plays a beautiful melody, violins and horns. MIMI moves left to meet
him.]
GERALD. [Enters left with attendants; hesitating, gazing about in
wonder. He sees MIMI, and stops; a pause.] The pack peddler!
MIMI. The pack peddler!
GER. And these are Nibelungs?
MIMI. You call us that.
GER. [Laughing nervously.] You . . . er . . . it's a little
disconcerting, you know. I had no idea you existed. May I ask your
name?
MIMI. I am Mimi.
GER. Mimi! Mimi, the smith? And may I ask . . . are you real, or is
this a dream?
MIMI. Is not life a dream?
GER. Yes . . . but . . .
MIMI. It is a story. You have to pretend that it is true.
GER. I see!
MIMI. You pretend that it is true . . . and then you see what happens!
It is very interesting!
GER. Yes . . . I have no doubt. [Peers at him.] And just to help me
straighten things out . . . would you mind telling me . . . are you
old or young?
MIMI. I am young.
GER. How young?
MIMI. Nine hundred years young.
GER. Oh! And why did you come for me?
MIMI. The king commanded it.
GER. The king? And who may this king be?
MIMI. King Alberich.
GER. Alberich. [Stares at the king.] And is this he?
MIMI. It is he.
GER. And may I speak to him?
MIMI. You may.
ALB. Let the earth-man advance. Hail!
GER. Good evening, Alberich.
MIMI. [At his elbow.] Your majesty!
GER. Good evening, your majesty.
ALB. [After along gaze.] You play our music. Where did you learn it?
GER. Why . . . it's in Wagner's operas. He composed it.
ALB. Humph . . . composed it!
GER. [Aghast.] You mean he came and copied it!
ALB. Of course!
GER. Why . . . why . . . we all thought it was original!
ALB. Original! It is indeed wonderful originality! To listen in the
Rhine-depths to the song of the maidens, to dwell in the forest and
steal its murmurs, to catch the crackling of the fire and the flowing
of the water, the galloping of the wind and the death march of the
thunder . . . and then write it all down for your own! To take our
story and tell it just as it happened . . . to take the very words
from our lips, and sign your name to them! Originality!
GER. But, your majesty, one thing at least. Even his enemies granted
him that! He invented the invisible orchestra!
ALB. [Laughing.] Have you seen any orchestra here?
[Siegfried motive sounds.]
GER. I hadn't realized it! Do you mean that everything here happens to
music?
ALB. If you only had the ears to hear, you would know that the whole
world happens to music.
GER. [Stands entranced.] Listen! Listen!
ALB. It is very monotonous, when one is digging out the gold. It keeps
up such a wheezing, and pounding.
[Stopped trumpets from orchestra.]
GER. Ah, don't speak of such things! [Gazes about; sees cup.] What is
this?
ALB. That is the coronation cup.
GER. The coronation cup?
ALB. One of the greatest of our treasures. It is worth over four
hundred thousand dollars. It is the work of the elder Mimi, a most
wonderful smith.
GER. [Advancing.] May I look at it?
ALB. You will observe the design of the Rhine maidens.
GER. I can't see it here. It's too dark. Let me have a candle.
MIMI. A candle?
ALL. A candle!
ALB. My dear sir! Candles are so expensive! And why do you want to see
it? We never look at our art treasures.
GER. Never look at them!
ALB. No. We know what they are worth, and everyone else knows; and
what difference does it make how they look?
GER. Oh, I see!
ALB. Perhaps you would like to see our vaults of gold? [Great
excitement among the Nibelungs. The music makes a furious uproar.
ALBERICH gives a great key to MIMI, who opens the iron doors.]
Approach, sir.
MIMI. Hear the echoes. [Shouts.]
GER. It must be a vast place!
ALB. This particular cavern runs for seventeen miles under the earth.
GER. What! And you mean it is all full of gold?
ALB. From floor to roof with solid masses of it.
GER. Incredible! Is it all of the Nibelung treasure?
ALB. All? Mercy, no! This is simply my own, and I am by no means a
rich man. The extent of some of our modern fortunes would simply
exceed your belief. We live in an age of enormous productivity. [After
a pause.] Will you see more of the vault?
