Trast. (_To himself_) He found out quickly enough! (Trast _and_ Robert _go to the door as_ THE CURTAIN FALLS.) ACT III. Scene:--_The same as in Act I. A lamp is burning on the table. Daylight is coming through the window. Up-stage to the left is a bed, turned down. It has not been slept in_. Robert _sits at the table his face in his hands_. (_Enter_ Frau Heinecke _in night-cap and wearing a woollen under-skirt._) Frau Heinecke. Good-morning, my son! (_He does not answer_) Poor thing! he ain't even been to bed! (_Goes to him, wiping her eyes_) Bobby! Robert. (_Starts up_) What is it? What do you want? Frau Heinecke. Lord, how you yell at me! And your teeth are chattering with cold! Won't you drink some coffee? (_He shakes his head decisively_) Take a little piece of advice from your old mother, Bobby; even if a person is in trouble, he's got to sleep. Sleep puts marrow in the bones. (_Puts out the lamp_) Robert. Mother, Mother, what have you done? Frau Heinecke. (_Crying_) We aren't to blame, my boy! Robert. Not to blame! Frau Heinecke. I brought her up honorably. There has never been a bad example in this house. I kept her at her schooling and I had her confirmed, though that ain't even necessary any more. She went up to the altar in a new black pleated dress. I bought it myself at a bargain, and I put my own wedding handkerchief into her hand, and the preacher spoke so movin', so movin'. Robert. But how could you allow her to have anything to do with that--fellow! Frau Heinecke. Perhaps it wasn't really so bad---- Robert. What further proof do you want? Didn't he admit everything to me with the most brutal frankness? Or did Alma try to lie about it? And to cap the climax, last evening I was in Michalski's house. Everything was beautifully arranged. Your dear daughter Auguste had prepared a secret nest, with curtains and carpets and red hanging lamps. She kept watch at the door herself and was--paid, paid for it! The cur was in my hands yesterday. If I had only finished him then! Frau Heinecke. Why, Robert---- Robert. Be still! He promised satisfaction. I accomplished that much at least. He saw I was ready for anything. He said he would find means of giving me satisfaction by to-day. I thought of the poor little girl's future and let him go. Frau Heinecke. Well, I never suspected anything wrong. Robert. You must have seen it coming. What did you think when he brought her home so late at night? Frau Heinecke. When a person is asleep, he's glad enough he don't have to think. Besides, she had a latchkey. Robert. But you couldn't neglect the fact that if he brought her home he must have met her somewhere in the city. Frau Heinecke. Well, yes. I thought she was going with him. Robert. I don't know what you mean. Frau Heinecke. She was _going_ with him. Robert. So you said, but I----