SCENE OF THE PLAY

The Scene is laid at the end of August, 1914, at Stilemonde, a small town in Belgian Flanders.

The firstActbegins at 10A.M.and ends at 12 noon; the second begins at 2P.M.and ends at 4P.M.;the third begins at 5:30P.M.and ends at 7P.M.on the same day.

THE BURGOMASTER OFSTILEMONDE

THE BURGOMASTER OF

STILEMONDE

TheBurgomaster’sstudy, a large and very comfortably furnished room on the first floor of the house, used partly as an office, and partly as a horticultural laboratory. Leather easy-chairs, a glass book-case. A large table laden with papers and with vases, dishes and baskets full of flowers and fruit: orchids, peaches, plums and magnificent bunches of grapes. In the various corners, a grandfather’s clock, garden-tools, pulverizers, retorts, test-tubes, bee-hives, etc. At the back, a French windowopening on a balcony. On the right a heavy door.

As theCurtainrises, theMunicipal Secretaryis writing at a corner of the table.Enter,on the right,Jean Gilson.He is dressed in ill-fitting peasant’s clothes, and carries his arm in a sling.

Jean Gilson

Good-morning, Mr. Secretary.

The Secretary

Good-morning. What can I do for you?

Jean Gilson

(Going nearer.) Don’t you know me, old friend?

The Secretary

Why, it’s you, Jean! The last man Iexpected to see! Where have you come from? I say, you’re wounded!

Jean Gilson

Yes, a bullet in the arm.... I got it outside Aerschot. They put me into hospital at Winkel, but the Germans entered the town yesterday and, as I could walk, I didn’t wait for them to take me prisoner. I got into these clothes, cleared out, spent part of the night in a ditch, tramped three hours across country and here I am at Stilemonde. I must be off at once, though, and try and catch up my carabineers, who ought to be somewhere near Overloop.

The Secretary

You look tired. Does the arm hurt? And you’re soaked through!

Jean Gilson

Yes. The arm’s not much, or rather itwasn’t. To-day, somehow, I seem to feel it more.

The Secretary

That’s because you’re tired. You must rest a little and have your wound seen to. We’ll find you a bed somewhere, either at my place or here, which is God’s own house.

Jean Gilson

It’s not a question of resting, it’s not a question of bed; they’ll be here before the morning’s over.

The Secretary

Who?

Jean Gilson

The Germans! There are Uhlans everywhere along the roads; and I expect the main body isn’t far behind.

The Secretary

Impossible! We’ve heard nothing of that here; but of course the communications have all been cut.

Jean Gilson

Where’s the Burgomaster?

The Secretary

I’m waiting for him. He’s in one of the glass-houses. The storm last night seems to have done some damage. He’ll be here in a minute: the man has gone to find him. Would you like to speak to him?

Jean Gilson

I’ve a message from the Burgomaster of Winkel, advising him to be very careful and, above all, to see that no arms are found in the town.

The Secretary

We’ve seen to all that; we’ve done everything. All the arms, even the trophies and curios, have been put away in the Town-hall and locked up in a room of which I’ve got the key.... So they’re at Winkel, are they?

Jean Gilson

Yes, three or four hundred. I was told that the master’s son-in-law was at the head of them.

The Secretary

The master? Who?

Jean Gilson

Yours, the Burgomaster of Stilemonde.

The Secretary

Otto Hilmer? Impossible!

Jean Gilson

Yes, that was the name: Lieutenant Hilmer. So it’s true then? I wouldn’t believe it. Did the Burgomaster’s daughter marry a German?

The Secretary

Of course she did; why not? We were not very fond of the Germans here; but, after all, they did us no harm; on the contrary.... It was before the war, when nobody thought of these things. As luck would have it, poor Madame van Belle, the master’s wife, died a year before the wedding. It would never have happened had she been alive, for she loathed the Prussians; and if she could see what they are doing to-day! But what a blow it will be to the master! Is Lieutenant Otto likely to be coming here?

Jean Gilson

Sure to. At least, so he told the Burgomaster at Winkel.... But how did that marriage come about?

The Secretary

In the most natural way. How was one to know that some fine day the Germans would come and massacre us and do all the dreadful things that people are talking about ... if they’re true?

Jean Gilson

They’re true enough; and what you’ve heard isn’t the worst.

