" Congratulations, mr." "Novak." " Would you autograph my program?" " Surely." " Are there any recordings of your playing?" "I made in europe years ago but i'm afraid they weren't sold over here." " Have you ever been in america before?" " No, never." " When did you arrive?" " Four weeks ago." " Only four weeks?" " Were you in europe?" " Yes." " May i ask what were your impressions of the war?" "Well, it's over, isn't it?" " Yes, but..." " Just a moment, please." "I'm terry spencer, music editor of our bugle." "I've been studying four years and i'd like to ask you a question." "Were the cadenzas in the haydn "concerto" your own?" " Partly, yes." " Oh." "Very effective." "And most interesting." "You're most kind." "Mr. Novak, which of the living composers do you think i ought to admire?" " Yes." " Well, there is no greatest among the really great." " Whom do you like best?" " Hollenius?" " Shostakovich?" " Well, let me see." "Stravinsky, when i think of the present." "Richard strauss, when i think of the past." "And of course, hollenius who combines the rhythm of today with the melody of yesterday." "Oh, thank you, sir." "The bugle will be very impressed with your opinion." " We'll miss the symphony." " I'm glad to have seen you." " Goodbye, mr." "Novak." " Thank you, sir." "From now on, you're my cellist." "Quiet, please." "Mr. Novak, i hope you play again." "Oh, i know." "It's so good." "Shh." "Quiet, please." "I thought you were dead." "Oh." "I thought they'd killed you." "I saw you being killed, lying there." "Darling." "Karel can it be true you're here?" "We're together." "Make myself look decent." "You're the same, schatzi." "Schatzi." "Oh, it's been so long since i've heard that." "What?" "Something i was afraid to see." "Ah." "No rings." "You still play, still compose?" "Don't let's talk here." "Where do you live?" "I've a room on west 94th street but it's... come to my place." "Extra!" "Extra!" "Extra!" "Extra!" "Extra!" "Extra!" "Extra!" "People don't do this in new york." "What don't they do?" "This." "But we do." "Did you get my letters i wrote and wrote and wrote?" "Just two in 1940." "Then none." "Well, here we are." " Do people live here?" " On top." "Artists." "People like us." "This light is never on." "Has it been very hard for you?" "Oh, it was at first." "Music students just back from europe were hardly in overwhelming demand." "I was afraid of that when you left." "Oh, i had jobs." "You know, things that get you by." "I didn't mind except the being away from my music." "But you got back to it." " Yes." " And you're succeeding?" "Musically i am but financially..." " not so good?" " Mm." "I'd do better cooking, if i could cook as well as i play." "But, darling..." "I can't carry you over." "Give me your hat." "No, no, hang it up yourself." "You're home now." "This is where we put our things." "Now, which side?" "This side or that side?" "This side." "And not one inch over." "I want you to say how you like everything." "Tomorrow i'll get you a tremendous, great cup for your coffee." "Now, let's see." "Which chair for your special chair?" "This one, it's the biggest." "Sit down." "Let me get you some slippers." "You look tired, dearest." "You've had a long day." "Oh, darling, a long, long day." "And i could have missed seeing it so easily." " So easily." " Seeing what?" "The advertisement." "I was eating tonight and they gave me a copy of the town crier." "There was a column of those college programs and i was glancing down it, not reading, you know, and i turned the page over." "I sat there, i realized something shattering had happened, i couldn't think what it was." "I kept seeing the letters of your name in print." "I realized it might have been on the page i turned over, it couldn't have been." "It must have been some other name like it and i sat there afraid to turn the page back, just looking at it well, and then i... good heavens, i never paid my check." "I walked right out of that place and never paid for it." "Oh, if only one know in advance that a miracle was going to happen." "I tried everything to find you as soon as i landed." "I looked in the phone book, the directory... oh, but, darling, i took a professional name." " I'm christine radcliffe now." " Radcliffe?" "Mm-Hm." "You know, sometimes it was nice to not feel like myself." "We might never have found each other." "And all the time you've been here, playing in those little colleges." "Well, and lucky to get the chance." "After all, i'm not known here." "But what does it matter?" "To play, that's the great thing." "Sooner or later the right people will hear me." "Even if i don't earn much at first, we can be happy, you and i." "Darling, there is something i must tell you." " Yes?" " And i hope you won't misunderstand." "Music's different in america, karel." "They care about it here deeply." "But like everything else it must be done in a big way." "Over there you can play in some hole or corner and people will find you." "But here, if you start in some school or suburban concert hall oh, it's much too difficult." "It takes too long." "I know." "And you have had such a bad time." "But no more." "After all, i know people." "I shall make them hear you and when they do, you shall be where you should be." "You'll have everything." "Oh, karel, it's so painful to be so happy." "Tell me, what do you want when we are very rich?" "I don't know." "A place in the mountains, perhaps." "Oh, you want a mountain." "How big?" "You know, you said i always made them out of molehills." "To go out on skis for days and days." "With nothing to shut you in." "If i could do that." "What else?" "That and you." "I go without saying." "Except i like to say it." "This way." "I'm yours, aren't i?" "If it isn't too good to be true." "Oh." "Of course, if you... if you need to be convinced if you want everything signed and sealed, we could... don't you think we could be married?" "At once." "The first day we can." "Is there any objection?" "Well, don't you think we really ought to get to know each other all over again?" "How do you do, mr." "Novak?" "Darling, how stupid of me." "You must be famished." "I should have thought of it sooner." "I'll get some coffee and sandwiches." "The bread's none too fresh, shall i toast it?" "I had some smoked turkey." "Well, i guess the cleaning woman had it for her lunch." "Oh, here's some pâté." "Chock-Full of vitamins." "Just what you need." "Schatzi." "Yes?" "This place?" "Is it...?" "Is it lent to you?" "Lent?" "Oh, no, it's mine." "I mean, it's ours now, darling." "But it must cost a great deal." "Not so much." "I got it on a long lease when things were still cheap." "Schatzi." "Come here." "Yes, karel." "This isn't a place of an artist of a poor struggling musician who could earn more as a maid." "Here, a tang horse, fit for a museum and paintings and furs and your dress and this." "What sort of a place is it?" "Answer me." " What sort of a place is it?" "Answer me!" " Don't." "Don't." "Forgive me." "I'm not myself." "But tonight the concert was a strain." "The shock of seeing you such hope, such... you see there, in that place where i've been there was no refuge anywhere but in sleep." "Oh, karel." "Do you know what kept me alive?" "The hope of finding you." "And finding it wasn't true." "Oh, karel." "Karel, don't talk like that." "You're ill." "I knew you had no money." "I knew what happened after the last war." "Yes, i saw it when i was a boy." "I saw what happened to the girls." "Decent girls like you." "I should never have come here." "Oh, karel." "Karel, are you mad?" "There's nothing." "I didn't want to have to tell you but i took pupils." "Oh, rich and untalented pupils, i'm afraid but i gave in and i've been teaching." "Which we swore we would