THE UNCLE. I can only see the servant.
THE FATHER. It is only the servant. [_To the Servant._] Who was that,
that came into the house?
THE SERVANT. Came into the house?
THE FATHER. Yes; some one came in just now?
THE SERVANT. No one came in, sir.
THE GRANDFATHER. Who is it sighing like that?
THE UNCLE. It is the servant; she is out of breath.
THE GRANDFATHER. Is she crying?
THE UNCLE. No; why should she be crying?
THE FATHER [_to the Servant_]. No one came in just now?
THE SERVANT. No, sir.
THE FATHER. But we heard some one open the door!
THE SERVANT. It was I shutting the door.
THE FATHER. It was open?
THE SERVANT. Yes, sir.
THE FATHER. Why was it open at this time of night?
THE SERVANT. I do not know, sir. I had shut it myself.
THE FATHER. Then who was it that opened it?
THE SERVANT. I do not know, sir. Some one must have gone out after me,
sir....
THE FATHER. You must be careful.--Don't push the door; you know what a
noise it makes!
THE SERVANT. But, sir, I am not touching the door.
THE FATHER. But you are. You are pushing as if you were trying to get
into the room.
THE SERVANT. But, sir, I am three yards away from the door.
THE FATHER. Don't talk so loud....
THE GRANDFATHER. Are they putting out the light?
THE ELDEST DAUGHTER. No, grandfather.
THE GRANDFATHER. It seems to me it has grown pitch dark all at once.
THE FATHER [_to the Servant_]. You can go down again now; but do not
make so much noise on the stairs.
THE SERVANT. I did not make any noise on the stairs.
THE FATHER. I tell you that you did make a noise. Go down quietly; you
will wake your mistress. And if any one comes now, say that we are not
at home.
THE UNCLE. Yes; say that we are not at home.
THE GRANDFATHER [_shuddering_]. You must not say that!
THE FATHER. ... Except to my sister and the doctor.
THE UNCLE. When will the doctor come?
THE FATHER. He will not be able to come before midnight. [_He shuts the
door. A clock is heard striking eleven._]
THE GRANDFATHER. She has come in?
THE FATHER. Who?
THE GRANDFATHER. The servant.
THE FATHER. No, she has gone downstairs.
THE GRANDFATHER. I thought that she was sitting at the table.
THE UNCLE. The servant?
THE GRANDFATHER. Yes.
THE UNCLE. That would complete one's happiness!
THE GRANDFATHER. No one has come into the room?
THE FATHER. No; no one has come in.
THE GRANDFATHER. And your sister is not here?
THE UNCLE. Our sister has not come.
THE GRANDFATHER. You want to deceive me.
THE UNCLE. Deceive you?
THE GRANDFATHER. Ursula, tell me the truth, for the love of God!
THE ELDEST DAUGHTER. Grandfather! Grandfather! what is the matter with
you?
THE GRANDFATHER. Something has happened! I am sure my daughter is
worse!...
THE UNCLE. Are you dreaming?
THE GRANDFATHER. You do not want to tell me!... I can see quite well
there is something....
THE UNCLE. In that case you can see better than we can.
THE GRANDFATHER. Ursula, tell me the truth!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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