PUNTSCHU. Ah, it's you. Miss Magelone's waiting for you in the lift. HEILMANN. You go up with her, please. I'll be right back. (_He hurries out, left. Lulu goes out at lower left. Rodrigo follows her._) PUNTSCHU. Some heat, that! If I don't cut off *your* ears, you'll cut 'em off me! If I can't hire out my Jehoshaphat, I've just got to help myself with my brains! Won't they get wrinkled, my brains! Won't they get indisposed! Won't they need to bathe in Eau de Cologne! (_Bob, a groom in a red jacket, tight leather breeches, and twinkling riding-boots, 15 years old, brings in a telegram._) BOB. Mr. Puntschu, the banker! PUNTSCHU. (_Breaks open the telegram and murmurs:_) "Jungfrau Funicular Stock fallen to--" Ay, ay, so goes the world! (_To Bob._) Wait! (_Gives him a tip._) Tell me--what's your name? BOB. Well, it's really Freddy, but they call me Bob, because that's the fashion now. PUNTSCHU. How old are you? BOB. Fifteen. KADIDIA. (_Enters hesitatingly from lower left._) I beg your pardon, can you tell me if mama is here? PUNTSCHU. No, my dear. (_Aside._) Devil, she's got breeding! KADIDIA. I'm hunting all over for her; I can't find her anywhere. PUNTSCHU. Your mama will turn up again soon, as true as my name's Puntschu! (_Looking at Bob._) And that pair of breeches! God of Justice! It gets uncanny! (_He goes out, upper right._) KADIDIA. Haven't *you* seen my mama, perhaps? BOB. No, but you only need to come with me. KADIDIA. Where is she then? BOB. She's gone up in the lift. Come along. KADIDIA. No, no, I can't go up with you. BOB. We can hide up there in the corridor. KADIDIA. No, no, I can't come, or I'll be scolded. (_Magelone, terribly excited, rushes in, upper left, and possesses herself of Kadidia._) MAGELONE. Ha, there you are at last, you common creature! KADIDIA. (_Crying._) O mama, mama, I was hunting for you! MAGELONE. Hunting for me? Did I tell you to hunt for me? What have you had to do with this fellow? (_Heilmann, Alva, Ludmilla, Puntschu, Geschwitz, and Lulu enter, lower left. Bob has withdrawn._) Now don't bawl before all the people on me; look out, I tell you! LULU. (_As they all surround Kadidia._) But you're crying, sweetheart! Why are you crying? PUNTSCHU. By God, she's really been crying! Who's done anything to hurt you, little goddess? LUDMILLA. (_Kneels before her and folds her in her arms._) Tell me, cherub, what bad thing has happened. Do you want a cookie? Do you want some chocolate? MAGELONE. It's just nerves. The child's getting them much too soon. It would be the best thing if no one paid any attention to her! PUNTSCHU. That sounds like you! You're a pretty mother! The courts'll yet take the child away from you and appoint me her guardian! (_Stroking Kadidia's cheeks._) Isn't that so, my little goddess? GESCHWITZ. I should be glad if we started the baccarat again at last? (_All go into the card-room. Lulu is held back at the door by Bob._)