never do, remember?" " Pupils?" " Yes." "And over here, rich pupils give presents you just can't imagine." "Schatzi." "Darling." "Aren't you ashamed?" "I've always been so frightened of your jealousies." "And you promised me you never would be." "Here." "Things seem too good to be true one moment." "The next minute they seem too black." "Karel, look at me." "There's nothing in the whole world except us, is there?" "Nothing." "Nothing." "Nothing." "Hello?" "Oh, thank you." "Hello, alex." "You're calling very early." "What time is it in california?" "Heh." "Alex, you shouldn't have nightmares." "Wrong?" "Of course not." "Oh, but that isn't true." "There is something, not wrong but... well, i had intended to write to you about it." "I hardly know how to tell you." "Something quite overwhelming has happened." "I'm going to be married." "Oh, someone i've known for years." "Someone i love very much." "Alex, i implore you, don't take it like this." "But i can't help it." "How else could i say it?" "However i'd say it, it would be wrong." "That's impossible, alex." "We're going to be married at once." "I know i've messed this up terribly." "I'm truly sorry." "I never should have told you over the phone." "Hollenius." "Hollenius?" " Hollenius?" " Yes." "Hello, darling." " Hollenius, the composer?" " Yes, i have to finish dressing, karel." "You know him?" "Well, he's been teaching, sort of." "The piano?" "Nonsense." "Not hollenius." "Well, composition more, or..." "or, i don't know, just music." "He's been awfully good to me, so i thought i really ought to let him know about us." "But tell me, was there anything wrong over the phone?" "Wrong?" "What would be wrong?" "Karel." "Oh, how sweet of you." "Remember, remember marie, the flower seller on the ringstrasse?" "And all the cunning little bunches of flowers?" "He hung up, didn't he?" "Yes." "I'll put these in water." "Darling, they are sweet." "Now, let's see." "My coat and hat." "Was he?" "Was he angry?" "I expect he thinks you've kidnapped me." "Probably thinks you have a large black mustache and dance the rumba." "We've lots to do." "We must tell people." "We must go to the city hall." "The quicker we know what day we're going to be married the quicker we can invite people to the party." "Haven't you someone you want to invite?" " Just one." " Who?" "You." "Oh, karel." " Ladies and gentlemen, to the bride." " Oh-Ho-Ho." "Happiness, christine." "And to the groom." "Congratulations." "And may they know every happiness that can spring from talent and love and trust." " That's sweet of you, mr." "Day." "Music, please." "A party indeed." " Hollenius." " Madame." "How do you do, harnitz?" " Thank you." " Crispin, i'm delighted to see you." "Well, i hope i'm welcome, my dear." "You look as if you were seeing a ghost." "How did you get here so quickly?" "Quickly?" "I have the impression i'm too late." "That object, i presume, is a wedding cake." "Champagne, all very fitting." "I infer a husband." "Make me acquainted with him." "Karel." "My husband, karel novak." "My dear sir i wish you all the joys that we less fortunate men must be content to imagine." " Thank you." " This, of course, is hollenius." " Thank you." " You do us a great honor, mr." "Hollenius." "Oh, no, she's my daughter, my ewe lamb." "Heh." "It'd look very odd if i were not at her wedding." "Uh-Huh." "The louis roederer, no?" " Yes, we opened it for this evening." " Mm-Hm." "For all and sundry." "I don't know where there's another dozen of that year procurable." "Still, it's a great occasion." "A great occasion." " And yet i wish she'd put it off a little." " Put it off?" " Why?" " Oh, so that i might have given her away." " Pollard." " Don't go." "So to speak, her nearest male relation." "After all, what could be closer than the relationship of master and pupil?" "Except, of course, husband and wife." "Are you gonna give me that champagne i went to such incredible trouble to get hold of?" "Yes." "They tell me that bridegrooms are a very nervous kind of cattle." "You look extremely nervous, if i may say so." " Do i?" " Mm-Hm." "My dear, you know i never drink on an empty stomach." " Get me something to eat, my child." " Cake?" "No, no, no, not that ridiculous thing." "Now, if there's some caviar?" "Hmm?" "Yes, yes, in here." "Is it decently chilled?" "And i abused the poor creature so abominably over the telephone." " You did?" " Mm-Hm." "An outburst of fury." "Uncontrolled possessiveness." "Call it jealousy, if you will." "You know, i remember well the day when she first came to me." "Four years ago, wasn't it, christine?" "Yes." " Hmm." "All eyes and talent." "You can't imagine how skinny she was then." "Oh, but of course, you knew her." "Yeah." "You were in love already." "The little minx concealed it from me." "Why should i have interested myself in such a creature?" " I ask you." "Why?" " Well, why?" " You said i had promise." " And i was right." "Four years of coaxing, bullying, pleading, suggesting, implanting and there's a quality." "She's... she's an artist." "It was no trifle to be told, just as she was coming into existence musically that she's in love, she's marrying..." " you haven't any champagne." " Nothing else matters to her." "I was prepared to excommunicate her." "Anything." "That, of course, was before meeting you." "After all, why shouldn't she have a husband?" "You have him, my dear." "Hmm." "Have a dozen of them." "Sooner or later you'll come back to your old teacher." "You'll realize that nothing matters but music." "Everything passes but music." "And me." "We are more optimistic, mr." "Hollenius." "We shall see." "You play something for him, my child." "Something he hasn't heard before." "I'm sure you have still much to reveal to him." "Shall i, darling?" "Please, schatzi." "What shall i play?" "You know." "Of course." "But i haven't played it for such a long time." " Schatzi." " Tell me, are you a musician?" " Cellist, yes." " Mm-Hm." "Extraordinary thing, teaching a person." " Pygmalion and all that." " Yes, i was surprised to hear you did it." "Oh, i found it stimulating." "A labor of love, so to speak." "I told her to take a pupil, she might learn more than she taught him." "But no, said she'd absolutely vowed not to." "Obstinate, you'll find out." "I've been asked to play." "Wonderful." "Something tender it should be, and pathetic." "A little absurd, chopin perhaps." "Karel has asked me to play the "appassionata. "" "I haven't tried it for a long time so you'll have to bear with me." "Has everyone a comfortable place to sit?" "Yes." " Good." "Hollenius, let me see." "Like all women, white as a sheet at the sight of a couple of scratches." "Calm and smiling like a hospital nurse in the presence of a mortal wound." "Good night." "You will go on playing, won't you, chris?" "That's sweet of you, norma, but i think champagne is more in order." "Pollard, will you see that everyone has champagne." "It's already late." "Again let me wish you every happiness." " It isn't late." " Yes, it is." "Thank you and good night." "Good night." " Good night, norma." " Good night, dear." " Good night." " Good night." " Good night." " Good night." "Good night." "Good night." "Nice party." "Oh, thank you." "I'm very glad you could come." "Good night." " Christine, darling." "Thank you." " Good night." " Good night." " Good night." "Oh." "That will be all, pollard, for tonight." "Just put out the candles in the dining room, come back in the morning." " Very well, madam." " Thank you." "He gets terribly upset by music sometimes." "And everything else he said before?" "Oh, that was just hollenius." " He was hinting i'd taken you from him." " Hinting?" "Good heavens, he said it straight out half a dozen times." "I thought it was quite