_The whole room is decorated with roses. On the table at the left is a bronze vessel of antique design overflowing with roses. Garlands of roses hang from the chandelier and encircle the bedposts. On the small table near the chaise-longue, a large, flat dish, also filled with roses. In fact wherever there is any place for these flowers, they have been used in profusion._
_Part of the table which stands in front of the sofa is covered by a napkin, upon which are seen a bottle of wine and the remains of a luncheon for one. It is a sultry afternoon in midsummer._
Julia _lies on the chaise-longue, asleep. She is a beautiful woman, about twenty-five years of age, intractable and passionate, with traces of a bourgeois desire to be "romantic." She is dressed in white, flowing draperies, fantastically arranged._
_A tower clock strikes four. Then the bells of the castle are heard ringing. Both seem to be at a distance of about two hundred paces._
Pierre _enters cautiously through the tapestried doorway at the left. He is a fashionably dressed, aristocratic young fellow who has been petted and spoiled. He is effeminate, cowardly, arrogant, and is trying to play the passionate man, although inwardly cold and nervous._
(_Laughs in her sleep. Her laughter dies out in groans._) Pierre! Pierre! Help! Pierre!
Nothing-- (_Laughs and goes on sleeping_).
Whew How hot it is! (_He stares at_ Julia, _his face distorted by fear and anger, and beats his forehead. Then indicating the outstretched form of the woman._) Beautiful!--You beautiful animal--you! (_Kneels_. Julia _holds out her arms to him, but he evades her embrace._) Stop! Wake up!
No! Wake up! I've only come for a moment. It's tea-time, and I have to go back to the house.
No, mamma will be asking for me. I have to be there for tea.
I have a headache. I want some black coffee!
Then make it yourself. The gardener is cleaning the orchid rooms in the hot-house, and he has no time for you now.
He never has time for me!--And the meals that his wife cooks are simply abominable!--And the wine is always warm!--Do, for mercy's sake, steal the key to the icehouse!
But you know that I can't!--I always bring you all the ice that I can manage to take from the table. If I insist upon having the key, the housekeeper will tell mamma.