With fright and with horror All my being is cold; A strange terror Chains me to this place. I'm afraid. CRESPEL (seating himself). Come, speak and be brief. (Miracle continues his magnetic passes. The door of Antonia's room opens slowly. Miracle indicates that he takes Antonia's hand and leads her to a chair.) MIRACLE. Please sit there. CRESPEL. I am seated. MIRACLE (paying no attention). How old are you, please? CRESPEL. Who, me? MIRACLE. I am speaking to your child. HOFFMAN (aside). Antonia. MIRACLE. What age (he listens). Twenty! CRESPEL. What? MIRACLE. The Spring of life. (He appears to feel the pulse.) Let me see your hand!... CRESPEL. The hand. MIRACLE (pulling out his watch). Chut! let me count. HOFFMAN (aside). God! am I the plaything of a dream? Is it a ghost? MIRACLE. The pulse is unequal and fast, bad symptom. Sing. CRESPEL (rising). No, no, don't speak... don't have her sing. (The voice of Antonia is heard.) MIRACLE. See her face brightens, her eyes are on fire; She carries her hand to her beating heart. (He follows Antonia with his gestures. The door of her room closes quickly.) CRESPEL. What is he saying? MIRACLE (rising). It would be a pity truly To leave to death so fine a prey! CRESPEL. Shut up! MIRACLE. If you will accept my help, If you would save her days, I have there certain vials I keep in reserve. (He takes vials from pocket which he makes sound like castanets.) CRESPEL. Shut up! MIRACLE. Of which you should. CRESPEL. Shut up! Heaven preserve me From listening to your advice, miserable assassin. MIRACLE. Of which you should, each morning... (Ensemble.) MIRACLE. Why, yes, I hear you. A while ago, an instant These vials, poor father, You will be then, I hope, Satisfied. CRESPEL. Be off, be off, be off! Out of this house, Satan, Beware of the anger And the sorrow of a father. Be off! HOFFMAN (aside). From the death that awaits thee I shall know, poor child, How tear thee away, I hope! Laugh in vain at a father, Satan! MIRACLE (continuing with same coolness). Of which you should... CRESPEL. Be off! MIRACLE. Each morning... CRESPEL. Be off! (He pushes Miracle out and closes the door.) Ah, he's outside and my door is closed! We are at last alone, My beloved girl! MIRACLE (walking through the wall). Of which you should each morning... CRESPEL. Ah, wretch, Come, come, may the waves engulf thee! We'll see if the devil Will get thee out. CRESPEL. Be off, be off, be off! etc., etc. HOFFMAN (aside). From the death that awaits thee, etc., etc. MIRACLE. Of which you should... CRESPEL. Get out! MIRACLE. Each morning... CRESPEL. Get out! (They disappear together.) HOFFMAN (coming down). To sing no more! How obtain from her Such a sacrifice? ANTONIA (appearing). Well? What did my father say?