wonderful of him to admit it." "You must remember, karel, he's a very great man." "Too great, i should have thought, to be jealous over a pupil." "Well, he's not the sort of teacher who gives a lesson once or twice a week." "To hollenius, music is everything." "The whole world, part of his life." "He took me into his life." "We ate together, we traveled together more than once." "When he was working or talking to other composers i sat in a corner and listened and learned." "He liked having me there." "As though i were... well, as though i were a cat or a dog he was fond of." "Why did your friends look so frightened and so gleeful when hollenius came in?" "Well, i just told you, i was part of his life." " Good night, pollard." " Good night, mrs." "Novak." "I suppose there has been a certain amount of gossip." "I don't know." "What does it matter?" "To be honest, i think the old rascal rather liked giving the impression." "And this i'm sure you'll never understand." "Heavens, i seem to be taking off every shred i... well, i confess i was a little vain of it myself." "I understand that." "Do you really?" "Oh, you brighten me so." "Do you love me terribly?" "Mm." "Darling, don't you think we could forget hollenius just for tonight in view of the occasion?" "While we drink the champagne he gave you?" "He's a terrible old emperor." "He gives cases of the most incredible wines and brandies to all his friends and makes no bones about it." ""So that i shall have something fit to drink when i visit you. "" "A picture fit to look at when he visits you." "The finest piano in the world to listen to." "The most expensive clothes." "He gives those to everybody?" " I told you how i came by those." " Oh, yes, from pupils." " Wealthy pupils." " Yes." "Unfortunately, he told me you never had a pupil." "Well, to his knowledge, perhaps no." "To his knowledge?" "When you spend all your time with him?" "When he calls you obstinate for refusing to take a pupil?" "No, schatzi, you kept that vow at least." "Don't deny it." "Poor karel." "And i tried too." "Now you'll never believe me." "And you're right, of course." "It was all so perfectly innocent." "So many lies to cover something innocent?" "Nothing in your eyes has been innocent." "In the old days you were always jealous." "And you were wrong." "You were completely proven wrong, weren't you?" "Weren't you?" "Proven wrong." "And you were just as sure as you are now:" "A few miserable gifts." "Christmas." "Last christmas." "Oh, it's all so simple." "My birthday this year." "My birthday the year before." "He's rich, immensely rich, he's like a king." "When he likes people, he transforms their lives." "One day, i played a composition of his and he liked it, the next day this." "Oh, how can he know someone who's poor?" "How can he go about with someone whose clothes offend him?" "He can't visit you in a lodging-House room." "I tell you, he furnished my life as he would a back hallway that he passed through once a year." "And he likes me." "He told you himself i was his daughter, his pet." "Isn't it understandable?" "The more understandable, the more strange you didn't tell me." "I wanted to when you first came in here but you looked so... so hurt and so ill." "And afterwards?" "Afterwards, i couldn't." "Don't you remember what happened?" "You can't choke the truth out of someone." "Oh!" "Oh." "Promise me you'll never, never think of it again." "Oh, but you will." "You see, schatzi the thing that tortures me is when i feel you're not telling me the truth." "Hello." "Uh... tomorrow morning?" "No, i'm afraid i couldn't." "Wouldn't it do later on in the week?" "All right." "All right, alexander, i'll try." "Yes, all right." " Good morning, jimmy." " Good morning, miss." " Where is the master?" " In the study, miss." "It's wonderful." "Extraordinary, isn't it?" "That music can exist in the same world as the basest treachery and ingratitude?" "So you remember the concerto i started last winter." " Well, i finished it." " You haven't been to bed." "That is no longer any business of yours." " What are you here for?" " You insisted i come." "To exult over the damage you've done." "Have you changed your mind after a single day of marriage?" "Some people find it easy to change their minds." "Or has he seen you for what you are and thrown you out?" "Not yet, eh?" "Doesn't he know?" "No." "Amazing creature." "She deceives everybody." " Don't talk like that." " I'll talk as i please." "But i didn't summon you here to bully you." "Come on, sit down." "I've been thinking about this miserable business all night." "You're insane and you must be humored." "We must be reasonable and we must be realistic." "I gave you a great deal." " I know." " I wonder if you do." "I'm not exactly a simple personality." "They call me a great man." "It's the loneliest animal in the world." "I need you extremely badly, my dear." "Tell me, was it all a pretense?" "You know perfectly well it wasn't." " I'm not repulsive to you?" " Of course not, alex." "This other thing, this ridiculous resurrection of calf love." "This... why, i've shown you what life is." "I've shown you music and i've given you understanding." "Is this infatuation so precious to you that you can turn your back on understanding?" "Oh, i know, i'm not a youth." "I'm not a savage, a little wavy hair why should i deny it you?" "If you'd only come to me." "If you'd told me quite frankly that you couldn't live without this latest luxury." "You can have both." "Hollenius, what are you?" "What you made me." " Oh, it's too hideous." " But you can't." "You can't leave me." "For this gut scraper." "This puppet of people like myself." "Who, if i write pbbt plays." "Pbbt!" "And if i write pbbt plays." "Pbbt!" " Oh, i'm going." " Now, you listen to me." "What more can you possibly have to say after that?" "I have it in me, christine, to remove this impertinence." "You wouldn't." "Then don't provoke me." " You're making a terrible mistake." " I made my mistake years ago when i first met you." "See, i thought i was buying his life." " From me?" " Yes." " You never mentioned him." " I know." "So you betrayed me even then." "Yes, and him too." "I was half mad that winter trying to get him over here." "I didn't know anybody." "I didn't have money, you were rich with all the influence in the world." " He knows nothing about this?" " Nothing." "I see." "It's all very lofty, all very noble and all very unscrupulous." " No." "No?" "Why are you lying to him?" "Because he's not well enough to know." "He's suffered enough already." "Oh, when you looked at him so contemptuously last night, hollenius i realized how much he'd changed." "If you'd only known him when i first met him." "He was young and strong and gay and so full of hope." "He was the most promising young cellist in europe and we were so happy and so much in love." "Then the war came and we were swept apart and i came back here and i did everything to get him over." "I went from office to office, i even wrote letters to people i didn't know." "And always a blank wall." "A blank wall." "And he was on the other side of it, lost." "And after a while, i was afraid he was dead." "He's been through horrors." "And now that he's back, do you think i'll let anything in the world hurt him?" "No." "He's something of a genius you tell me?" "If the term can be applied to a performer." "For the malady of a genius, whatever it is, there's only one cure and that's success." "Which is to be found here only in new york." "I know." " But i'd rather he'd miss that than..." " Than have me make trouble?" "Frankly, have you found me to be a little man?" "Great men can be very petty and very cruel." "And very vain." "The last is more like my weakness." "Can you believe i wanna