I should say so! A boss like I got now, a reel good fellow--I never had before long's I've been in the business. We're like old friends--like brothers. I could say most anythin' to him! WERMELSKIRCH Well, that's very different from Siebenhaar. _FRANZISKA laughs out._ GEORGE An' that just shows you: Pride goeth before a fall. Two or three weeks an' he'll be under the hammer. Then I c'n buy myself his gold watch. WERMELSKIRCH You'd better buy the whole house! GEORGE Not just now. You got to wait for the proper time to do a thing like that. An' anyhow, it's sold. Your health, gentlemen!... Your health, gentlemen! When you're through, I'll order more! What's the name o' the man that bought the house? Exner? Eh? He's goin' to bottle the spring water an' export it. He's goin' to rent out the hotel.--I'd rent it this minute if I had the money. HAUFFE Why don't you go to Henschel? He'll give it to you. GEORGE That wouldn't be as much out o' the question as you thinks. HAUFFE No, that a fac'! You're on pretty good terms with the wife! [_FRANZISKA laughs aloud._] GEORGE Well, why shouldn't I be. That there woman's not half bad. I tell you, a fellow that knows how, c'n make the women feed out o' his hand! HAUFFE Well, if you know enough to make Mrs. Henschel feed out o' your hand, you must know your business pretty well. I'll say that for you. _FABIG enters, the cord of his pack around his shoulders. He sits down modestly in a corner._ GEORGE Well, there you are; that's what I'm tellin' you! There's pretty few that could come up to me that way. But a man has to be on the lookout, or he'd get a good beatin' an' that's all! WERMELSKIRCH Well, you're not through with it yet yourself. [_SIEBENHAAR enters from the left._] Where Henschel strikes down the grass stops growing. Your servant, Mr. Siebenhaar! SIEBENHAAR [_Somewhat pale._] Good morning! GEORGE I think I'll play a game o' billiards. [_He takes up his glass and disappears behind the curtain in the rear._ SIEBENHAAR [_Sitting down at a table near the piano._] Weren't you just singing, Mr. Wermelskirch? Don't let me interrupt you, please. WERMELSKIRCH What? I? Singing? That's hardly possible! You know how deeply this business affects me. But if you say so it must be true. Permit me to sit down by you. Bring me a glass of beer, too, Franziska! SIEBENHAAR When one considers that you were completely hoarse three or four years ago, you must admit that you've recuperated remarkably. WERMELSKIRCH You're quite right. But what good does it do me? I've half way crawled out of the slough. But who knows what'll happen now? FRANZISKA [_Places a glass of beer before SIEBENHAAR; to WERMELSKIRCH:_] I'll bring yours at once. SIEBENHAAR [_Having drunk._] What do you mean by that, exactly? WERMELSKIRCH