But that's horrible! That's frightful! That far exceeds my worst fears! And so my eyes have been opened.--My dear sir, I have had eight children, of whom Erich seemed our fairest hope and his next-oldest sister our heaviest trial. And now, it seems, the same accursed city has demanded them both as its victims. The girl developed prematurely, she was beautiful ... and ... But I must mention another circumstance now, I have, been in Berlin for three days and I haven't seen Erich yet. When I tried to see him to-day, he was not at home in his rooms. I waited for a while and naturally looked about me in my son's dwelling. And now: look at this picture, sir! [_Replacing ERICH'S letter in his pocket he extracts therefrom a small photograph and holds it immediately under HASSENREUTER'S eyes._ HASSENREUTER [_Takes the picture and holds it at varying distances from him. He is disconcerted._] Why should I look at this? PASTOR SPITTA The silly little face is of no importance. But pray look at the inscription. HASSENREUTER Where? PASTOR SPITTA [_Reads._] "From Walburga to her only sweetheart." HASSENREUTER Permit me!--- What's the meaning of this? PASTOR SPITTA It simply means some seamstress if not, what is worse, some shady waitress! HASSENREUTER H-m. [_He slips the picture into his pocket._] I shall keep this photograph. PASTOR SPITTA It is in such filth that my son wallows. And consider the situation in which it puts me: with what feelings, with what front shall I henceforward face my congregation from the pulpit ...? HASSENREUTER Confound it, what business is that of mine? What have I to do with your offspring, with your lost sons and daughters? [_He pulls out the photograph again._] And furthermore, as far as this excellent and sound-hearted young lady is concerned, you're quite mistaken in your ideas about waitresses and such like. I'll say nothing more. All other matters will adjust themselves. Good-bye. PASTOR SPITTA I confess frankly, I don't understand you. Probably this tone is the usual one in your circles, I will go and not annoy you any longer. But as a father I have the right before God, to demand of you that henceforth you refuse to my deluded son this so-called dramatic instruction. I hope I shall not have to look for further ways and means of enforcing this demand. HASSENREUTER I won't only do that, but I'll actually put him out of doors. [_He accompanies the PASTOR to the door, slams it behind him and returns alone._ HASSENREUTER [_Waving his arms through the air._] All that one can say here is: Plain parson! [_He rushes halfway up the stairs to the loft._] Spitta! Walburga! Come down here, will you? _WALBURGA and SPITTA come down._ HASSENREUTER [_To WALBURGA, who looks at him questioningly._] Go to your high stool over there and sit down on the humorous part of your anatomy! Well, and you, my dear Spitta, what do you want? SPITTA You called us both, sir. HASSENREUTER