lose you altogether?" "Come on, my dear, you better go." "Does he know about this visit?" "Well, when you telephoned me last night, i told him it was a girl i knew a date i couldn't get out of." "My dear i sincerely pity you." "Jimmy." "All right, jimmy, you can come in." "I want you to take this to mr." "Carter at the record library and bring back any records he may give you as quickly as you can." "Mm." " Well, what is it?" " There is someone here, sir." " A mr." "Novak." " A who?" "Mr. Novak." "Oh, mr." "Novak." "Huh." "Don't you know who mr." "Novak is?" "Schatzi's husband, no less and schatzi is miss christine." "Heh." "Married yesterday, suddenly." "Hmm." "Show him in." "Schatzi." "Mr. Novak, sir." "Good morning." " Good morning." "I was passing and i thought i'd drop in to ask about your hand." "Oh, that's a fuss about nothing, but thank you." "Is christine here?" "No, did she tell you she was coming?" "Did you telephone her last night?" "No." " No?" " You know, i behaved very badly at your party." "I'm glad you called." "I'm glad to have an opportunity to apologize." "I'm not worrying about what happened at the party." "But i am." "Very much indeed." "You know, i arrived after perhaps the most unpleasant journey i've ever undertaken." "Firmly convinced all the way that christine's committing some catastrophic folly." "She hadn't told me who you were or that she had known you before." "And to be perfectly frank, i was so overwrought when i got there that neither your name nor your personality was sufficiently impressive to arrest the pent-Up feelings that had accumulated on the way." "I should be grieved." "Deeply grieved." "If my bad behavior could have possibly have given rise to any... how shall i put it delicately, any misunderstanding?" "Oh, no." "It was that, wasn't it?" "Well, it sounded as if... on the telephone last night when she... i have had a very charming companion this morning." "But masculine, my dear fellow, masculine." "How on earth did you get hold of that?" "I did it how long?" "Seven years ago for a little company in europe." "Half a dozen of us subsidized a library, just for the good things that don't get on to the popular market." "We don't miss much." " Schubert." " What melody." "Your cello seems to appreciate it." "I certainly was light of heart in those days." "Now?" "Well, one... one develops." " Of course, i..." " Had a bad time, huh?" "Why?" "Wouldn't play for them." "Anyway, you kept your fingers." "Well, if that's how you play, i'd like you to listen to something i have here." "After which, perhaps, we can have a little chat." "How on earth?" "Fortunate woman." " The wife of a successful artist." " Oh, karel." "Karel, you're mad." "His own manuscript." " Who gave it to you?" " He did." " Hollenius?" " Who else?" " But why?" "What for?" " To play, naturally." "On the 21 st of next month and he's to conduct it himself." " Guest conductor, just for his own piece." " What?" "Karel, tell me quickly exactly what happened." " I went to see him." "He gave it to me." " But why?" "Oh, it's just possible, you know, he may have liked my approach." "Oh, it seems so strange." "After last night, i mean." "Well, it bears out what you said about him last night, about his princely gifts." "Or don't you think so?" "Oh, of course." "Tell me, did he talk about anything else but music?" "Oh, everything is music to him." "We talked about life and love and you." "About me?" "What did he have to say about me?" "Something very interesting." "He said if you had courage, you'd be a very great person indeed." "Only that?" "Nothing else as profound as that." "Where is the excitement about this great news?" "I hear no cries of joy." "Aren't you pleased?" "Yes." "Yes, of course." "It's just that, well, all day long i've been thinking myself how i could help you and well, now suddenly... jealous?" "You wanted to help your broken-Down husband, didn't you?" "Well, it's much better not to have a broken-Down husband at all." "Oh, schatzi, this makes such a difference." "And i can do it." "I was scared out of my wits at first." "You were scared too." "I saw it when you came in." "But i've been playing it all the afternoon." "I have it." "It's so wonderful." "What a creation." "It's something i never hoped for or dreamed of." "You think i can't do it?" "Is that what's bothering you?" " No." " No?" "Then what?" "Why did you go to see hollenius?" "Oh, i... i didn't believe you." "I thought it was hollenius who called you last night." "It sounded like it, what you were saying." "When you told me it was a girl i thought you were... lying." "Oh, i'm ashamed." "I'm ashamed to have gone to him and to have asked if you'd been there." "Are you angry?" "No." "A little sad perhaps." "But it doesn't matter." "All that matters is that you have the concerto and he gave it to you." "And you must think of nothing else but playing it wonderfully." " You really think i can?" " Of course, darling." "Of course you can." "You shall." "Now, tell me, how are you going to work?" "Well, he suggested i should plug away alone for the rest of this week and next." "And then we are to meet for dinner and afterwards i'm to play it." "And he's to see how he likes it." "And if he doesn't like it, is it all off?" "Well, he didn't say so, but with anyone as unknown as i am he has a right to protect himself, obviously." "But he'll like it." "I know he'll like it." "Oh, it's like breathing a new air to talk to someone with that feeling for music." "You're right about him, he gives, it's royal, he gives one a life years of happiness, casually, as if it were nothing." "But he knows." "He knows what he is doing." " Monsieur hollenius." " Marcelle." "I've been away." "Madame?" "Oh, my dear, i hope i'm not late." "Well, a little." "Karel." "I trust i'm gonna hear a remarkable performance." " Are you confident?" " And impatient." "So am i, for dinner." "Madame." " Good evening." "Mr. Hollenius." "Christine?" "Monsieur?" "Thank you." "Thank you, alex." "Thank you, andre." "Andre, this is my husband." " What about you, karel?" " No, thank you." " Louis, un martini." " Yeah." "Andre." "Hollenius well, my dear, what are you gonna have?" "Same as usual, a lecture on eating and then what you decide." "Karel?" "Tonight, really, i can't think about food." "You're mistaken." "The greater the pleasure the more important to preface it with a meal." "We should eat very well tonight, though simply." "I wouldn't dull my perceptions for anything." "What have you got up your sleeve?" "But in condition?" "Uh-Huh." "Mm-Hm." "Hmm." "What do you think?" "I think so, don't you?" "Hmm?" "Yup." "They might get three of these fellows ready for us." "And do you know what i think will go well before them?" "A trout." "A nice brook trout." "Not too large." "From a good stream." "Mm-Hm." "A trout and a partridge." "Could anything be more simple?" "You know, i ask only one thing of a meal, that it be excellent." "As with a musical performance, my dear karel." "I hope i shall do as well as the chef here." "You haven't tasted his product yet." "Nor, now i come to think of it, have i heard yours." "We both have a pleasure to look forward to." "You have a pleasant surprise in store, alex." "You're not very complimentary to your husband, my dear." "Nothing would surprise me but a disappointment." "However, my tastes are very simple." "A good, straightforward performance." "A trout and a partridge." "The only question is plain, the partridge, à i'anglaise, or roasted with truffles?" "Eh, christine?" "Or aux choux?" "No, of course, that would take rather a time." "Something that wouldn't take too long." "So you're eager to exhibit your prowess, eh?" "Why, i believe you're nervous." "Oh, well, never mind." "Andre here will