Wait! One minute.

CONSUELO

You lied to me. Why did you play so that I believed you?

HE

I am HE Who Gets Slapped!

CONSUELO

You are not angry because I struck you? I did not want to really, but you were so--disgusting. And now you are so funny again. You have great talent, HE--or are you drunk?

HE

Strike me again.

CONSUELO

No.

HE

I need it for my play. Strike!

CONSUELO

[_Laughs, and touches his cheek with her fingertips_]: Here, then!

HE

Didn't you understand that you are a queen, and I a fool who is in love with his queen? Don't you know, Consuelo, that every queen has a fool, and he is always in love with her, and they always beat him for it. HE Who Gets Slapped.

CONSUELO

No. I didn't know.

HE

Yes, every queen. Beauty has her fool. Wisdom, too. Oh, how many fools she has! Her court is overcrowded with enamoured fools, and the sound of slaps does not cease, even through the night. But I never received such a sweet slap as the one given by my little queen. [_Someone appears at the door._ HE _notices it, and continues to play, making many faces_.]

Clown HE can have no rival! Who is there who could stand such a deluge of slaps, such a hail-storm of slaps, and not get soaked? [_Feigns to cry aloud._] "Have pity on me. I am but a poor fool!"

[_Enter two men: an actor, dressed as a bareback rider, and a gentleman from the audience. He is spare, dressed in black, very respectable. He carries his hat in his hand._]

CONSUELO

[_Laughing, embarra.s.sed_]: HE, there is someone here. Stop!

HE

[_Gets up_]: Who is it? Who dares to intrude in the castle of my queen?

[_HE stops, suddenly. Consuelo, laughing, jumps up and runs away, after a quick glance at the gentleman._]

CONSUELO

You cheered me up, HE. Good-bye. [_At the door_] You shall get a note to-morrow.

THE BAREBACK RIDER

[_Laughing_]: A jolly fellow, sir. You wanted to see him? There he is.

HE, the gentleman wants to see you.

HE

[_In a depressed voice_]: What can I do for you?

[_The actor bows, and goes away, smiling. Both men take a step toward each other._]

GENTLEMAN

Is this you?

HE

Yes! It is I. And you? [_Silence._]

GENTLEMAN

Must I believe my eyes? Is this _you_, Mr.----

HE

[_In a rage_]: My name here is HE. I have no other name, do you hear? HE Who Gets Slapped. And if you want to stay here, don't forget it.

GENTLEMAN

You are so familiar. As far as I can remember----

HE

We are all familiar, here. [_Contemptuously_] Besides, that's all you deserve, anywhere.

GENTLEMAN

[_Humbly_]: You have not forgiven me, HE? [_Silence._]

HE