The Secretary

Dreadful! But who could have thought it!... You see, Monsieur van Belle, our Burgomaster, went to Germany now and again on business. They made a great fuss of him there and treated him royally.At Cologne they made him the president of all the local horticultural societies. He had known the Hilmer family a long time and used to stay with Otto’s parents whenever he went to Cologne.

Jean Gilson

Are they well off, the Hil—what did you say the name was?

The Secretary

The Hilmers. They’ve got a factory in the Rhine Province: electrical machinery; it’s the biggest factory in the place. Well, young Hilmer, who’s now Lieutenant Otto, wanted to learn about cultivation of orchids and hot-house grapes, which happens to be the specialty of Van Belle and Co. And Monsieur van Belle’s son was keen on electricity only. So they paired off: young Van Belle went to Cologne and Otto came here.

Jean Gilson

How long ago was that?

The Secretary

Nearly two years.

Jean Gilson

And where is young Van Belle now?

The Secretary

He was at Cologne when war was declared; but there’s a rumour that he managed to escape. We’ve heard nothing definite, though, and are very uneasy.

Jean Gilson

And the other? How did he get back to Germany?

The Secretary

I don’t know. He must have got windof it somehow. He left us suddenly, at the end of July, gave out that his mother was ill.

Jean Gilson

That shows again that they knew what was going to happen and were preparing for it. And, ashehad been warned, he might at least have done the same by his father-in-law and still more by his wife’s brother.

The Secretary

You see, those people aren’t like us.

Jean Gilson

Or rather we’re not like them, thank Heaven!... Have they been married long?

The Secretary

Close on six months.

Jean Gilson

Are they happy?

The Secretary

They worshipped each other. And one’s got to be fair. Otto is a very pleasant, good-hearted fellow, very kind, and liked doing people a good turn. Worked very hard. Polite to everybody. Clever too, very. Nothing really to be said against him.

Jean Gilson

Except that he’s a German; and that’s quite enough.... And how does his wife take it all?

The Secretary

She’s very much upset, of course; and that’s bad, because, as I hear, she is at this moment—you understand. However, it’snot certain yet.... She is very restless, very depressed, but she doesn’t say anything: she was never one to talk much.

Jean Gilson

But he must surely have told her, have prepared her?... She must have known what was going on?

The Secretary

I know nothing about that. I’m not in her confidence.

Jean Gilson

And what does the master say?

The Secretary

He’s dreadfully worried. At first, he was quite bowled over. He simply refused to believe it. Then he was furious, wild, beside himself. But he calmed down aftera bit: you see, he was always something of an optimist; and now he’s beginning to think that things will be settled very soon. But here he is.

(Enter theBurgomaster,carrying a basket filled with prize grapes.)

The Secretary

(Rising.) Good-morning, Mr. Burgomaster.

The Burgomaster

Good-morning, Pierre. How are you?

The Secretary

As well as can be, after working all night.

The Burgomaster

Is everything settled at the Town-hall?

The Secretary

Yes, Mr. Burgomaster. All the armshave been stored there; I drew up a list myself and gave the receipts.... But let me introduce my old friend Jean Gilson, who’s been wounded at Aerschot. He was in hospital at Winkel when the Germans entered the town yesterday; he managed to escape last night.

The Burgomaster

(Shaking hands withGilson.) So you were at Aerschot?

Jean Gilson

Yes, I was a sergeant in the battalion of carabineers which covered the retreat.

The Burgomaster

Was it much of a fight?

Jean Gilson

Yes. Two-thirds of the battalion were killed or wounded. There are alwaysthree of them to one of us; and we had no guns. We held our ground as long as we could; then we were obliged to fall back.

The Burgomaster

You look dreadfully tired and must be starving! Pierre, my dear fellow, why on earth didn’t you...? (He rings.) I’ll tell him myself. (Enter theFootman.) Firmin, bring up some cold meat; bring anything you’ve got downstairs: bread, butter, eggs, cheese. What cold meat is there?

The Footman

Veal and chicken, sir; ham, tongue.

