_The same room in FLAMM'S house as in the second act. It is a Saturday afternoon toward the beginning of September. FLAMM is sitting over his accounts at the roller-top desk. Not far from the door to the hall stands STRECKMANN._ FLAMM According to this there is due you the sum of twelve pounds, ten shillings, sixpence. STRECKMANN Yes, Mr. Flamm. FLAMM What was wrong with the machine? You stopped working one forenoon? STRECKMANN I had a summons to appear in the county court that day. There wasn't nothin' wrong with the machine. FLAMM Was that in connection with the trouble about ... Keil? STRECKMANN Yes. An' besides that Bernd sued me for slanderin' his daughter. FLAMM [_Has taken money from a special pigeon hole and counts it out on the large table._] Here are twelve pounds and eleven shillings. So you owe me sixpence. STRECKMANN [_Pockets the money and gives FLAMM a small coin._] An' so I'm to tell the head bailiff that by the end o' December you'll be ready for me again. FLAMM Yes, I want you for two days. Say, by the beginning of December. I'd like to empty the big barn at that time. STRECKMANN By the beginnin' o' December. All right, Mr. Flamm. Good-bye. FLAMM Good-bye, Streckmann. Tell me, though, what's going to be the outcome of that affair? STRECKMANN [_Stops and shrugs his shoulders._] It isn't goin' to be much of an outcome for me! FLAMM Why? STRECKMANN I suppose I'll have to suffer for it. FLAMM What consequences a little thing will sometimes have!--How did it happen that you quarreled? STRECKMANN I can't say as I can remember clearly. That day--I must ha' been off my head--but the truth is I just can't get it straight how it did happen. FLAMM The bookbinder is known to be a very peaceable man. STRECKMANN An' yet he's always quarrelin' with me! But the thing's just gone from me.--All I know is that they fell on me just like hungry wolves! I thought they was tryin' to kill me right there! If I hadn't been thinkin' that, my hand wouldn't ha' slipped the way it did. FLAMM And the man's eye couldn't--be saved? STRECKMANN No, an' it makes a feller feel sorry. But ... there's nothin' to be done. The misfortune isn't on my conscience. FLAMM A thing of that kind is bad enough in itself. And when the courts take a hand in it, that only makes it worse. I'm especially sorry for the girl. STRECKMANN Yes; I'm thin an' wasted with the misery of it. It's gone straight to my heart. I tell you, your honour, I don't know what it is to sleep no more. I haven't got nothin' against August really. But, as I said, I just can't account for it. FLAMM You ought to go over and see Bernd some day. If you insulted his daughter and weren't in a clear state of mind, you could simply retract what you said. STRECKMANN