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 blase 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. RODRIGO.. She'll have a different value when one must serve thru a honeymoon with her. Anyway, it can't hurt her if she gets a little fresh air beforehand. ALVA. (_A pocketbook in his hand, to Geschwitz who is leaning on a chair-back by the centre table._) This holds 10,000 marks. GESCHWITZ. Thank you, no. ALVA. Please take it. GESCHWITZ. (_To Schigolch._) Come along, at last! SCHIGOLCH. Patience, Fraulein. It's only a stone's throw across Hospital Street. I'll be here with her in five minutes. ALVA. You're bringing her here? SCHIGOLCH. I'm bringing her here. Or do you fear for your health? ALVA. You see that I fear nothing. RODRIGO. According to the latest wire, the doctor is on his way to Constantinople to have his "Earth-spirit" produced before the Sultan by harem-ladies and eunuchs. ALVA. (_Opening the centre door under the gallery._) It's shorter for you thru here. (_Exeunt Schigolch and Countess Geschwitz. Alva locks the door._) RODRIGO. You were going to give more money to the crazy sky-rocket!