Minna von Barnhelm [35]
her). But what, girl (seeing Tellheim), only four-and-twenty hours here, and friends--company already!
MIN. Guess who it is?
COUNT. Not your Tellheim, surely!
MIN. Who else!--Come, Tellheim (introducing him).
COUNT. Sir, we have never met; but at the first glance I fancied I recognised you. I wished it might be Major von Tellheim.--Your hand, sir; you have my highest esteem; I ask for your friendship. My niece, my daughter loves you.
MIN. You know that, my father!--And was my love blind?
COUNT. No, Minna, your love was not blind; but your lover--is dumb.
MAJ. T. (throwing himself in the Count's arms). Let me recover myself, my father!
COUNT. Right, my son. I see your heart can speak, though your lips cannot. I do not usually care for those who wear this uniform. But you are an honourable man, Tellheim; and one must love an honourable man, in whatever garb he may be.
MIN. Ah! did you but know all!
COUNT. Why should I not hear all?--Which are my apartments, landlord?
LAND. Will your Excellency have the goodness to walk this way?
COUNT. Come, Minna! Pray come, Major! (Exit with the Landlord and servants.)
MIN. Come, Tellheim!
MAJ. T. I will follow you in an instant, Minna. One word first with this man (turning to Werner).
MIN. And a good word, methinks, it should be. Should it not, Franziska? (Exit.)
SCENE XIV. Major von Tellheim, Werner, Just, Franziska
MAJ. T. (pointing to the purse which Werner had thrown down). Here, Just, pick up the purse and carry it home. Go! (Just takes it up and goes.)
WER. (still standing, out of humour, in a corner, and absent till he hears the last words). Well, what now?
MAJ. T. (in a friendly tone while going up to him). Werner, when can I have the other two thousand pistoles?
WER. (in a good humour again instantly). To-morrow, Major, to-morrow.
MAJ. T. I do not need to become your debtor; but I will be your banker. All you good-natured people ought to have guardians. You are in a manner spendthrifts.--I irritated you just now, Werner.
WER. Upon my life you did! But I ought not to have been such a dolt. Now I see it all clearly. I deserve a hundred lashes. You may give them to me, if you will, Major. Only no more ill will, dear Major!
MAJ. T. Ill will! (shaking him by the hand). Read in my eyes all that I cannot say to you--Ah! let me see the man with a better wife and a more trusty friend than I shall have.--Eh! Franziska? (Exit.)
SCENE XV. Werner, Franziska
FRAN. (aside). Yes, indeed, he is more than good!--Such a man will never fall in my way again.--It must come out. (Approaching Werner bashfully.) Mr. Sergeant!
WER. (wiping his eyes). Well!
FRAN. Mr. Sergeant--
WER. What do you want, little woman?
FRAN. Look at me, Mr. Sergeant.
WER. I can't yet; there is something, I don't know what, in my eyes.
FRAN. Now do look at me!
WER. I am afraid I have looked at you too much already, little woman! There, now I can see you. What then?
FRAN. Mr. Sergeant--don't you want a Mrs. Sergeant?
WER. Do you really mean it, little woman?
FRAN. Really I do.
WER. And would you go with me to Persia even?
FRAN. Wherever you please.
WER. You will! Hullo, Major, no boasting! At any rate I have got as good a wife, and as trusty a friend, as you.--Give me your hand, my little woman! It's a match!--In ten years' time you shall be a general's wife, or a widow!
End
MIN. Guess who it is?
COUNT. Not your Tellheim, surely!
MIN. Who else!--Come, Tellheim (introducing him).
COUNT. Sir, we have never met; but at the first glance I fancied I recognised you. I wished it might be Major von Tellheim.--Your hand, sir; you have my highest esteem; I ask for your friendship. My niece, my daughter loves you.
MIN. You know that, my father!--And was my love blind?
COUNT. No, Minna, your love was not blind; but your lover--is dumb.
MAJ. T. (throwing himself in the Count's arms). Let me recover myself, my father!
COUNT. Right, my son. I see your heart can speak, though your lips cannot. I do not usually care for those who wear this uniform. But you are an honourable man, Tellheim; and one must love an honourable man, in whatever garb he may be.
MIN. Ah! did you but know all!
COUNT. Why should I not hear all?--Which are my apartments, landlord?
LAND. Will your Excellency have the goodness to walk this way?
COUNT. Come, Minna! Pray come, Major! (Exit with the Landlord and servants.)
MIN. Come, Tellheim!
MAJ. T. I will follow you in an instant, Minna. One word first with this man (turning to Werner).
MIN. And a good word, methinks, it should be. Should it not, Franziska? (Exit.)
SCENE XIV. Major von Tellheim, Werner, Just, Franziska
MAJ. T. (pointing to the purse which Werner had thrown down). Here, Just, pick up the purse and carry it home. Go! (Just takes it up and goes.)
WER. (still standing, out of humour, in a corner, and absent till he hears the last words). Well, what now?
MAJ. T. (in a friendly tone while going up to him). Werner, when can I have the other two thousand pistoles?
WER. (in a good humour again instantly). To-morrow, Major, to-morrow.
MAJ. T. I do not need to become your debtor; but I will be your banker. All you good-natured people ought to have guardians. You are in a manner spendthrifts.--I irritated you just now, Werner.
WER. Upon my life you did! But I ought not to have been such a dolt. Now I see it all clearly. I deserve a hundred lashes. You may give them to me, if you will, Major. Only no more ill will, dear Major!
MAJ. T. Ill will! (shaking him by the hand). Read in my eyes all that I cannot say to you--Ah! let me see the man with a better wife and a more trusty friend than I shall have.--Eh! Franziska? (Exit.)
SCENE XV. Werner, Franziska
FRAN. (aside). Yes, indeed, he is more than good!--Such a man will never fall in my way again.--It must come out. (Approaching Werner bashfully.) Mr. Sergeant!
WER. (wiping his eyes). Well!
FRAN. Mr. Sergeant--
WER. What do you want, little woman?
FRAN. Look at me, Mr. Sergeant.
WER. I can't yet; there is something, I don't know what, in my eyes.
FRAN. Now do look at me!
WER. I am afraid I have looked at you too much already, little woman! There, now I can see you. What then?
FRAN. Mr. Sergeant--don't you want a Mrs. Sergeant?
WER. Do you really mean it, little woman?
FRAN. Really I do.
WER. And would you go with me to Persia even?
FRAN. Wherever you please.
WER. You will! Hullo, Major, no boasting! At any rate I have got as good a wife, and as trusty a friend, as you.--Give me your hand, my little woman! It's a match!--In ten years' time you shall be a general's wife, or a widow!
End