I'm surprised that you don't know this, well, one might almost say, this matchless example of his kind. It's the inn next door to your house. I was told that the man is an immensely rich farmer of this place who literally spends his days and years in the same tap-room drinking whiskey. Of course he's a mere animal to-day. Those frightfully vacant, drink-bleared eyes with which he stared at me! [_KAHL, who has restrained himself up to this point, breaks out in coarse, loud, irrepressible laughter, so that LOTH and HOFFMANN, dumb with astonishment, stare at him._ KAHL [_Stammering out through his laughter._] By the Almighty, that was.... Oh, sure, sure--that was the ol' man. HELEN [_Jumps up, horrified and indignant. She crushes her napkin and flings it on the table._] You are.... [_With a gesture of utter loathing._] Oh, you are.... [_She withdraws swiftly._ KAHL [_Violently breaking through the constraint which arises from his consciousness of having committed a gross blunder._] Oh, pshaw!... It's too dam' foolish! I'm goin' my own ways. [_He puts on his hat and says, without turning back:_] Evenin'. MRS. KRAUSE [_Calls out after him._] Don' know's I c'n blame you, William. [_She folds her napkin and calls_:] Miele! [_MIELE enters._] Clear the table! [_To herself, but audibly._] Sich a goose! HOFFMANN [_Somewhat angry._] Well, mother, honestly, I must say.... MRS. KRAUSE You go and...! [_Arises; exits quickly._ MRS. SPILLER Madame--m--has had a good many domestic annoyances to-day--m--. I will now respectfully take my leave. [_She rises, prays silently with upturned eyes for a moment and then leaves._ _MIELE and EDWARD clear the table. HOFFMANN has arisen and comes to the foreground. He has a toothpick in his mouth. LOTH follows him._ HOFFMANN Well, you see, that's the way women are. LOTH I can't say that I understand what it was about. HOFFMANN It isn't worth mentioning. Things like that happen in the most refined families. It mustn't keep you from spending a few days with us.... LOTH I should like to have made your wife's acquaintance. Why doesn't she appear at all? HOFFMANN [_Cutting off the end of a fresh cigar._] Well, in her condition, you understand ... women won't abandon their vanity. Come, let's go and take a few turns in the garden.--Edward, serve coffee in the arbour! EDWARD Very well, sir. [_HOFFMANN and LOTH disappear by way of the conservatory. EDWARD leaves by way of the middle door and MIELE, immediately thereafter, goes out, carrying a tray of dishes, by the same door. For a few seconds the room is empty. Then enters_ HELEN