_The tap room in WERMELSKIRCH'S public house. A flat, whitewashed room with a door leading to the inner rooms of the house on the left. The rear wall of this room is broken, toward its middle. The opening leads to a second, smaller, oblong room. On the right wall of this second room there is a glass door leading out into the open and, farther forward, a window. On the rear wall of the main room the bar is situated, filled with square whisky-bottles, glasses, etc. The beer is also on draught there. Highly varnished tables and chairs of cherry wood are scattered about the room. A red curtain divides the two rooms. In the oblong rear room are also chairs and tables and, in the extreme background, a billiard table. Lithographs, representing mainly hunting scenes, are hung on the walls._ _WERMELSKIRCH, in a dressing gown and smoking a long pipe, sits on the left, himself playing the piano. Three members of the voluntary fire-corps play billiards. In the foreground to the right HAUFFE sits brooding over a glass of whisky. He is noticeably shabby. MRS. WERMELSKIRCH, a gipsy-like, slovenly old woman, is rinsing glasses behind the bar. FRANZISKA is crouching on a window ledge at the right playing with a kitten. The waiter GEORGE is standing at the bar over a glass of beer. He has an elegant spring suit on, as well as patent-leather shoes, kid-gloves and a top-hat set far back on his head._ WERMELSKIRCH [_Plays and sings._] "When I was prince in realms Arcadian, I lived in splendour and in wealth." GEORGE [_Who has accompanied the music by dancing gestures._] Go on, go on with, that! WERMELSKIRCH [_Coughing affectedly._] Can't be done! Quite hoarse! Anyhow ... pshaw!... I'll try again. "When I was prince ...." [_He coughs._] "When I was prince in realms Arcadian, I lived in splen ... I lived in splen ... "! The devil take it! GEORGE Aw, why don't you go on? That was quite right! That was fine! WERMELSKIRCH I see myself trying! It's all over with me! GEORGE I don't understand you! That's the finest kind o' chamber music! WERMELSKIRCH [_Laughing._] Chamber music! GEORGE Well, maybe not! I don't know the differences so well. Hallo, Miss Franziska, what are you laughin' at? FRANZISKA I'm laughing at your beautiful patent-leather boots. GEORGE Go right ahead! You don't expect me to go barefoot. Give that man over there a glass of beer. How would you like a bit o' cordial, Miss Franziska? You're right, my boots is pretty fine ones. They cost me twenty crowns. Why not? I c'n stand the expense; I'm able to do it! In the "Sword" hotel a man c'n at least earn somethin'. To be sure, while I was at the "Star" I couldn't ha' bought no boots like this. WERMELSKIRCH So you like it better at the "Sword"? GEORGE