An' I'd like to know why not! She ain't made o' sugar. The wench lay abed with the hired man. Now you know it! HELEN [_In a commanding voice._] The maid shall stay for all that! MRS. KRAUSE Wench! HELEN Good! Then I'll tell father that you spend your nights just the same way with William Kahl. MRS. KRAUSE [_Strikes her full in the face._] There you got a reminder! HELEN [_Deathly pale, but even more firmly._] And I say the maid shall stay! Otherwise I'll make it known--you ... with William Kahl ... your cousin, my betrothed ... I'll tell the whole world. MRS. KRAUSE [_Her assurance breaking down._] Who can say it's so! HELEN I can. For I saw him this morning coming out of your bed-room ... [_She goes swiftly into the house._ [_MRS. KRAUSE totters, almost fainting. MRS. SPILLER hurries to her with smelling-salts._ MRS. SPILLER Oh, Madame, Madame! MRS. KRAUSE Sp--iller; the maid c'n ss-stay! THE CURTAIN FALLS QUICKLY THE THIRD ACT _Time: a few minutes after the incident between HELEN and her step-mother in the yard. The scene is that of the first act._ _Dr. SCHIMMELPFENNIG sits at the table in the foreground to the left. He is writing a prescription. His slouch hat, cotton gloves and cane lie on the table before him. He is short and thick-set of figure; his hair is black and clings in small, firm curls to his head; his moustache is rather heavy. He wears a black coat after the pattern of the Jaeger reform garments. He has the habit of stroking or pulling his moustache almost uninterruptedly; the more excited he is, the more violent is this gesture. When he speaks to HOFFMANN his expression is one of enforced equanimity, but a touch of sarcasm hovers about the corners of his mouth. His gestures, which are thoroughly natural, are lively, decisive and angular. HOFFMANN walks up and down, dressed in a silk dressing-gown and slippers. The table in the background to the right is laid for breakfast: costly porcelain, dainty rolls, a decanter with rum, etc._ HOFFMANN Are you satisfied with my wife's appearance, doctor? DR. SCHIMMELPFENNIG She's looking well enough. Why not? HOFFMANN And do you think that everything will pass favourably? DR. SCHIMMELPFENNIG I hope so. HOFFMANN [_After a pause, with hesitation._] Doctor, I made up my mind--weeks ago--to ask your advice in a very definite matter as soon as I came here. DR. SCHIMMELPFENNIG