Page:Poet Lore, volume 34, 1923.djvu/510

 us. He may be a little heavy for it, but he has his imposing moments.

Rudolph.—Burris is a man a—a husband for one of you two maiden ladies.

Lena.—Rudolph, even sisters may be ladies.

Erna.—Why not?

Lena (Betraying more than she intends).—You, Erna! The daughter of a real baron married to an overseer on my estate!

Erna.—Everything is possible. If he should apply for active service

Rudolph.—In such cases he would be captain Burris at once.

Erna.—I assure you, Lena, rather than to live here the rest of my life like a mummy pickled in vinegar, I should prefer to be Mrs. Burris. Of course, only in the event that he enter active service.

Rudolph.—Nota bene: providing they do not refuse him.

Erna.—In that case it’s all off. I have no dowry. That was squandered for me by my precious little brother. So Lena, don’t be afraid I shall steal your overseer.

Lena (Bitterly).—I take it all back, Rudolph—all sisters are not ladies.

( rises quickly. checks her.)

Rudolph.—Silence! He’s coming back.

Burris (With an Albanian pistol in his hands).—I’ve been slightly delayed. The thing had to be unpacked. I beg your pardon.

Rudolph.—Ein Prachtstuck. (Studies it.) Albanian work, at least one hundred and fifty years old. Gold inlaid. Value simply beyond computation. What an ornament! A man can afford to sacrifice a rib for a thing like this.

(While still examining the gun, he suddenly pales and looks at with an anxious face.)

Burris.—If it will give you any pleasure, I beg that you consider the antique as your own.

Rudolph.—A gift of such great value is possible only between cavaliers.

Erna.—Permit; a thing like that—we must see it too. (Takes the weapon from .) How beautiful, and how heavy!

Rudolph.—Besides that, although it is valuable, and although it would serve as an ornament on the wall, I should not accept the pistol if you paid me to take it. (As they all come