Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Epilogue
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The actress had an extraordinary success, but from the
literary point of view the play was a failure, an awful
failure... alas!
She was saved. I was lost, ruined. But in spite of
everything, in spite of the supper which we gave to the
manager at a hundred crowns per head; in spite of a fine
of fifty crowns which we had to pay for illegal cheering,
late at night before the agent’s office—in spite of all our
efforts, no engagement was offered to her. It was not my
fault. I was blameless in the matter. I was the martyr,
the victim. Nevertheless, in the eyes of her sex I
henceforth was a ruffian who had ruined his wife’s career. For
years I had suffered remorse on this account, remorse so
bitter that it poisoned my days and robbed my nights of
peace.
How often had the reproach been publicly flung into
my face! It was always I who was guilty!... That
things came about in quite a different way, who cared?...
One career had been ruined, that I admit... but which,
and by whom?
A horrible thought came into my mind; the idea that
posterity might blame me for this ruined career seemed to
me no laughing matter, for I was defenceless and without
a friend capable of stating the facts undisguised and
unmisrepresented.
There remained the spending of her dowry.
I had once been made the subject of a paragraph
entitled: “A squanderer of his wife’s fortune.” I also,
on another occasion, had been charged with living on my
wife’s income, a charge which had made me put six
cartridges into my revolver.
Let us examine this charge also, since an investigation
has become desirable, and after due examination let us
pronounce sentence.
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