It speaks it quite fluently too! That observation is new, and my own. [_Notes in his book._ “Echo in German. Dialect, Berlin.” [_BEGRIFFENFELDT comes out from behind the SPHINX._ BEGRIFFENFELDT. A man! PEER. Oh, then it was _he_ that was chattering. [_Notes again._ “Arrived in the sequel at other results.” BEGRIFFENFELDT. [_With all sorts of restless antics._] Excuse me, mein Herr[99]——! Eine Lebensfrage——![99] What brings you to this place precisely to-day? PEER. A visit. I’m greeting a friend of my youth. BEGRIFFENFELDT. What? The Sphinx——? PEER. [_Nods._] Yes, I knew him in days gone by. BEGRIFFENFELDT. Famos![100]—And that after such a night! My temples are hammering as though they would burst! You know him, man! Answer! Say on! Can you tell What he is? PEER. What he is? Yes, that’s easy enough. He’s _himself_. BEGRIFFENFELDT. [_With a bound._] Ha, the riddle of life lightened forth In a flash to my vision!—It’s certain he is Himself? PEER. Yes, he says so, at any rate. BEGRIFFENFELDT. Himself! Revolution! thine hour is at hand! [_Takes off his hat._ Your name, pray, mein Herr?[100] PEER. I was christened Peer Gynt. BEGRIFFENFELDT. [_In rapt admiration._] Peer Gynt! Allegoric! I might have foreseen it.— Peer Gynt? That must clearly imply: The Unknown,— The Comer whose coming was augured to me—— PEER. What, really? And now you are here to meet—— BEGRIFFENFELDT. Peer Gynt! Profound! Enigmatic! Incisive! Each word, as it were, an abysmal lesson! What are you? PEER. [_Modestly._] I’ve always endeavoured to be Myself. For the rest, here’s my passport, you see. BEGRIFFENFELDT. Again that mysterious word at the bottom. [_Seizes him by the wrist._ To Cairo! The Interpreters’ Kaiser is found! PEER. Kaiser? BEGRIFFENFELDT. Come on! PEER. Am I really known——?