True. But I'm beginning to regret the fact, and I must insist, at all events, that she hold her private receptions in her own rooms and not here. Otherwise I'll soon equip the door here with patent locks and mantraps.--What's the matter with you, my good Spitta? I suppose you'll have to have the goodness to show these ladies the place they really want to go to. PAULINE But Mrs. John ain't to be found in her rooms downstairs. HASSENREUTER Well, she's not to be found up here either. MRS. KIELBACKE The reason is because this here young lady has her little son boardin' with Mrs. John. HASSENREUTER Glad to hear it! Please march now without further delay! Save me, Kaeferstein! MRS. KIELBACKE An' now a gentleman's come from the city, from the office of the government guardian office to see how the child is an' if it's well taken care of an' in good condition. An' then he went into Mrs. John's room an' we went with him. An' there was the child an' a note pinned to it what said that Mrs. John was workin' for you up here. HASSENREUTER Where was the child boarding? MRS. KIELBACKE With Mrs. John. HASSENREUTER [_Impatiently._] That's simply a piece of imbecility. You are quite wrong.--Spitta, you would have been much better employed accompanying the old gentleman after whom I sent you than aiding these ladies to come here. SPITTA I looked for the gentleman you speak of but he was already gone. HASSENREUTER These ladies don't seem to believe me. Will you kindly inform them, gentlemen, that Mrs. John has no child in board, and that they are quite obviously mistaken in the name. KAeFERSTEIN I am asked to tell you that you are probably mistaken in the name. PAULINE [_Vehemently and tearfully._] She has got my baby! She had my baby boardin' with her. An' the gentleman came from the city an' he said that the child wasn't in no good hands an' that it was neglected. She went an' ruined my baby's health. HASSENREUTER There is no doubt but what you have mistaken the name of the woman of whom you speak, Mrs. John has no child in board. PAULINE She had my baby in her claws, that's what! An' she let it starve an' get sick! I gotta see her! I gotta tell her right out! She's gotta make my little baby well again! I gotta go to court. The gentleman says as how I gotta go to court an' give notice. HASSENREUTER I beg of you not to get excited. The fact is that you are mistaken! How did you ever hit on the idea that Mrs. John has a child in board? PAULINE Because I gave it to her myself. HASSENREUTER But Mrs. John has her own child and it just occurs to me that she has taken it along with her on a visit to her sister-in-law. PAULINE She ain't got no child. No, Mrs. John ain't got none! She cheats an' she lies. She ain't got none. She took my little Alois an' she ruined him. HASSENREUTER By heaven, ladies, you are mistaken! PAULINE