tell you i'm very easily pleased, no?" "Perfection." "That goes without saying." "Very well." "Not to waste too much time, the partridges roasted with the truffles." "You know, with a forcemeat of pork and pullet livers." "Alex, that will take an eternity." "But mix into that forcemeat a half glass, no more, of madeira, not too dry." "Just to, uh... hmm, you know." "A little advice to you." "When ordering a meal, even a frugal snack of this kind always start with the pièce de résistance." "An ashtray, andre." "Food or music, start always with the keynote, the foundation stone." "With that thing of mine." "I'm sure you found it necessary to begin with the fugato at the end before making any study of the opening." "I'm right, am i not?" "As a matter of fact, no." "No?" " Are you joking?" " No." " I began to study it at the beginning..." " He plays it to perfection." "Which you will hear if we ever get this meal over with." "You think i'm too slow?" "I've been trying to tell you, i don't know how long karel wants to play, not eat." " Oh." "Schatzi." "Schatzi." "Schatzi." "Don't upset me." "Heh." "You know, karel, sometimes i'm positively terrified of this wife of yours." "I hope you never have any occasion to be." "Christine thinks i'm getting nervous." "I am." "Well, then to business." "And to begin with, soup." "Or a little canapé, do you think?" " Oh, canapé." " Soup." "Now, please, let us at least agree on what we're going to begin with." " Soup..." " Canapé." "Let me make up your minds for you or we shall never have done." "Tell me, andre, have you parmentiers?" "If not, a petite marmite." "Good." "Then all that remains is to consider the wine." "Alex, we don't want any wine." "Oh, but i do." "Darling, pretend it's yesterday and you still have 24 hours to wait." "Mm-Hm." "Now should one, with a partridge, take an hermitage or a very soft burgundy?" "I do hope the great haste in which we're assembling this slapdash repast is not gonna affect me and render me incapable of appreciating good music." "I do wish we had begun with the fugato at the end." "It's the key to the whole thing." "We are having these birds stuffed with truffles and a soupçon of madeira." "Darling, believe it or not, there are places here in new york where you can put a nickel in the slot and something comes out immediately." "Therefore, i shall plump for the hermitage." "Fourteen." "And you'd better decant it." " Oh, darling, relax." " Don't keep soothing me." "Do you mind?" " I was only thinking of you." " Don't, please." "Now, now, children, temper, temper." "It plays the very devil with the digestion." "We'll end with the simplest salad in the world." "And some little sweet kickshaw for you if you desire it." "The only question is the hermitage." " Oh, alex, really." " I don't know." "I really feel most uncertain." "Darling, you may as well have a drink." "All right." "Scotch and soda, please." "Supposing, after all, we had a vosne romanée?" "But then with a partridge aux truffé... but if, on the other hand, we had a woodcock." "A woodcock." "A becasse flambé, or a la vatel, or a la perigord then we could have a vosne romanée." "A romanée-Conti even." "Very well, then, a woodcock." "Now, with a woodcock, with a woodcock..." "Bon soir." "Bon soir." "Schatzi, do me a favor and don't come tonight." "I can stand my own anxiety but not yours." "All right, if you'd rather i didn't." "I'm sorry i upset you." " That's all right." "Well, you two, ready?" "Oh, the cello." "Christine is tired." "She's going home." "Oh, i hope that excellent saddle of venison we had hasn't disagreed with her." "Maybe we should have had the woodcock." "Here, darling." " Thank you." " Well, come along, my dear." "We'll drop you." "Alex, i think i'd rather walk." "Good luck." "This concludes the 1 a." "M. Edition of worldwide news." "The following is transcribed." "Remember, folks, when you spell drawrof backwards, it reads forward." "A power complex, that's what it is." "The insolence of a megalomaniac." "A paranoiac, a dictator." " Darling." " Have we abolished dictators in politics to find them cropping up in music?" "I've had enough of dictators." "An egomaniac." "Insulting into the bargain." "As an artist and as a human being, he insulted me." "Arrogance." "Insolence." "But never again, i tell you." "Never again." "The man is crazy." "Not that i mind." "All composers are crazy." "Nobody minds them being crazy." "Everybody expects them being crazy." "But this man, this man deliberately upset a performance of his own music." " I knew it." " I knew what he was up to the way he sat down at the piano." "Then interruptions, interruptions." "Out of sheer perversity." "Of course i played badly." "I played horribly, atrociously, but he made me do it." "But no more of that." "No more." "I put up with his vanity, with his airs and graces." "But spoiling my performance, that's something i won't stand for." "I'm glad." " Glad?" " Yes." "Because you're so right." "I'm so happy to hear you say it." "What does it matter, hollenius and his concerto?" "To us they're nothing." "We'll forget them." "We'll go to san francisco." "There's a whole world of music there." "And we'll start together with nothing, nothing but each other." "What on earth are you talking about?" "Well, you are not going on with it, are you?" " Who said so?" " Well, you did." " I?" " Yes." "I said no such thing." "I said i wouldn't stand for nonsense from hollenius." "Nor will i." "He's a spoiled baby masquerading as a little tin god." "He's a..." "But his concerto." "It's made for me." "The adagio section." " Lf he's going to snatch it away from you?" " I'd like to see him try it." "It's a bit late for that." "Why should he?" "What put that extraordinary idea into your head?" "What have you been talking about all this time?" "I said that he was crazy." "And so he is." "I didn't say he was crazy enough to take his concerto from the only person who can play it." "Christine, i'm asking you." "Why should he?" "Why should he?" "Oh, he's not to be trusted, karel." "This was a row between a very arrogant composer and a hot-Tempered instrumentalist." "Why do you read more into it than that?" "Oh, he's capable of anything." "Capable of spoiling the first performance of his concerto because his pupil gets married?" "Oh, no." "Not over a pupil." "Over something else perhaps." "Karel, you promised me not to speak of that again." "But i think of it." "Promise or no promise." "Karel, i tell you i misunderstood you when you first came in." " Lf he has any such idea in mind..." " Oh, but he hasn't." "You said yourself you played atrociously tonight." "That's true." "With the orchestra i shan't play atrociously." "I shall play well." " And then, then if he makes trouble..." " Oh, but he won't, karel, he won't." "Stop clenching your hand." "And give it to me." "Come on." "Poor darling." "Of course hollenius is not going to take the concerto away from you." "It was stupid of me even to think of it." "You're going to play wonderfully at the rehearsal." "Good morning, jimmy." " Is the master in?" " He's not at home, miss." "I see." "I've come to pick up mr." "Novak's cello." "It's just gone off, miss." "By special messenger." "Well, i'll use the phone then, if you don't mind." "What's this contemptible lie about not being at home?" "When have you condescended to hide from a woman?" "I suspected this was some dirty trick of yours." "To be faced by a virago at this hour of the morning." "Christine, my constitution simply will not stand this sort of thing." " You asked for it." " How?" "Are you referring to your husband's appalling exhibition of temperament last night?" " Miracle you're allowed to live." " Listen to the woman." "I think it should be i who complains." "And