[_Lays his hand about WALTHER'S wrist._] You stay here! Y' understan'? WALTHER What is I to do here? HENSCHEL You'll see for yourself. All I says is: You stay! [_To FRANZISKA._] Go down an' tell my wife she's to come up! _FRANZISKA goes._ WERMELSKIRCH But, dear Mr. Henschel, I beg you, for heaven's sake, don't cause a scandal here! The police will be coming at me next, and then ... HENSCHEL [_In an outburst of towering, withering rage--bluish-red of face._] I'll beat you all to death if Hanne don't come here--now!!! WALTHER [_In helpless perplexity._] Wilhelm, Wilhelm, don' go an' commit some foolishness now! I wish I hadn't said nothin'. An' it didn't mean nothin'. You know yourself how people will talk! HILDEBRANT Wilhelm, you're a good man. Come to your senses! My God, how you look! Think, man, think! Why, you fairly roared! What's the matter with you? That must ha' been heard all over the house! HENSCHEL Anybody c'n hear me now that wants to. But you stay here an' Hanne is to come here. WALTHER Why should I be stayin' here? I don't know what for! Your affairs--they don't concern me a bit. I don't mingle in 'em an' I don't want to! HENSCHEL Then you should ha' thought before you spoke! WALTHER Everythin' else that's between us'll be settled in court. There we'll see who's in the right. I'll get hold o' my money; never fear! Maybe you're wife'll think it over once or twice before she goes an' perjures herself. The rest don't concern me. I tell you to let me go. I has no time. I has to go to Hartau, an' I can't be kept waitin' here. _SIEBENHAAR re-enters._ SIEBENHAAR What's happened here? WERMELSKIRCH Goodness, gracious, I don't know! I don't know what Mr. Henschel wants! HENSCHEL [_Who continues to imprison WALTHER'S wrist._] Hanne is to come here: that's all. MRS. WERMELSKIRCH [_To SIEBENHAAR._] The men were drinking their beer quite peacefully. Suddenly Mr. Henschel came in and began a dispute as though he were master here. SIEBENHAAR [_With a deprecating gesture._] All right; all right. [_To HENSCHEL._] What's happened to you, Henschel? HENSCHEL Mr. Siebenhaar, it's no fault o' mine. I couldn't help things comin' about this way. You may think what you please, Mr. Siebenhaar. I give you my word--'twasn't my fault. SIEBENHAAR You needn't excuse yourself to me, Henschel. I know you're a man of peace. HENSCHEL Yes. I was in your father's service long ago, an' even if it looks that way a thousand times over--it wasn't my fault that this here has happened. I don't know myself what I has done. I never was quarrelsome--that's certain! But now things has come about ...! They scratch an' they bite at me--all of 'em! An' now this man here has said things o' my wife that he's got to prove--prove!!--or God help him! SIEBENHAAR Why don't you let the people gossip? HENSCHEL Proofs! Proofs! Or God help him! WALTHER