GER. No, I thank you. [They close it.] It must be getting late; and,
by the way, your majesty, you know that no one has told me yet why you
had me brought here.
ALB. Ah, yes, sure enough. We have business to talk about. Let us get
to it! [To MIMI.] Let the hall be cleared. [MIMI drives out the
Nibelungs and retires.] Sit on this rock here beside me.
[Confidentially.] Now we can talk things over. I trust you are willing
to listen to me.
GER. Most certainly. I am very much interested.
ALB. Thank you. You know, my dear sir, that I had a son, Hagen, who
was the slayer of the great hero, Siegfried?
GER. Yes, your majesty.
ALB. A most lamentable affair. You did not know, I presume, that
Hagen, too, had a son, by one of the daughters of earth?
GER. No. He is not mentioned in history.
ALB. That son, Prince Hagen, is now living; and, in the course of
events, he will fall heir to the throne I occupy.
GER. I see.
ALB. The boy is seven or eight hundred years old, which, in your
measure, would make him about eighteen. Now, I speak frankly. The boy
is wild and unruly. He needs guidance and occupation. And I have sent
for you because I understand that you earth-people think more and see
farther than we do.
GER. Yes?
ALB. I wish to ask you to help me . . . to use your strength of mind
and body to direct this boy.
GER. But what can I do?
ALB. I wish you to stay here and be Prince Hagen's tutor.
GER. What?
ALB. [Anxiously.] If you will do it, sir, you will carry hence a
treasure such as the world has never seen before. And it is a noble
work . . . a great work, sir. He is the grandson of a king! Tell me .
. . will you help me?
[Gazes imploringly.]
GER. Let me think. [A pause.] Your majesty, I have things of
importance to do, and I have no time to stay here . . .
ALB. But think of the treasures!
GER. My father is a rich man, and I have no need of treasures. And
besides, I am a poet. I have work of my own...
ALB. Oh! don't refuse me, sir!
GER. Listen! There is, perhaps, something else we can do. How would it
do to take Prince Hagen up to the world?
ALB. [Starting.] Oh!
GER. This world is a small one. There he might have a wide field for
his energies. He might be sent to a good school, and taught the ideals
of our Christian civilization.
ALB. [Ponde
ring anxiously.] You mean that you yourself would see to it
that proper care was given to him?
GER. If I took him with me it would mean that I was interested in his
future.
ALB. It is a startling proposition. What opportunity can you offer
him?
GER. I am only a student myself. But my father is a man of importance
in the world.
ALB. What does he do?
GER. He is John Isman. They call him the railroad king.
ALB. You have kings in your world, also!
GER. [Smiling.] After a fashion . . . yes.
ALB. I had not thought of this. I hardly know what to reply. [He
starts.] What is that?
[An uproar is heard of left. Shouts and cries; music rises to
deafening climax. Nibelungs flee on in terror.]
HAGEN. [Rushes on, struggling wildly, and dragging several Nibelungs.]
Let me go, I say! Take off these chains!
ALB. [Rising in seat.] Hagen!
HAGEN. I will not stand it, I tell you!
ALB. Hagen! Listen to me!
HAGEN. No!
ALB. I have something new to tell you. The earth-man has suggested
taking you up with him to the world.
HAGEN. [A sudden wild expression flashes across his features.] No! [He
gazes from one to the other, half beside himself.] You can't mean it!
ALB. It is true, Hagen.
HAGEN. What . . . why . . .
ALB. You would be sent to school and taught the ways of the earth-men.
Do you think that you would like to go?
HAGEN. [Wildly.] By the gods! I would!
ALB. [Nervously.] You will promise to obey . . .
HAGEN. I'll promise anything! I'll do anything!
ALB. Hagen, this is a very grave decision for me. It is such an
unusual step! You would have to submit yourself to this gentleman, who
is kind enough to take charge of you . . .
HAGEN. I Will! I will! Quick! [Holding out his chains.] Take them off!
ALB. [Doubtfully.] We can trust you?