in the morning to be confronted by a bawling fishwife, bristling with fury because i fail to appreciate the genius of her male." "Alex, i have come here to warn you." "To warn you." "Threats, eh?" "My dear, if you knew how many daggers i've had flourished before me by hysterical ladies of the opera." "At an earlier period of my life." "Some of them i now use for paper knives." "There's one thing that lends a threat some dignity, alex." " What's that?" " An inflexible resolve to carry it out." "You know, there's a female in this opus who is really not entirely unlike yourself." " Oh!" "Listen, my dear, isn't it about time we started talking a little sense?" "What is it exactly that's bothering you?" "What you're doing to karel." "I was giving him the chance of a lifetime." "Yes, which you mean to take away again." " Why should i do that?" " Oh, out of spite, perhaps." "To break him because i've told you he's not well enough to stand it." "You're a strange man, alex." "It could be that you have some vague notion in that inflated ego of yours of abolishing him." "You know, the godlike gesture to get me back again." "You flatter yourself, my dear." "But if that's what you think, you go to him." "Tell him to throw the thing up himself." " Tell him why." " Oh, you swine." "That is a very coarse expression coming from so smartly dressed a young woman." "I'm referring to that handsome coat." "Take it back." "You... i seem to remember the dress too." "But restrain yourself, my dear." "Jimmy might come in." "The poor little creatures." "They frisk about, you know." "They have their little love affairs and suddenly they're trapped." "You idiot." "A young woman with talent and intelligence behaving like the biggest fool alive." "You want to keep your husband in the dark." "So you tell me you're lying to him." "You tell me he's a nervous wreck." "You put the only weapons with which i could attack him right into my hands." "Huh!" "What tactics." "And to insult me into the bargain." "Do you think i have no feelings?" "Do you think karel has no feelings?" " What about last night?" " I think i behaved very handsomely." "I gave the man my composition." "I presume i have the right to assure myself he's competent?" "You deliberately made him play badly." "You were impossible last night at dinner." "Delaying him, upsetting him, playing on his nerves." "And you think he needs no nerves to play before 2000 people?" "Let me tell you, i have a duty, not to you, not to him, but to music." "As a matter of fact, i think his nerves are better than his temper." "I believe at the orchestra rehearsal he will do very well." "Of course he will." "If he's there." "Alex, if i could only believe you." "That is a luxury beyond your present means, my dear." "If you want to believe other people, you better give up lying yourself." "You take my advice, go home to him." " Tell him the truth." " But i can't." "He'd leave me." "That's what you want, isn't it?" " I'm sorry." "I didn't mean that." " Yes, you did." "But tell him." "And have him throw up the concert?" "Or would you rather take it away?" "Oh, i don't know why i should have pity on a liar and a coward and a fool." "But lest you drive yourself completely insane, i assure you i promise you, the concerto will be played." "If only i could believe you." "Oh, i'm so frightened and so miserable, i don't know what i'm doing." "You're doing your best to turn a friend into an enemy." "But i know how merciless you can be." "Thank you." "You'd better go." "Besides, i have somebody coming." "Alex, i'm sorry i'm such an idiot." "My dear, i have no taste for the abject." " But don't..." " I am now going to get up." "I have an appointment for 11:00." "May i take your coat, mr." "Gribble?" "Oh, thank you." "Oh-Oh." "I usually carry that myself, thank you." "As you wish, sir." "Please follow me." "Oh, yes." "Yes, that's right, into the study." "Jimmy, did you send that cable to the london philharmonic?" " Yes, sir." " Good." "You can go away now." "Hello, brunhilde." "Oh, yes, yes, mr." "Gribble." "Bertram gribble." "Yes, yes." "Now, let me see, you've been first cellist for 10 years." "Twelve and a half, if you'll be kind enough to remember." "Yeah, yeah, yeah." "Now, tell me, how did you like that concerto of mine?" "Oh, it's a masterpiece, mr." "Hollenius." " Superb." "It's a work of genius." " Huh?" " It's monumental." " Oh, you liked the thing?" "I thought it was absolutely wonderful." "I can't tell you how anxious i am to hear you play." "I can't tell you, how anxious..." "Never mind the beginning, gribble." "Just start with the fugato." "Gribble." "Gribble." " Good morning." " I must talk to you." "Get in, i'll take you to rehearsal." "This is exceedingly kind of you." "Most kind." "Oh, i couldn't let you drown, now could i?" "Well, i greatly appreciate it." "Nonsense." "What would the orchestra do if its principal cellist should happen to catch pneumonia and die?" " What would the public say?" " Oh, mrs." "Novak." "What would hollenius say?" "Oh, hollenius?" "I doubt whether he'd be more than momentarily concerned over my premature demise." "Oh, on the contrary, i happen to know he has a very high opinion of you." "Has he?" "Well, didn't he ask you to play his concerto for him only last sunday?" "Oh, yes, as a matter of fact he did." "Well, he liked it, didn't he?" "Oh, i must say he was kind enough to congratulate me on a perfect performance." "If you're really interested i can tell you his exact words." " May i?" " Oh, please." "I noted them down in my diary." "Little tributes, it's so pleasant to remember them." ""Perfect performance," he said." ""Not a single mistake, no nerves, no nonsense, no hysteria, no anything. "" "No one can be more gracious than the master." "Said my phrasing... perhaps he was so gracious as to promise you could play the part tonight." " Me?" " You." " You don't mean the solo part?" " Yes, the solo part." " Isn't your husband...?" " It's a trick, gribble, to ruin my husband." " Oh, no." " Oh, yes." "Gribble, it was not an accident my picking you up this morning." " Really?" " I had to talk to you." "I've always heard you spoken of as a man of great integrity." "Well, i hope so." "How do you know?" "Why should hollenius...?" "Why should hollenius hate my husband?" "You've lived long enough in the musical world to know the answer." "I assure you, mrs." "Novak, i never concern myself... what's all this got to do with the concerto?" "Karel doesn't know about hollenius and me." "Oh, i see." "Karel's life has been a tragic one." "He's suffered a good deal in the past few years." "He's... well, he's like a man who's coming out of the darkness into the light." "And, well, hollenius wants to put him back into the darkness." "First he offers him this wonderful opportunity." " He's gonna take it away." " I can't believe it." "But it's true." "If hollenius does this to karel, he'll... well, he'll know why and he'll find out about me." "And that will leave him nothing, don't you understand?" "Mrs. Novak, i'm a musician and if the master considers me worthy... oh, you're not such an idiot as to think that, are you?" "I see no need to get personal." "I was under the impression i was to understudy in case anything goes wrong." "But something will go wrong." "Hollenius will see to it." " Why didn't you tell me all this before?" " I'm telling you now." "It will happen today when hollenius takes over the dress rehearsal." "Now, i could hardly expect you to pass up such a great opportunity for nothing." "I'll give you a thousand dollars if you won't accept hollenius' offer." "How many thousand would mr." "Novak give up his opportunity?" "But that's completely different." "Karel is a great musician." "Oh, indeed." "You