The Burgomaster

All right, bring them all. And as to drink.... (ToJean Gilson.) What wine do you like? I’ve a splendid Rudesheimerand an ’82 white port which you won’t quarrel with. Which would you like? (To theFootman.) Look here, bring both, that’s simpler. (ToJean Gilson.) You can manage a couple of bottles, I dare say. If necessary we’ll lend you a hand, eh, Mr. Secretary? It will be so much less left for the Germans. There’s fruit enough, as you see. These pears, these plums and peaches are of my own growing; look at the grapes I have just picked; did you ever see anything like them? They’re my special achievement: a variety I got by slowly and patiently crossing the Black Alicante, which is magnificent to look at but hasn’t much flavour, with a Sicilian muscat that’s very small but delicious. I’ve secured what’s best in both of them and kept out what’s bad. Just taste them: aren’t they wonderful? They’re hard and yet they’re juicy; theyjust melt as you crush them with your teeth. Each one is like a drop of wine with a touch of snow in it. I shall be putting over four thousand pounds of these grapes on the market every week in five years or so. You’ve been the first to have a taste of them.... So they’re at Winkel, are they?

Jean Gilson

Yes, Mr. Burgomaster; and they’ll be here this morning. I’m just a bit ahead of them.

The Secretary

Jean tells me that they’re led by Mr. Otto, your son-in-law.

The Burgomaster

What, Otto? Impossible! Were you told that? Did you see him?

Jean Gilson

I didn’t see him, but that’s what I was told. There were three officers at Winkel, a major and two lieutenants; Otto Hilmer was one. I hear that he said he was coming to occupy Stilemonde with a detachment of the 62nd Foot.

The Burgomaster

Yes, he was a lieutenant in the reserve. It’s odd that he should have dared.... But no, in point of fact he’s right. He has done the right thing, he will arrange matters and we shall have nothing to fear. All the same, it’s rather extraordinary. My own son-in-law comes into my town as a conqueror, booted and helmeted, with his sword drawn, after violating the frontier of his adopted country.... However, it’s war; and he can’t help it. He’s not responsible and he can’t do what helikes. Besides, it’s all the better for us: as long as he’s here, we’ve nothing to be afraid of.... How are they behaving at Winkel? I hope they haven’t done much harm?

Jean Gilson

They hadn’t when I left. They took the burgomaster, the priest and the notary as hostages and declared that they would kill them if a single shot was fired in the village.

The Burgomaster

They won’t do that, thanks to Otto. Otto is a kind-hearted chap, who wouldn’t hurt a soul. Besides, I feel certain that their massacres and atrocities have been greatly exaggerated; after all, they’re not savages.

Jean Gilson

I beg your pardon, Mr. Burgomaster,there has been no exaggeration at all; on the contrary, we haven’t heard everything yet. What they did at Andenne, at Dinant, at Louvain, at Aerschot and at every town they came to is simply appalling. As for the massacres at Dinant and Louvain, I’ve got that at first hand: two of my men saw it with their own eyes. At Louvain, they executed two hundred and ten innocent people, including twenty-four women and fourteen children; at Dinant, six hundred and six, including thirty-nine children and seventy-one women; at Aerschot, they shot the burgomaster and his son of fifteen, with many other entirely harmless and defenceless citizens.

The Burgomaster

Then it’s true that there have been military executions? I didn’t believe it.... And what excuse did they make?

Jean Gilson

Their colonel had been killed by a stray bullet, fired by one of their own men.

The Burgomaster

The devil! They’re dangerous then! But we must have none of that here. (Enter theFootman.) Here’s Firmin with the tray: sandwiches and the two bottles. (Filling the glasses.) This is my ’95 Rudesheimer. Tell me what you think of it.

Jean Gilson

(Tasting the wine.) It’s remarkably good.

The Burgomaster

You’re right. (Exit theFootman.) This is one of a lot of fifty dozen, which I bought at the sale of Von Hulthem the notary, who had the best cellar in theseparts.... But what do you mean to do now? You can’t go off like this, you know. You must have a few days’ rest here; and we’ll dress your wound properly; it doesn’t do to trifle with a thing like that.

Jean Gilson

You see, if they catch me here, they’ll send me to Germany, unless they shoot me as a franc-tireur.

The Burgomaster

Have no fear of that. I’ll hide you in the house; I’ll tell Otto and he’ll arrange things.

Jean Gilson

Nothing would suit me better. I’m very tired and I feel I haven’t the strength to go very far. But I’m afraid of compromising you if they find me under your roof.

