPPELMEISTER [Surprised]
Your fader? Ach so!
[He taps his forehead.] Revendal!
BARONESS [Sotto voce to the BARON]
I vill not meet a Jew, I tell you.
PAPPELMEISTER
But you vill vant to talk to your fader, and all I vant is Mr. Quixano's address. De Irish maiden at de house says de bird is flown.
VERA [Gravely]
I don't know if I ought to tell you where the new nest is--
PAPPELMEISTER [Disappointed]
Ach!
VERA [Smiling]
But I will produce the bird.
PAPPELMEISTER [Looks round]
You vill broduce Mr. Quixano?
VERA [Merrily]
By clapping my hands.
[Mysteriously] I am a magician.
BARON [Whose eyes have been glued on VERA]
You are, indeed! I don't know how you have bewitched me.
[The BARONESS glares at him.]
VERA
Dear little father!
[She crosses to him and strokes his hair.] Herr Pappelmeister, tell father about Mr. Quixano's music.
PAPPELMEISTER [Shaking his head]
Music cannot be talked about.
VERA [Smiling]
That's a nasty one for the critics. But tell father what a genius Da-Mr. Quixano is.
BARONESS [Desperately intervening]
Good-bye, Vera.
[She thrusts out her hand, which VERA takes.] I have a headache. You muz excuse me. Herr Pappelmeister, au plaisir de vous revoir.
[PAPPELMEISTER hastens to the door, which he holds open. The
BARONESS turns and glares at the BARON.]
BARON [Agitated]
Let me see you to the auto--
BARONESS
You could see me to ze hotel almost as quick.
BARON [To VERA]
I won't say good-bye, Verotschka-I shall be back.
[He goes toward the hall, then turns.] You will keep your Rubinstein waiting?
[VERA smiles lovingly.]
BARONESS
You are keeping me vaiting.
[He turns quickly. Exeunt BARON and BARONESS.]
PAPPELMEISTER
And now broduce Mr. Quixano!
VERA
Not so fast. What are you going to do with him?
PAPPELMEISTER
Put him in my orchestra!
VERA [Ecstatic]
Oh, you dear!
[Then her tone changes to disappointment.] But he won't go into Mr. Davenport's orchestra.
PAPPELMEISTER
It is no more Mr. Davenport's orchestra. He fired me, don't you remember? Now I boss-how say you in American?
VERA [Smiling]
Your own show.
PAPPELMEISTER
Ja, my own band. Ven I left dat comic opera millionaire, dey all shtick to me almost to von man.
VERA
How nice of them!
PAPPELMEISTER
All egsept de Christian-he vas de von man. He shtick to de millionaire. So I lose my brincipal first violin.
VERA
And Mr. Quixano is to-oh, how delightful!
[She claps her hands girlishly.]
PAPPELMEISTER [Looks round mischievously]
Ach, de magic failed.
VERA [Puzzled]
Eh!
PAPPELMEISTER
You do not broduce him. You clap de hands-but you do not broduce him. Ha! Ha! Ha!
[He breaks into a great roar of genial laughter.]
VERA [Chiming in merrily]
Ha! Ha! Ha! But I said I have to know everything first. Will he get a good salary?
PAPPELMEISTER
Enough to keep a vife and eight children!
VERA [Blushing]
But he hasn't a--
PAPPELMEISTER
No, but de Christian had-he get de same-I mean salary, ha! ha! ha! not children. Den he can be independent-vedder de fool-public like his American symphony or not-nicht wahr?
VERA
You are good to us--
[Hastily correcting herself] to Mr. Quixano.
PAPPELMEISTER [Smiling]
And aldough you cannot broduce him, I broduce his symphony. Was?
VERA
Oh, Herr Pappelmeister! You are an angel.
PAPPELMEISTER
Nein, nein, mein liebes Kind! I fear I haf not de correct shape for an angel.