[_Throws off his overcoat and stands with his decorations displayed._] You probably couldn't help noticing that His Serenity had had a most excellent breakfast. Aha! We had breakfast together! We attended an exquisite little stag party given by Prince Ruprecht out in Potsdam. I don't deny, therefore, that a turn for good may take place in the miserable fate of your friend. ALICE RUeTTERBUSCH Sweetheart, you look like a statesman, like an ambassador! HASSENREUTER Ah, don't you know this breast covered with high and exalted decorations? Klaerchen and Egmont! Here you can drink your fill! [_They embrace each other anew._] _Carpe diem!_ Enjoy the passing hour! Ah, my little Miss Simplicity, champagne is not recorded at present on the repertory of your old manager, inspirer and friend. [_He opens a wooden case and draws forth a bottle of wine._] But this old cloister vintage isn't to be sneezed at either! [_He pulls the cork. At the same moment the door bell rings._] What? Sh! I wonder who has the monstrous impudence to ring here on Sunday afternoon? [_The bell rings with increased violence._] Confound it all--the fellow must be a lunatic. Little girl, suppose you withdraw into the library. [_ALICE hurries into the library. The ringing is repeated. He hurries to the door._] Either be patient or go to the devil. [_He is heard opening the door._] Who? What? "It is I, Miss Walburga." What? I am not Miss Walburga. I am not the daughter. I am the father. Oh, it's you, Mr. Spitta! Your very humble servant. I'm only her father--only her father! What is it that you want? _HASSENREUTER reappears in the passage accompanied by ERICH SPITTA, a young man of twenty-one, spectacled, with keen and not undistinguished features, SPITTA passes as a student of theology and is correspondingly dressed. He does not hold himself erect and his development shows the influence of over-study and underfeeding._ HASSENREUTER Did you intend to give my daughter one of your private lessons here in my storeroom? SPITTA I was riding past on the tram-car and I really thought I had seen Miss Walburga hurry into the doorway downstairs. HASSENREUTER No possibility of such a thing, my dear Spitta. At this moment my daughter Walburga is attending a ritualistic service with her mother in the Anglican church. SPITTA Then perhaps you'll forgive my intrusion. I took the liberty of coming upstairs because I thought that Miss Walburga might not find it unpleasant or useless to have an escort home through this neighbourhood. HASSENREUTER Very good! Very excellent! But she isn't here. I regret it. I'm here myself by the merest chance--on account of the mail. And in addition, I have other pressing engagements. Can I do anything else for you? _SPITTA polishes his glasses and betrays signs of embarrassment._ SPITTA One doesn't grow used to the darkness at once. HASSENREUTER