FullReads

ADOLPH.
How–how did it show itself–that thing you spoke of?

[During the following passage GUSTAV speaks with great animation, and ADOLPH listens so intently that, unconsciously, he imitates many of GUSTAV’S gestures.]

GUSTAV.
It was dreadful to witness, and if you don’t feel strong enough I won’t inflict a description of it on you.

ADOLPH.
[Nervously]

Yes, go right on–just go on!

GUSTAV.
Well, the boy happened to marry an innocent little creature with curls, and eyes like a turtle-dove; with the face of a child and the pure soul of an angel. But nevertheless she managed to usurp the male prerogative–

ADOLPH.
What is that?

GUSTAV.
Initiative, of course. And with the result that the angel nearly carried him off to heaven. But first he had to be put on the cross and made to feel the nails in his flesh. It was horrible!

ADOLPH.
[Breathlessly]

Well, what happened?

GUSTAV.
[Lingering on each word]

We might be sitting together talking, he and I–and when I had been speaking for a while his face would turn white as chalk, his arms and legs would grow stiff, and his thumbs became twisted against the palms of his hands–like this.

[He illustrates the movement and it is imitated by ADOLPH]
Then his eyes became bloodshot, and he began to chew– like this.

[He chews, and again ADOLPH imitates him]
The saliva was rattling in his throat. His chest was squeezed together as if it had been closed in a vice. The pupils of his eyes flickered like gas-jets. His tongue beat the saliva into a lather, and he sank–slowly–down–backward–into the chair–as if he were drowning. And then—

ADOLPH.
[In a whisper]

Stop now!

GUSTAV.
And then–Are you not feeling well?

ADOLPH.
No.

GUSTAV.
[Gets a glass of water for him]

There: drink now. And we’ll talk of something else.

ADOLPH.
[Feebly]

Thank you! Please go on!

GUSTAV.
Well–when he came to he couldn’t remember anything at all. He had simply lost consciousness. Has that ever happened to you?

ADOLPH.
Yes, I have had attacks of vertigo now and then, but my physician says it’s only anaemia.

GUSTAV.
Well, that’s the beginning of it, you know. But, believe me, it will end in epilepsy if you don’t take care of yourself.

ADOLPH.
What can I do?

GUSTAV.
To begin with, you will have to observe complete abstinence.

ADOLPH.
For how long?

GUSTAV.
For half a year at least.

ADOLPH.
I cannot do it. That would upset our married life.

GUSTAV.
Good-bye to you then!

ADOLPH.
[Covers up the wax figure]

I cannot do it!

GUSTAV.
Can you not save your own life?–But tell me, as you have already given me so much of your confidence–is there no other canker, no secret wound, that troubles you? For it is very rare to find only one cause of discord, as life is so full of variety and so fruitful in chances for false relationships. Is there not a corpse in your cargo that you are trying to hide from yourself?– For instance, you said a minute ago that you have a child which has been left in other people’s care. Why don’t you keep it with you?

ADOLPH.
My wife doesn’t want us to do so.

GUSTAV.
And her reason? Speak up now!

ADOLPH
.
Because, when it was about three years old, it began to look like him, her former husband.