DEVIL

I once had a similar encounter at a dentist's; and the lady, to prove that my insinuations were false, did not hesitate to sacrifice a perfectly good tooth.

OLGA

I tell you, I—

DEVIL, very polite

Oh, I know—you speak the truth. I am even at liberty to believe it, though your truth is only partly in style. Truth should have nothing on at all, you know.

OLGA

The insolence! What right have you to speak to me? Who are you? What are you doing here? Karl!

[KARL tries door outside.

Karl!

[She opens the door of the studio, KARL appears on the threshold and looks surprised at the DEVIL.

DEVIL, crosses up R. C. very quickly

How do you do?

KARL, taken aback

How do you do?—er—how are you?

DEVIL, quickly

You don't seem to remember me—we met at Monte Carlo—

KARL, up L. C.

Oh, yes.

DEVIL

Quite an eventful day it was.

KARL, comes down a little

Yes, yes, I remember. It was last fall, and I had just lost all my money at roulette. As I turned from the table, I caught sight of a stranger frowning at me.

[Pointing to DEVIL.

It was you. I was startled, because only a moment before I had seen you next to the croupier, and I thought I heard you laugh when I lost. But now I remember—you stood behind me, and when I had lost everything, you offered me, a total stranger, a handful of louis d'or.

DEVIL

You refused—beggingly.

KARL

Yes, but—

DEVIL, continuing

You took them—protestingly.

KARL

In five minutes I had won everything back, and 20,000 francs besides. Your gold seemed to have magic power, I remember. When you gave it to me it seemed to burn.

DEVIL

But you paid me back and invited me to supper. I had to refuse, because I was obliged to leave for Spain the same evening, but I promised to look you up the next time you needed me—

[Crosses to R.

and here I am.

KARL

Well, I'll be—

DEVIL, interrupting quickly

Don't mention it. I took a little nap in your chair.

[Goes up to back of big chair.

OLGA, goes C., pointing to big chair. Frightened

It's very strange—this chair was empty; there was nobody there.

DEVIL, stepping towards her, bowing; in a tone allowing no contradiction

Then I was mistaken, Madame.

[OLGA goes over behind couch L. Silence.

[OLGA and KARL look at the DEVIL suspiciously.

KARL, L. C., embarrassed

Won't you please sit down? Allow me to introduce you. I quite forget your name....

DEVIL, R. C.

Call me anything you like: we only call names when the party is absent; but I am here now—call me Miller, or Brown, or Black.

[Start from KARL. DEVIL stops him.

If you think Doctor sounds better, why not call me Doctor Miller?

KARL, very much embarrassed

Doctor Miller—

[Crosses to R. C. The DEVIL kisses OLGA'S hand devoutly at foot of couch.

Under ordinary circumstances, I should now take my hat and leave;

[Goes up C.; turns.

but my infinite tact compels me to force my presence upon you in this disagreeable situation.

[Sits down in chair C.

OLGA, crossing to KARL; to the DEVIL

How dare you! Karl! This man has the insolence to—

DEVIL, seated C. Very quickly

Your husband has been dead some time?

OLGA, R.

I'm not a widow.

DEVIL, very quick

Oh, divorced?

OLGA

No.

DEVIL

Well, if you think that I have insulted you, I should say the proper person to refer me to would be your husband.

[Rises; to KARL:

Of course, if you wish, I am at your disposal also.

[To OLGA:

But, Madame, this would be admitting—

KARL

What's it all about? I don't understand you. You come in here, I don't know how or where from, and you—you act as if you had trapped us—

OLGA, goes to KARL R. C.

The idea!

DEVIL

Say what you like: I cannot go.

OLGA

Why not?

DEVIL

If I were to go now, it would be as much as to say: "Pardon me, I fear I intrude." But if I remain, I show that I suspect nothing.

KARL

We don't need your assurance.

[OLGA crosses to L. below couch.

DEVIL, bows politely; embarrassing silence

Suppose we talk about something else. I think we are in for a snowstorm.

[Standing R. of studio door. Silence.

[OLGA stands near the door leading to the studio, quite astonished.

Are you sending anything to this year's exhibition?

KARL, uncomfortable

Perhaps—I may send something.

[Silence. The DEVIL lights a cigarette at table L. C.

DEVIL, puffs cigarette. On second puff

Permit me, Madame.

[OLGA, picking up blouse, as if suddenly awakened and realizing her position, goes into the studio, closing the door behind her.

Full of temperament—full of temperament. And pretty, too.

[KARL starts to light cigarette at table L. C.

KARL, dropping cigarette, crosses to chair up C., sits and looks at the DEVIL without speaking

DEVIL

Too bad she doesn't love her husband.

[KARL turns quickly towards the DEVIL. Quick:

How do I know? The way she turned to you just now when she fancied herself insulted—it didn't escape me.

[KARL takes up the ash tray and throws it angrily on