HAGEN. You can trust me! You'll have no trouble. Take them off!
ALB. Off with them!
MIMI. [Advances and proceeds to work at chains with a file.] Yes, your
majesty.
HAGEN. [TO GERALD.] Tell me! What am I to do?
GER. You are to have an education . . .
HAGEN. Yes? What's it like? Tell me more about the earth-people.
GER. It's too much to try to tell. You will be there soon.
HAGEN. Ah! Be quick there! [Tears one hand free and waves it.] By the
gods!
ALB. [To GERALD.] You had best spend the night with us and consult
with me . . .
HAGEN. No, no! No delay! What's there to consult about?
ALB. We have so much to settle . . . your clothes . . . your money . . .
HAGEN. Give me some gold . . . that will be all. Let us be off!
GER. I will attend to everything. There is no need of delay.
HAGEN. Come on! [Tears other hand free.] Aha! [Roams about the stage,
clenching his hands and gesticulating, while the music rises to a
tremendous climax.] Free! Free forever! Aha ! Aha ! [Turning to
GERALD.] Let us be off.
GER. All right. [To ALBERICH.] Good-bye, your majesty.
ALB. [Anxiously.] Good-bye.
HAGEN. Come on!
ALB. [As Nibelungs gather about, waving farewell.] Take care of
yourself! Come back to me!
HAGEN. Free! Free! Ha, ha, ha!
MIMI. [With Nibelungs.] Good-bye!
ALB. Good-bye!
GER. Good-bye!
HAGEN. Free!
[Exit, with GERALD, amid chorus of farewells, and wild uproar of
music.]
[CURTAIN]
ACT II
[Scene shows the library in a Fifth Avenue mansion; spacious and
magnificent. There are folding doors right centre. There is a centre
table with a reading lamp and books, and soft leather chairs. The
walls are covered with bookcases. An entrance right to drawing-room.
Also an entrance left.]
[At rise: GERALD, in evening clothes, reading in front of fire.]
GER. [Stretching, and sighing.] Ah, me! I wish I'd stayed at the club.
Bother their dinner parties!
MRS. IS. [Enters right, a nervous, fussy little woman, in evening
costume.] Well, Gerald . . .
GER. Yes, mother?
MRS. IS. You're not coming to dinner?
GER. You don't need me, mother. You've men enough, you said.
MRS. IS. I like to see something of my son now and then.
GER. I had my lunch very late, and I'm honestly not hungry. I'd rather
sit and read.
MRS. IS. I declare, Gerald, you run this reading business into the
ground. You cut yourself off from everyone.
GER. They don't miss me, mother.
MRS. IS. To-night Renaud is going to give us some crabflake a la
Dewey! I told Mrs. Bagley-Willis I'd show her what crabflake could be.
She is simply green with envy of our chef.
GER. I fancy that's the reason you invite her, isn't it?
MRS. IS. [Laughs.] Perhaps.
[Exit right. He settles himself to read.]
HICKS. [Enters centre.] Mr. Gerald.
GER. Well?
HICKS. There was a man here to see you some time ago, Sir.
GER. A man to see me? Why didn't you let me know?
HICKS. I started to, Sir. But he disappeared, and I can't find him,
Sir.
GER. Disappeared? What do you mean?
HICKS. He came to the side entrance, Sir; and one of the maids
answered the bell. He was such a queer-looking chap that she was
frightened, and called me. And then I went to ask if you were in, and
he disappeared. I wasn't sure if he went out, Sir, or if he was still
in the house.
GER. What did he look like?
HICKS. He was a little chap . . . so high . . . with a long beard and
a humped back . . .
GER. [Startled.] Mimi!
HICKS. He said you knew him, sir.
GER. Yes! I would have seen him.
HICKS. I didn't know, sir . . .
GER. Watch out for him. He'll surely come back.
HICKS. Yes, Sir. I'm very sorry, sir.
[Exit centre.]
GER. [To himself.] Mimi! What can that mean?
Mimi. [Opens door, left, and peeps in.] Ha!
GER. [Starts.] Mimi!
MIMI. Ssh!
GER. What is it?
