[_Out of the boot he draws an infant's bottle, topped by a rubber nipple and half filled with milk._ MRS. JOHN That's easily explained. I was up there settin' things to rights an' I had little Adelbert along with me. But I don' know nothin' about the rest. HASSENREUTER Nobody has undertaken to assert that you do, Mrs. John. MRS. JOHN When you considers how my little Adelbert came into the world ... an' when you considers how he died ... nobody c'n come an' tell me nothin' about bein' a reel mother ... But I gotta leave now, sir ... I can't be comin' up here for two three days. Good-bye! I has to go to my sister-in-law an' let Adelbert enjoy the country air a little. [_She trots off through the door to the outer hall._ HASSENREUTER Can you make anything of her wild talk? QUAQUARO There's been a screw loose there ever since her first baby came, an' all the more after it took an' died. Now since she's got the second one, there's two screws what's wobbly. Howsoever, she c'n count--that's a fac'. She's got a good bit o' money loaned out at interest on pawned goods. HASSENREUTER Well, but what is the injured party--namely, myself--to do? QUAQUARO That depends on where the suspicion falls. HASSENREUTER In this house?--You'll admit yourself, Mr. Quaquaro ... QUAQUARO That's true all right. But it won't be long before we'll have a little cleanin' up aroun' here! The widow Knobbe with all her crowd is goin' to be put out! An' then there's a gang in wing B, where there's some tough customers by what Policeman Schierke tells me. Well, they're goin' to come from headquarters pretty soon and blow up that crowd. HASSENREUTER There must be a glee club somewhere in the house. At least I hear excellent male voices singing from time to time things like "Germany, our highest glory," and "Who has built thee, noble wood," and "In a cool galley turneth." QUAQUARO Them's the very fellers! That's right! An' they do sing fine! The sayin' is that bad men has no songs, but I wouldn't advise no one to fool with _them_! I wouldn't go into that company my own self without Prince. That's my bull dog. You just go an' lay information against 'em an' you won't be doin' no harm, sir. [_QUAQUARO exit._ HASSENREUTER