think i'm less of an artist than your husband?" " Oh, no, i didn't..." " Thank you, mrs." "Novak." "Extra!" "Extra!" "Extra!" "Extra!" "Extra!" "Extra!" "Gribble." "Gribble, i beg you." "I'll give you $2000." "Shhh." "The flute is ahead." "Have you no feeling for rhythm?" "Once more, please, the flute passage." "Letter k, on the upbeat." "And the first bar a little slower." "Same mistake." "Me?" "Yes, you, sir." "Once more, please." "The first bar a little faster." "I was under the impression i had stopped the orchestra." "I was under the impression this was a dress rehearsal." "Never in my life have i known fantastic interruptions." "This is a cello concerto, not a flute concerto." "The conduct of the rehearsal is not your business." "Kindly confine your performance to your instrument, if you please?" "Gladly, if you let us." "You'll get no performance from me or anyone if you go on like this." "It's too much for any man." "It will be stood, mr." "Novak by anyone who is going to play under my direction." "Please sit down." "No, i insist upon playing it through once without interruptions." "Very well, sir." "Kindly leave the stage." "This is... kindly leave the stage." "Very well." " Mr. Gribble." " Yes, mr." "Hollenius." "I want you to take over the solo since our temperamental mr." "Novak seems unable to endure the strain of a rehearsal." "After all, his own performance needs no improvement." "We mustn't exhaust the delicate creature for this evening's performance." "So you'll continue his part while i polish more details with the orchestra." "Now, gentlemen." "Or perhaps, since these exhibitions of temperament are so very wearing we'd better let the concerto rest until after lunch." " Mr. Neilsen." " Yes?" " Would you like to rehearse your beethoven?" " By all means." "Thank you for your preparation of the orchestra the past week." " It was a pleasure." " Mm-Hm." " Jimmy." " Yes, sir." "Thank you." "Oh, you." "Go home." "Put some ice on your head." "Take a sedative." "Get yourself into a rational mood for this evening's performance which will be without interruptions." "Gentlemen, the "seventh," second movement." "Alex." "Alex, forgive me." "What do you mean?" "I thought you meant to ruin karel." " How should i ruin him, if you please?" " By putting gribble in." "Gribble?" "I use gribble as an understudy." "I didn't trust your husband's nerves." "I know, but i thought you meant to put him in anyway, no matter how well karel played." "You know, i have encountered a variety of infatuated women in my time." "None, so far, has had the effrontery to suggest that i would employ my music as an instrument of revenge." "You're right." "I'm ashamed." "Moreover, if i wished to obliterate such a rival as your talented but highly neurotic husband i should employ simpler measures." "I would raise his unstable mind to the highest of pinnacles." "I might allow my music to do that." "And then strike him down with unlovelier but more appropriate weapons." "Weapons." "What weapons?" "His own weakness, my dear, and his charming wife." "Let him play the concert." "Let him soar to the utmost heights." "And then, after the concert, maybe at supper casually one of those little phrases, you know." " Careless reminiscence of a year or two ago." " Oh, no, alex." "A tiny, innocent-Appearing bombshell." "But you wouldn't." "You think not?" "He certainly scared the life out of me for a moment." "You see, his bark's worse than his bite." "I wonder if it's still raining." "Now don't you fidget." "There." "Darling, hold your head still." "Please, how can i do this?" "There." "How does it look to you?" "Wonderful, superb." "See that you look up at me before you begin to play." "Darling, don't tense your hands." " Eight o'clock, you must be off." " Dear, goodness." "Here." "There." "Here's your scarf and your gloves." "There." "Oh, let me look at you." "Not bad for a rented suit, is it?" "Oh, darling." "Now, remember, you look at me the last thing before you start." "And the first thing afterwards." "Uh-Oh." "Lipstick." "I'm sorry." " But you're not ready, not nearly ready." " Don't worry about me." "I'll follow in a cab." "Here your hat and your gloves." "And your scarf." "Play well." "Oh, more lipstick." "Go on." "Oh, karel, you should have an umbrella." "Good heavens, no." "Don't you be late." "Show her in." "He's in the dining room, ma'am." "Good evening, my dear." "Why, you look positively majestic." "I think i'd better remain seated." "I thought you might be coming along." "Like a little scotch?" "There's hardly time, is there?" "We'll miss the symphony." "Compose a piece yourself, my dear." "And see how it sounds to you after listening to beethoven." "Do you mind?" "No, i expected you wouldn't go." "You know, one scene a day is quite my limit." "I mention this because there is that about you that suggests one of your peculiar moods." "Excuse me." "I've laid out your dress coat in your room." "Your other things are in the hall." "All right." "You can stay out as late as you please." "If it's really all right, sir." "Mm-Hm." "Thank you, sir." "Good night, sir." "Good night, ma'am." "Good night, jimmy." "He has a lady friend." "Slightly furtive about it." "Heh." "Extraordinary how people try to keep their little secrets which can never be kept." "Oh, but of course, you think they can, don't you?" "Well, you'll find out." "Are you sure you won't have a drink?" "No, thank you." "Well, personally, i intend to have as much as is good for me." "And i'll tell you exactly why." "First of all, i'm unusually nervous tonight." "What's more, i'm worn-Out." "Rehearsals, fuss, temperament, not even an appetite for dinner, if you please." "Moreover... do you believe in premonitions?" " Premonitions?" " Yes." "You know, i've always had a great sense of tomorrow." "I mean, when i'm dressing or eating or brushing my teeth at the back of my mind, there's something else going on, you know." "I find that i'm thinking about what i'll be doing next saturday or next month or next year." "In a vague kind of way, i mean." "Well tonight, before you came, i was aware of something missing." "I realized i wasn't thinking of next month or even next saturday." "When i tried to think of them, nothing came." "Heh." "It sounds absurd but i found it most disconcerting." " So you're afraid of death, alex?" " Oh, devilishly." "They say never confess a weakness to a woman but i am, devilishly." "You've a lot to lose." "Well, it's true." "I've lost a great deal already." "To pretend otherwise would be extremely ungracious of me." "Did you mean what you said today after rehearsal?" "You mean when i called you an offensive imbecile?" "Yes." "No." "When you said you were going tell karel." "Christine i'm extremely tired of this subject." " Did you mean it?" "Judge for yourself." "I don't wish to be rude but i'd rather listen to beethoven." "Promise you won't." "This is one of those occasions when my nerves are taut when foolery drives me very nearly mad." "You must promise me." "Could you believe me if i promised?" "I'm going upstairs for my coat." "What the devil...?" "What's the matter with you?" "What in heaven's name have you got there?" "You bought it for me, remember?" "When i moved into the studio." "For my protection, you said." "You give me that nonsensical object." "I've seen this sort of thing before." " Give it to me." " You keep away." "Don't you try to intimidate me." "You are not going to tell karel." "You are not going to see him after the performance." "You're not ever going to see him again." "Swear to me you won't." "I'll swear nothing." "I'll do what i please, see whom i please, say what i please." "You fool." "You cowardly, hysterical fool." "You and your... oh!" "Ladies and gentlemen." "The