Chapter 4

Otto

Have no fear, there will be no battle or bombardment in this direction; and while the occupation lasts I shall be able to protect the house of my wife and my father-in-law, or at least to see that it is protected.

The Burgomaster

Here is Isabelle.

(EnterIsabelle.)

Isabelle

(Pausing for one moment on the threshold and then rushing intoOtto’sarms.) You! Is that you? You here; and I did not know!

Otto

(Embracing her.) Isabelle!

Isabelle

You’re not wounded? You haven’t been ill?

Otto

No; and you? I heard you were not very well.

Isabelle

It’s nothing; it was the horror of everything that has happened and the anxiety of knowing you to be constantly in danger from the enemy....

The Burgomaster

What enemy? It’s he and his friends that are the enemy; and he runs no danger in the midst of them. But I will leave you to yourselves. Call me when you want me. (Exit.)

Isabelle

It’s true. I no longer know where I am. I call enemies all who wish you ill; and that means all the people I love. It is too much for a woman’s heart to bear. But it is over now, I hope; and the worst is ended.

Otto

No, the worst is beginning. But I was sure of you and that you at least would not condemn me unheard.

Isabelle

I condemn the others, but I know thatyou are no more to blame than I am. Besides, what does it all matter, when I find you the same as you were? But shall I have you with me for a few days? That will be something to set against this awful war!

Otto

I have no idea. I may have to go away to-morrow.

Isabelle

Are you in the firing-line?

Otto

It’s all firing-line at the moment. We are advancing like a torrent. I did not dare tell your father, but the whole of Belgium is invaded. Antwerp will fall to-morrow and Paris in a week.

Isabelle

And after that?

Otto

After that, victory; and we shall settle down here, unless you would rather go with me to Germany.

Isabelle

I shall go where you go.

(EnterFloris.)

Floris

Isn’t dad here?

Otto

Good-morning, Floris! Come and shake hands.

Floris

(Recoiling in horror.) Shake hands with you!

Isabelle

Floris!

Floris

Where’s dad?

Isabelle

In the next room. But you might at least be civil and shake hands with Otto, who wishes us no harm and who has come here to protect us.

Floris

I don’t want his protection, thank you!

(Exit, slamming the door behind him.)

Otto

You see the hatred! Amazing! It’s the same everywhere, all the time, wherever we go. They simply will not listen, they will not understand. I was conscious of its existence even in the heart of your father, who is the best-natured, fairest and most tranquil-minded man I know. Whatcan we do, when they treat us like that?... But we must keep an eye on the boy. So long as he confines his offensive remarks to me, there’s no great harm done, but it would be a bad look out for him if he took it into his head to treat the Major or Lieutenant von Schaunberg in this way, for they are neither of them very patient. (A shot is fired in the distance.) That’s a shot!

Isabelle

Yes, at the bottom of the garden, near the wood.

(Enter hurriedly theBurgomasterandFloris.)

The Burgomaster

Did you hear? A rifle-shot!

Floris

(Between his teeth.) One less.

Otto

What do you say?

Floris

Nothing. I can say what I like.

The Burgomaster

(Anxiously.) But who fired the shot? It can only have been one of your men. There’s not a fire-arm left in this house, or anywhere in the town.

Otto

It’s probably my brother-officer, Lieutenant von Schaunberg, taking a stroll in the wood. He’s very fond of shooting; and I told him he’d find rabbits there.

The Burgomaster

Yes, the shot came from that side; but there wasn’t a single gun in the house.

Otto

He always carries his own among his kit. In any case, if all the arms are at the Town-hall, you have no cause for alarm. Do you answer for your servants? Are there no disaffected ones among them?

The Burgomaster

What do you call disaffected? They are irritated, incensed, indignant, exasperated, that’s natural enough; but they know how to restrain themselves and are not such fools as to attempt a useless murder, which would entail the destruction of the town and the death of hundreds of innocent victims, as at Dinant, Andenne, Louvain and Aerschot. I know them; they will be patient and bide their time.

Otto

What time?

The Burgomaster

The time that will come later.

Otto

I don’t understand you. Here you are talking like our worst enemies!

The Burgomaster

Do you expect me to be one of your friends? Would you insult me by numbering me among those who.... But I won’t say what I was going to say, it’s better not.... This incident has unnerved me. For I know that I am responsible and that if any unpleasantness occurs, it will be on my head.

Otto

I hear footsteps outside the house. (Going to the balcony-window and opening it.) Is that you, Sergeant Hartung? What is it?

The Sergeant

(In the garden below, unseen.) I don’t know, sir. I saw Lieutenant von Schaunberg go that way.

Otto

When?

The Sergeant

A quarter of an hour ago.

Otto

(To theBurgomaster.) It’s what I told you: he has gone shooting in the wood.

The Sergeant

Beg pardon, sir, he had no gun with him.

Otto

Are you sure? That’s odd. Well, run and see what it is, instead of standing there gaping!

The Sergeant

Very good, sir. I was just going when you stopped me. But a lot of my men are there already.

Otto

I hear shouts. There’s something I don’t like about this. But here’s one of your men coming back; he’ll tell us what has happened.

The Sergeant

Hurry up, there! What was it?

The Soldier

(Also in the garden, unseen.) The Lieutenant? Where’s the Lieutenant?

Otto

Here. What’s the matter? Why don’t you speak?

The Soldier

Sir! Lieutenant von Schaunberg! He’s been murdered.

Otto

What? Who? Come nearer! What are you saying?

The Soldier

He’s dead.

Otto

When? How? Send for a doctor. I’ll come down. Perhaps he’s only wounded.

The Soldier

No, sir, he has a bullet through his head. They found him lying in the bracken.

Otto

Have they arrested the murderer?

The Soldier

They’re hunting in the wood. They’ve seen nobody.

Otto

(To theSergeant.) Have sentries posted at all the gates. Quick! quick! Shoot any one at sight who attempts to leave the grounds. He can’t escape. Where’s the Major?

The Sergeant

I don’t know, sir.

The Burgomaster

He’s probably in his room, on the other side of the house. He won’t have heard.

Otto

Send and tell him.

The Burgomaster

This forebodes no good.

Otto

Don’t be afraid. The criminal can’t escape; and, when we’ve caught him, he shall serve as an example that will make them think twice before they do it again. Stay here, all of you. Let no one leave the room, or I won’t answer for the consequences. It’s a serious matter, a very serious matter.

(Exit)

CURTAIN

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