But I can. There they are, laughing. Why aren't you laughing, eh?

SPERANSKY

I feel very despondent.

TONY

Laugh. You must laugh. Everybody is laughing. Hush, hush! _(Pause)_ Listen, n.o.body exists, n.o.body--do you understand? There is no G.o.d, there is no man, there are no animals. Here is the table--it doesn't exist. Here is the candle--it doesn't exist. The only things that exist are faces--you understand? Keep quiet, keep quiet. I am very much afraid.

SPERANSKY

What are you afraid of?

TONY _(bending near to Speransky)_

That I'll die of laughter.

SPERANSKY

Really?

TONY _(shaking his head affirmatively)_

Yes, that I'll die of laughter. I am afraid that some day I'll catch sight of a face which will send me off roaring with laughter; and I'll roar and roar until I die. Keep quiet. I know.

SPERANSKY

You never laugh

TONY

I am always laughing, but you don't see it. It's nothing. The only thing I am afraid is that I'll die. I'll come across a face one of these days which will start me off in a fit of laughter, and I'll laugh and laugh and laugh and won't be able to stop. Yes, it's coming, it's coming. _(Wipes his chest and neck)_

SPERANSKY

The dead know everything.

TONY _(mysteriously, with awe)_

I am afraid of Savva's face. It's a very funny face. One could die laughing over it. The point is that you can't stop laughing--that's the princ.i.p.al thing. You laugh and laugh and laugh. Is there n.o.body here?

SPERANSKY

Apparently no.

TONY

Keep quiet, keep quiet, I know. Keep quiet. _(Pause; the tramp of the pilgrim's footsteps grows louder, as if they were walking in the very room itself)_ Are they going?

SPERANSKY

Yes, they are going. _(Pause)_

TONY

I like you. Sing me that song of yours. I'll listen.

SPERANSKY

With your permission, Anthony. _(Sings in an undertone, almost in a whisper, a dismal, long-drawn-out tune somewhat resembling a litany)_

Life's a sham, 'tis false, untrue, Death alone is true, aye, true.

_(With increasing caution and pedantry, shaking his finger as if imparting a secret)_

All things tumble, vanish, break, Death is sure to overtake Outcast, tramp, and tiniest fly Unperceived by naked eye.

TONY

What?

SPERANSKY

Unperceived by naked eye, Wheedling, coaxing, courting, wooing, Death weds all to their undoing And the myth of life is ended.

That's all, Anthony.

TONY

Keep still, keep still. You have sung your song--now keep quiet.

_[Lipa enters, opens the window, removes the flowers, and looks out into the street. Then she lights the lamp._

TONY

Who is it? Is that you, Lipa? Lipa, eh, Lipa, where are they going?

LIPA

They are coming here for the feast-day. You had better go to bed, Tony, or father will see you and scold you.

SPERANSKY

Big crowds, aren't they?

LIPA

Yes. But it's so dark, you can't see. Why are you so pale, Mr.

Speransky? It is positively painful to look at you.