MIMI. Where is Prince Hagen?
GER. I don't know.
MIMI. You don't know?
GER. No.
MIMI. But I must see him!
GER. I've no idea where he is.
MIMI. But . . . you promised to take care of him!
GER. Yes . . . and I tried to. But he ran away . . .
MIMI. What?
GER. I've not heard of him for two years now.
MIMI. [Coming closer.] Tell me about it.
GER. I took him to a boarding school . . . a place where he'd be taken
care of and taught. And he rebelled . . . he would not obey anyone . .
. [Takes some faded telegrams from pocket book.] See! This is what I
got.
MIMI. What are they?
GER. Telegrams they sent me. [Reads.] Hagen under physical restraint.
Whole school disorganized. Come immediately and take him away.
MIMI. Ha!
GER. That's one. And here's the other: Hagen has escaped, threatening
teachers with revolver. Took train for New York. What
shall we do?
[Puts away papers.] And that's all.
MIMI. All?
GER. That was over two years ago. And I've not heard of him since.
MIMI. But he must be found!
GER. I have tried. I can't.
MIMI. [Vehemently.] But we cannot do without him!
GER. What's the matter?
MIMI. I cannot tell you. But we must have him! The people need him!
GER. He has lost himself in this great city. What can I do?
MIMI. He must be found. [Voices heard centre.] What is that?
GER. It is some company.
MIMI. [Darts left.] We must find Prince Hagen! He must come back to
Nibelheim!
[Exit left.]
MRS. BAGLEY-WILLIS. [Off centre.] It was crabflake a la Dewey she
promised me!
[Enters with ISMAN.]
GER. How do you do, Mrs. Bagley-Willis?
MRS. B.-W. How do you do, Gerald?
GER. Hello, father!
ISMAN. Hello, Gerald!
MRS. B.-W. Am I the first to arrive?
GER. I think so.
MRS. B.-W. And how is Estelle after her slumming adventure?
GER. She's all right.
ISMAN. That was a fine place for you to take my daughter!
MRS. B.-W. It wasn't my fault. She would go. And her mother consented.
GER. I wish I'd been there with you.
MRS. B.-W. Indeed, I wished for someone. I was never more frightened
in my life.
ISMAN. Did you see this morning's Record?
MRS. B.-W. No. What?
ISMAN. About that fellow, Steve O'Hagen?
MRS. B.-W. Good heavens!
GER. Nothing about Estelle, I hope!
ISMAN. No . . . apparently nobody noticed that incident. But about his
political speech, and the uproar he's making on the Bowery. They say
the streets were blocked for an hour . . . the police couldn't clear
them.
GER. He must be an extraordinary talker.
MRS. B.-W. You can't imagine it. The man is a perfect demon!
GER. Where does he come from?
ISMAN. Apparently nobody knows. The papers say he turned up a couple
of years ago . . . he won't talk about his past. He joined Tammany
Hall, and he's sweeping everything before him.
GER. What do you suppose will come of it?
ISMAN. Oh, he'll get elected . . . what is it he's to be . . . an
alderman? . . . and then he'll sell out, like all the rest. I was
talking about it this afternoon, with Plimpton and Rutherford.
MRS. B.-W. They're to be here to-night, I understand.
ISMAN. Yes. . . so they mentioned. Ah! Here's Estelle!
ESTELLE. [Enters, centre, with an armful of roses.] Ah! Mrs. Bagley-
Willis! Good evening!
MRS. B.-W. Good evening, Estelle.
EST. Good evening, father. Hello, Gerald.
GER. My, aren't we gorgeous to-night!
EST. Just aren't we!
MRS. B.-W. The adventure doesn't seem to have hurt you. Where is your
mother?
GER. She went into the drawing-room. [MRS. B.-W. and ISMAN go off,
right; ESTELLE is about to follow.] Estelle!
EST. What is it?
GER. What's this I hear about your adventure last night?
EST. [With sudden seriousness.] Oh, Gerald! [Comes closer.] It was a
frightful thing! I've hardly dared to think about it!
GER. Tell me.
EST. Gerald, that man was talking straight at me . . . he meant every