The Burgomaster

I assure you, you have nothing to fear. Leave it all to me. Otto can refuse me nothing; and you’ll see, we’ll settle all this among ourselves.

(Enter theFootman.)

The Footman

They’re at the gate, sir.

The Burgomaster

Who?

The Footman

The Germans, sir: some officers and a dozen Uhlans. Shall I let them in?

The Burgomaster

Certainly, let them in at once. Show the officers up; I’ll wait here. (Exit theFootman.)

The Secretary

Shall I leave you, Mr. Burgomaster?

The Burgomaster

No, stay. But first see to your friend’s safety. Take him into the next room; then, when Firmin comes back, we’ll find him a bed. Good-bye for the present, Monsieur Gilson. Take the food and wine with you; you have nothing to fear. (Jean Gilsongoes into the next room.) And now let us prepare to face the enemy. I hear their swords clattering on the stairs.

(Enter theFootman,withMajor Baron von Rochow,Lieutenant Otto HilmerandLieutenant Karl von Schaunberg.)

The Burgomaster

It’s you, Otto! (Mechanically puts out his hand and then withdraws it.)

Otto

Yes. (Presenting theBurgomasterto theMajor.) Major, this is the Burgomaster of Stilemonde, my father-in-law. Major Baron von Rochow. Lieutenant Karl von Schaunberg.

The Major

Mr. Burgomaster, we shall occupy the town until further orders. You will have to find billets for two hundred and fifty men. For the present you will not be called upon to feed them. My two officers and I will ask leave to take up our quarters in your house. I know the ties that unite you to one of them. I hope that, thanks to these good relations, there will be no difficulties between us. Nevertheless, as is customary, considering the bad spirit which the civil population have hitherto displayed and in accordance with theformal instructions which I have received, I am obliged to look upon you as a hostage. If unfortunately—which Heaven forbid—an attempt were made upon the life of one of my officers or men, your own life would answer for it. But we need not, I trust, contemplate any such deplorable contingencies. If the civilians behave properly, they have nothing to fear. Whatever people may say, we are not barbarians. We are, above all things, just; but the necessities of war oblige us to be sometimes severe and always on our guard. In an hour from now I will send for you to the Town-hall to discuss the question of supplies and to fix the war-levy.

The Burgomaster

The war-levy? I cannot see that, so far, we have done anything to justify a levy.

The Major

I beg your pardon. I may permit you to discuss the amount but not the principle.

Otto

(To theBurgomaster.) Please give the Major the large bedroom on the first floor, the one with a balcony overlooking the square, and the sitting-room leading into it. Lieutenant von Schaunberg and I will take the other two spare-rooms. Firmin, show the Major and the Lieutenant to their rooms.

The Major

I must beg you, Mr. Burgomaster, to put forward your luncheon hour by thirty minutes. We shall have the honour of taking our seats at your table at twelve o’clock precisely.

The Burgomaster

Certainly, sir.

(Exeunt theMajorandLieutenant von Schaunberg,with the Footman leading the way.)

The Burgomaster

My poor Otto!

Otto

Where is Isabelle?

The Burgomaster

Upstairs in her room. She can’t have heard you.

Otto

How is she? Not ill, I hope?

The Burgomaster

Not exactly, but dreadfully depressed, extremely tired and very much affected by all these happenings.... I expect she is still asleep; and it is better not to wake her.

Otto

How does she take the war?

The Burgomaster

As we all do, with the utmost amazement, indignation and consternation. But she is naturally more upset than we, who can’t believe our eyes. My poor Otto, this is an ugly business they’ve let you in for!

Otto

You need not think that we do it with a light heart. We are acting as you see, only because we are forced and constrained to do so by the incredible attitude of your fellow-countrymen.

The Burgomaster

Of course it was Belgium that began.

Otto

That’s truer than you think. She beganby playing the game of our enemies; and, if we had not struck the first blow, we should have been the victims of our confidence in her loyalty.

The Burgomaster

Look here, Otto, I know you for an intelligent, conscientious and thoroughly honest man. You have lived among us and you know what sort of people we are. How can you stand there and seriously utter such—I don’t know what word to use, or, if I did, it wouldn’t be a pleasant one. Let them tell that sort of humbug to your wretched soldiers, or to a pack of Junkers fuddled with pride and stupidity, but not to a man like yourself! You know the plain, terrible truth as well as I do, just as you know what to think of the hideous massacres at Vise, Andenne, Dinant, Aerschot, Louvain and other places.