management regrets to announce that mr." "Hollenius has not yet arrived." "Since his new cello concerto is being broadcast from this hall at 9:30 mr." "Neilsen has kindly consented to conduct in his place." "Mrs. Novak." "Mrs. Novak." "You haven't heard anything about mr." "Hollenius, have you?" "Oh, isn't he here?" "No, mr." "Neilsen's taken over." "Oh, well, i saw him in his home just a short while ago." "What could have happened?" "I haven't the slightest idea, mr." "Swansen." " Congratulations, mr." "Novak." " Thank you." "Well, mr." "Novak, it isn't very often that new york gives a newcomer a reception like that." " It was brilliant." "A superb performance." " Thank you, you're very kind." "It is a relief that the absence of the composer didn't affect your performance." "Oh, uh, did you find out what happened to hollenius?" " I've been phoning his home." "No answer." " Karel." "Schatzi." "In 16 years, i've never heard such a brilliant cellist." "We must give him a return engagement." "Mrs. Novak, you must be very proud of your husband." "Oh, i am indeed." "Would you forgive me if i borrowed my husband for just a moment?" "Why, certainly." "Well was it worthwhile?" "Worthwhile?" "Oh, yes." "Oh, schatzi, this means a new life for both of us." "Have you ever heard such applause?" "I want to play this concerto all over the world." "Can't you see us going from one place to another?" "Taking it with us, giving it to people everywhere." "Oh, yes, our troubles are over." "Thanks to hollenius." "Have you any idea what happened to him that he didn't come tonight?" "I have something rather distressing to tell you about hollenius." "Distressing?" "What is it?" "Well, after you left he telephoned and asked me to come by for him." "Oh, so that's what made you so late." "He's not ill, is he?" "When i got there, he was in a strange mood." "He'd been drinking, not like himself like a savage." "He talked about... about death." "His death in the strangest way imaginable." "And well, and then he told me he loved me." " What?" " Oh, there's no need to be angry, karel." "It was nothing you could have minded, nothing of that sort at all." "He spoke about, i don't know about giving up, going away, abroad perhaps." "It seemed that he suddenly realized, when he heard about our marriage that it was all a delusion, being a teacher and a father and all that and he had found out that he was in love with me." "And what did you say to that?" "Well, i tried to treat it lightly but it seems that was a mistake." " Why?" " It seemed to drive him mad." "He shouted something like, "i'll show you. " And rushed upstairs." "And, well, then i... oh, this was very silly." "I got frightened." "The house seemed so empty and so strange as if something were about to happen." "I ran away." "As i slammed the front door behind me i had the impression he was calling me." "Standing on the stairs, shouting after me." "A taxi was passing i stopped it and came here." "Why did he choose tonight of all nights to make such a fool of himself?" "When everything was going so well." "I suppose i can't blame him for being in love with you." "But, schatzi don't you see what this means?" "Now i understand why he behaved like that at our wedding." "Why he broke the glass." "Oh, this proves everything, everything you told me." "So it took this to make you believe me?" "Oh, i was a jealous fool." "You don't know how many ways jealous people can torment themselves." "Forgive me." "Oh, it's nothing." "Nothing at all." "It's finished and done with." "And you're not going to be jealous anymore, because you know it was all nonsense." "And you're a success." "And you can live as you like and play what you like and have anything you want." "Even your mountain." "I think we ought to go by and see him." " To his house?" " Yes, of course." "Come." "We'll say good night to our friends outside and we go there... no." "Karel, i don't want to." "Oh, i know it's embarrassing for you." "But we three should be able to understand one another better than that." "One extreme or another." "This morning you were at daggers drawn." "And now it's absolute adoration." "You seem to forget how badly he's treated you." " I don't forget he gave me the concerto." " Because you are the best person to play it." "He gave it to me because of you." "Because i needed it so badly." "He drove you nearly mad through that dinner." "And quite mad at the audition afterwards." "Yes, it is maddening to realize that one isn't perfect." "But i wasn't, i'd lost too many years for that." "But, karel." "Karel, you don't know how malicious he was." "Yes, and sadistic, arrogant and heaven knows what." "But what of it?" "He's a great artist." " But you don't know about gribble." " Gribble?" "Oh." "The understudy." "Yes, yes, that was funny, wasn't it?" "Yes." "Yes, that was funny." "What about him?" "What about him?" "Nothing." "Nothing, i suppose." "That's right." "He was just the understudy." "He said if he wanted to, he could break us." "If he wanted to, he could break us." "That's right, he said if... if he wanted to." "Lf." "Why do you look at me like that?" "Oh, karel, you do love me, don't you?" "It wasn't altogether for nothing, was it?" " What was for nothing?" " I killed him." "No." "No." "Tonight." "All the time, since you first asked me about him, i've told you nothing but lies." "You mean you and hollenius?" "One lie, one small lie at first, to be explained next day i thought." "And then it was nothing but lies." "You see, i thought you'd leave me if you knew." "I thought you'd give up the concert." "I thought you'd have nothing." "But to kill him, how could you?" "How could you?" "I don't know." "I don't know." "I thought he meant to ruin us." "Today after the rehearsal he threatened to tell you about us." "I was sure he meant to." "Oh, i was wrong." "I see that now." "He always told me i'd be afraid of him and of you until i told you the truth." "I went there tonight to beg him not to tell you about us." "To threaten him that if he did, i'd... he said he'd do as he pleased." "So i shot him." "And then i thought if i made it look as though he'd done it himself, i... the concert's over." "They're waiting for you." "Darling, i heard you play tonight." "That's all that matters." "That's what you've got to hold on to." "What i am or was doesn't matter compared to that." "Let me go out of your life." "Forget me." "No one saw you leave?" "No." "So if you say nothing if you let them think what they like... no, karel." "How could we have a life together?" "We could never look at one another again." "No." "I must go to the police." "I beg you, think it over till the morning." "Till we can talk to a lawyer." "It matters so much what you tell them." "These things have to be planned." "I've planned everything up to now." "Mr. Novak?" " See what it's brought us?" "They're getting impatient, karel." "Remember the other dressing room?" "Then i had just found you." "Now i... you'll never lose me." "Strange in all the weeks we've been together, we've never been so close." "We must go, karel." "Yes." "Forgive me." " Magnificent." " Wonderful." " Nice." " Karel, you were wonderful." "What a splendid performance." "I haven't heard anything as fine in years." "Good night, mr." "Swansen." "If you and mrs." "Novak are not engaged for supper..." "I'm afraid we can't." "As a matter of fact, we have to leave at once." " Oh, that's too bad." " I'm extremely sorry." "Well, i want to thank you all for your kindness." "I really have to go." " Good night." "Good night." "Good night." "It was wonderful, it was absolutely wonderful." "I wouldn't have missed it for a thousand dollars." "Thank you, mr." "Gribble." "Oh, christine, you must be the happiest woman in the world."