--It seems as if they became a part of their instruments, their efforts are so great. --Or as if the instruments became part of them. --How rich! --How magnificent! --How brilliant! --How rich! _[For some time the two expressions, "How rich! How magnificent!" are repeated from different parts of the room, uttered abruptly, like a bark._ --Beside this ballroom there are fourteen other magnificent rooms in Man's house. I have seen them all. The dining-room has such a huge fireplace that you can put a whole log into it. There are magnificent guest-rooms and a beautiful boudoir. A large bedroom, and over the pillows on the beds--just fancy!--canopies! --Why, how wonderful! Canopies! --Did you hear? Canopies! --Permit me to continue. For their son, the little boy, they have a beautiful bright room of golden yellow wood. It looks as if the sun were shining into it all the time. --He is such a fine boy. He has curly hair that looks like the rays of the sun. --That's true. When you look at him you wonder whether the sun has risen. --And when you look at his eyes you think: "Autumn is, gone, and the blue sky is here again." --Man loves his son madly. He bought him a pony for horseback riding, a nice snow-white pony. My children-- --Pray, let me continue. Have I told you yet about the swimming-pool? --No. No. --A swimming-pool, a perfect marvel. --What, a swimming-pool! --Yes. And further on is Man's study, full of books, books, books. They say he's a very learned man. --You can see it by the books. --I have seen his garden. --I haven't. --It was entrancing, I must say. Imagine an emerald-green lawn kept beautifully mowed and trimmed at the edges. In the middle a path of fine red sand. --Flowers--even palms. --Yes, even palms. And all the trees trimmed as carefully and precisely as the lawn, some cut in the shape of pyramids, others in the shape of green columns. There's a lovely fountain and little plaster elves and deer scattered all around in the grass. --How rich! --How magnificent! --How brilliant! --How rich! --Man did me the honor of showing me his stables and barns. I had to tell him how much I admired his horses and carriages. I was particularly impressed by his motor car. --Think of it, he has seven servants; seven--a chef, a woman-cook, two maids, gardeners-- --You forget the coachman and the chauffeur. --Yes, of course, the coachman and the chauffeur. --And they themselves do nothing at all. They are too fine. --You must admit, it is a great honor to have been invited to Man's ball. --Don't you find the music somewhat monotonous? --No, I don't, and I'm surprised you do. Don't you see what kind of musicians they are? --I should like to hear such music all my life. That's what I say. There's something, in that music that stirs me. --Me too. --Me too. --It is a delicious sensation to abandon oneself to dreams of happiness under the influence of this music!