Otto

Excuse me, it is not the same thing. I admit that the violation of Belgium was a regrettable incident; in my opinion it was a mistake, necessary perhaps, from certain points of view, but one which will cost us dear. But I do not admit the massacres. There have been executions of hostages and reprisals necessitated by incessant acts of treachery committed by the civil population. Here and there, perhaps, there has been some excess of zeal; that, unfortunately, is inevitable. But I know the German army better than you do, because I belong to it; and it is the most highly disciplined army in the world. It is extremely rare, not to say impossible, for the army to act without orders, or to overstep the orders which it receives.

The Burgomaster

That’s just what I blame it for. Tojudge by the effects, those orders are execrable!

Otto

It’s lucky that we’re alone. Don’t use words like that: with the best will in the world, I might not always be able to save you from the unpleasant consequences.

The Burgomaster

Very well, we won’t argue about it. We shall never agree on these points nor on a good many others. I know what I know; and I stick to it.

Otto

I also know what I know; and history will judge between us.... Let us try rather to get back to the feeling that united us before this cataclysm, for which we are not responsible.

The Burgomaster

It’s a good thing that you at least do not hold us to be responsible for the disaster which your people have brought on us. I thank you for that.

Otto

Why do you say such things to me? I have absolutely nothing to do with what has happened. Like the rest of us, I am compelled to obey an authority which no one can resist. I am a wheel in the machine. I cannot act otherwise than I do. But my feelings, my affections are just the same as they were before the war! I persuaded my superiors to send me here, so that I might prove how grateful I am to you....

The Burgomaster

And because you know the country so well!

Otto

Please don’t continue in that tone: it is not fair and it is extremely painful to me. I simply wished, as I have told you, to prove my gratitude by doing all I could to save you, and the town of which you are the chief authority, from the inconveniences and dangers of an occupation which I was unable to prevent.

The Burgomaster

Very well, we won’t talk about it. How long do you reckon to stay here with your men?

Otto

We don’t know: perhaps two hours, perhaps two months. It all depends on events and on the orders which we receive.

The Burgomaster

And the Major, what sort of a man ishe? He does not look easy to deal with.

Otto

He is severe, rather hard, rather dictatorial, rather domineering, a strict disciplinarian, but absolutely just; taken all round, a good sort. I repeat, you have nothing to fear, if your people behave themselves. Besides, in the case of any conflict or misunderstanding, I hope to use my influence and to smooth matters down. And now let us be friends, if you will, and allow me to embrace you as I used to.

The Burgomaster

(Stepping back.) Forgive me.... Excuse me.... I can’t just now.

Otto

That’s strange; I simply can’t understand it. After all, this war is no business of ours; it’s over our heads; it’s beyond us.However, I mustn’t take it ill of you; and I can only say, like Antigone, “I take part in love and not in hatred.” But what’s the time? Eleven o’clock? Perhaps we might let Isabelle know, if she really isn’t ill? You can imagine how eager I am to see her after this long separation and after all that has happened.

The Burgomaster

I will send the maid up to her. (He rings. Enter theFootman,who takes theBurgomaster’sorders and exit.) Have you any news of my son?

Otto

Of Odilon? No, isn’t he here?

The Burgomaster

No, they did not let us know of their plans, as they did you;weweren’t toldwhat they were going to do; and so he stopped at Cologne. We are rather uneasy about him.

Otto

He is in no danger if he keeps quiet. He will be interned in a concentration-camp. I’ll write to my people and ask them to see that he is well treated.... I say, I see on your table one of those Cattleyas which were rather sickly before I left. How are they doing?

The Burgomaster

I believe they’re saved. I found out under the microscope what it was that was making them wither. It’s a tiny fungus which no orchid-grower had located before and against which all the ordinary methods of vaporizing and fumigation are quite useless. I’ve contrived a new blend; I’llgive you the prescription; it has done wonderfully well so far. I’m worried about my poor hot-houses, on which I’ve spent the best part of my life and nearly half my fortune. If only this war doesn’t turn them into broken glass and scrap-iron! As you know, they contain nearly half a million valuable flowers; and their destruction would be an irretrievable disaster, for it would take a whole lifetime to build up a collection that could compare with mine.

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