((Drawing a letter from his pocket.)) Just read this effusion! I'll read it to you. Here's the postmark "Cairo," so you won't believe I work with forged documents. The girl is a Berliner, was married two years and to a man whom you would have envied her, a former comrade of mine. He travels now for the Hamburg Colonial Company.... (LULU: Then perhaps he *visits* his wife occasionally?) That is not incredible. But hear this impulsive expression of her feelings. My white-slave traffic seems to me absolutely no more honorable than the very best judge would tax it with being, but a cry of joy like this lets me feel a certain moral satisfaction for a moment. I am proud to earn my money by scattering happiness with full hands. ((Reads.)) "Dear Mr. Meyer"--that's my name as a white-slave trader--"when you go to Berlin, please go right away to the conservatory on the Potsdamer Strasse and ask for Gusti von Rosenkron--the most beautiful woman that I've ever seen in nature--delightful hands and feet, naturally small waist, straight back, full body, big eyes and short nose--just the sort you like best. I have written to her already. She has no prospects with her singing. Her mother hasn't a penny. Sorry she's already twenty-two, but she's pining for love. Can't marry, because absolutely without means. I have spoken with Madame. They'd like to take another German, if she's well educated and musical. Italians and Frenchwomen can't compete with us, 'cause of too little culture. If you should see Fritz"--Fritz is the husband; he's getting a divorce, of course,--"tell him it was all a bore. He didn't know any better, nor did I either." Now come the exact details-- (LULU: I can not sell the only thing that ever was my own!) Let me read some more.

Casti-Piani Monologue from Pandora's Box: A Tragedy in Three Acts

Rehearse Casti-Piani's monologue