RODRIGO. I lay in the hospital full three months to spy out the ground, after toilfully peddling together the qualities necessary for such a long stay. Now I act the valet here with you, Dr. Schön, so that no strange servants may come into the house. Where is the bridegroom who's ever done so much for his bride? *My* fortune has also been destroyed.
ALVA. When you succeed in developing her into a respectable artiste you will have put the world in debt to you. With the temperament and the beauty that she has to give out of the depths of her nature she can make the most blasé public hold its breath. And then, too, she will be protected by *acting* passion from a second time becoming a criminal in reality.
RODRIGO. I'll soon drive her kiddishness out of her!
GESCHWITZ. There he comes! (_Steps louden in the gallery. Then the curtains part at the head of the stairs and Schigolch in a long black coat with a white sun-shade in his right hand comes down. Thruout the play his speech is interrupted with frequent yawns._)
SCHIGOLCH. Confound the darkness! Out-doors the sun burns your eyes out.
GESCHWITZ. (_Wearily unwrapping herself._) I'm coming!
RODRIGO. Her ladyship has seen no daylight for three days. We live here like in a snuff-box.
SCHIGOLCH. Since nine o'clock this morning I've been round to all the old-clothes-men. Three brand new trunks stuffed full of old trowsers I've expressed to Buenos Ayres via Bremerhaven. My legs are dangling on me like the tongue of a bell. That's the new life it's going to be from now on!
RODRIGO. Where are you going to get off to-morrow morning?
SCHIGOLCH. I hope not straight into Ox-butter Hotel again!
RODRIGO. I can tell you a fine hotel. I lived there with a lady lion-tamer. The people were born in Berlin.
GESCHWITZ. (_Upright in the arm-chair._) Come and help me!
RODRIGO. (_Hurries to her and supports her._) And you'll be safer from the police there than on a high tightrope!
GESCHWITZ. He means to let you go with her alone this afternoon.
SCHIGOLCH. Maybe he's still suffering from his chillblains!
RODRIGO. Do you want me to start my new engagement in bath-robe and slippers?
SCHIGOLCH. Hm--Sister Theophila wouldn't have gone to heaven so promptly either, if she hadn't felt so affectionate towards our patient.