Part 4 (1/2)

DR. GOLL. (To Lulu.) You can safely smile at him with less bashfulness!

SCHoN. He makes nothing of it.

DR. GOLL. And if he did!--What are we two sitting here for?

ALVA SCHoN. (Entering, still behind the Spanish screen.) May one come in?

SCHoN. My son!

LULU. Oh! It's Mr. Alva!

DR. GOLL. Don't mind. Just come along in.

ALVA. (Stepping forward, shakes hands with Schon and Goll.) Glad to see you. (Turning toward Lulu.) Do I see a-right? Oh, if only I could engage you for my t.i.tle part!

LULU. I don't think I could dance nearly well enough for your show!

ALVA. But you do have a dancing-master such as cannot be found on any stage in Europe.

SCHoN. But what brings you here?

DR. GOLL. Maybe you're having somebody or other painted here, too, in secret!

ALVA. (To Schon.) I wanted to take you to the dress rehearsal.

DR. GOLL. (As Schon rises.) Do you have 'em dance to-day in full costume?

ALVA. Of course. Come along, too. In five minutes I must be on the stage. (To Lulu.) Unhappy!

DR. GOLL. I've forgotten--what's the name of your ballet?

ALVA. Dalailama.

DR. GOLL. I thought =he= was in a madhouse.

SCHoN. You're thinking of Nietzsche, Doctor.

DR. GOLL. You're right; I got 'em mixed up.

ALVA. I have helped Buddhism to its legs.

DR. GOLL. By his legs is the stage-poet known.

ALVA. Corticelli dances the youthful Buddha as tho she had seen the light of the world by the Ganges.

SCHoN. So long as her mother lived, she danced with her legs.

ALVA. Then when she got free she danced with her intelligence.

DR. GOLL. Now she dances with her heart.