LOTH I'm only going as far as Schimmelpfennig's. HOFFMANN Ah, yes. Well ... as things have shaped themselves, it's of course no pleasure staying with us any longer ... So, good luck! LOTH I thank you for your hospitality. HOFFMANN And how about that plan of yours? LOTH What plan? HOFFMANN I mean that essay of yours, that economic description of our district. I ought to say ... in fact, as a friend, I would beg of you as insistently as possible ... LOTH Don't worry about that any more. I'll be far away from here by to-morrow. HOFFMANN That is really-- [_He interrupts himself._ LOTH Kind of you, you were going to say. HOFFMANN Oh, I don't know. Well, in a certain respect, yes! And anyhow you must forgive me; I'm so frightfully upset. Just count on me. Old friends are always the best! Good-bye, good-bye. [_He leaves through the middle door._ LOTH [_Before going to the door, turns around once more with a long glance as if to imprint the whole room on his memory. Then to himself:_] I suppose I can go now ... [_After a last glance he leaves._ _The room remains empty for some seconds. The sound of muffled voices and the noise of footfalls is heard. Then HOFFMANN appears. As soon as he has closed the door behind him, he takes out his note-book and runs over some account with exaggerated calm. He interrupts himself, listens, becomes restless again, advances to the door and listens there. Suddenly some one runs down the stair and HELEN bursts in._ HELEN [_Still without._] Brother! [_At the door._] Brother! HOFFMANN What's the _matter_? HELEN Be brave: still-born! HOFFMANN O my God! [_He rushes out._ HELEN _alone._