And it dropped out of her mind. KRUEGER She refused to do it. And when I insisted on her doing it, she ended by running away. I intend to bring suit against her parents. I intend to claim full damages. WEHRHAHN You may do about that as you please. It isn't likely to help you very greatly.--Now is there any one whom you suspect of the theft? KRUEGER No. They're all a set of thieves around here. WEHRHAHN You will please to avoid such general imputations. You must surely be able to offer me a clue of some kind. KRUEGER Well, you can't expect me to accuse any one at random. WEHRHAHN Who lives in your house beside yourself? KRUEGER Dr. Fleischer. WEHRHAHN [_As if trying to recall something._] Dr. Fleischer? Dr. Fleischer? Why, he is a--What is he, anyhow? KRUEGER He is a thoroughly learned man, that's what he is--thoroughly learned. WEHRHAHN And I suppose that you and he are very intimate with each other. KRUEGER That is my business, with whom I happen to be intimate. That has no bearing on the matter in hand, it seems to me. WEHRHAHN How is one to discover anything under such circumstances? You must give me a hint, at least! KRUEGER Must I? Goodness, gracious me! Must I? Two loads of wood have been stolen from me! I simply come to give information concerning the theft.... WEHRHAHN But you must have a theory of some kind. The wood must necessarily have been stolen by somebody. KRUEGER Wha.... Yes ... well, I didn't do it! I of all people didn't do it! WEHRHAHN But my dear man.... KRUEGER Wha...? My name is Krueger. WEHRHAHN [_Interrupting and apparently bored._] M-yes.--Well, Glasenapp, just make a record of the facts.--And now, Mr. Krueger, what's this business about your maid? The girl, you say, ran away? KRUEGER Yes, that's exactly what she did--ran off to her parents. WEHRHAHN Do her parents live in this place? KRUEGER [_Not having heard correctly._] I'm not concerned with her face. WEHRHAHN I asked whether the parents of the girl live here? GLASENAPP She's the daughter of the washerwoman Wolff. WEHRHAHN Wolff--the same one who's washing for us today, Glasenapp? GLASENAPP The same, your honour. WEHRHAHN [_Shaking his head._] Very strange indeed!--She's a very honest and a very industrious woman.--[_To KRUEGER._] Is that a fact? Is she the daughter of the woman in question? KRUEGER She is the daughter of the washerwoman Wolff. WEHRHAHN And has the girl come back? KRUEGER Up to the present time the girl has not come back. WEHRHAHN Then suppose we call in Mrs. Wolff herself. Mitteldorf! You act as though you were very tired. Well, go across the yard. Mrs. Wolff is to come to me at once. I beg you to be seated, Mr. Krueger. KRUEGER [_Sitting down and sighing._] O Lord! O Lord! What a life! WEHRHAHN