AUNT CLARA (shaking her head). Why a person can't talk to your wife. And that young man ... There's something about him too. Where in the world are the two now? PAUL (feigning indifference). There, in the other room, Aunt Clara. AUNT CLARA. Do you suppose she will hear us? PAUL. Oh no, Auntie! They are in the green room. The sun-parlor lies between. And then ... when Hella is working, she doesn't hear anyhow. AUNT CLARA. Those two! I do say! They just have to stay together the whole day! But I was going to say ... Laskowskis ... PAUL. What about Laskowski? AUNT CLARA. Wonder whether we ought to send them an announcement? PAUL. I don't care! Although I do not exactly consider it necessary. AUNT CLARA. Just on account of the wife. PAUL. Whose wife? AUNT CLARA. Well, Mrs. Laskowski. Why, don't you know? PAUL (turns around). Not a thing! Is Laskowski married? AUNT CLARA. Why, Paul! Didn't he marry Antonie? PAUL (recoils). Antoinette ...? Our Antoinette? And I am just finding out about that! AUNT CLARA. Well, I didn't know whether you cared to hear anything about Antonie. PAUL (approaches her and speaks to her in an interested manner). Why, Auntie, one _is_ interested in the people who were once near and dear. AUNT CLARA. Then, you didn't ask about her yesterday! PAUL. Goodness, Aunt Clara! I didn't _want_ to ask!... After all, I'm finding out soon enough!... Poor Antoinette!... Wasn't she able to find any one else?... AUNT CLARA. You had been gone a year and a half, Paul, and then they got married. PAUL (depressed). Well, well ...! That long ago? Then it has really ceased to be news! How _does_ she look? (Bitterly.) I suppose quite...? (He makes a significant derogatory gesture.) AUNT CLARA. Don't say that, Paul! She can vie with the youngest and most beautiful of them! She is in her very prime now! Just set her over against your wife! PAUL (embarrassed). Well, well! Hella is not exactly obliged to conceal herself, it seems to me. AUNT CLARA (eagerly). But oh, you should see Mrs. Laskowski! PAUL (crabbed). Well, then old Laskowski may thank his stars. How in all the world did Antoinette run into that fellow? I could never _bear_ him! AUNT CLARA. Have you forgotten _every_ thing Paul? Why, he was forever after her, even when you were still here. PAUL. Why, he is the greatest crook on God's green earth! AUNT CLARA. At first Antonie didn't care a thing in the world for him, but later she took him just the same, when it was all over with you. PAUL (disdainfully). Of course he had his eye on her estate, the sly rogue! I'd vouch for that. AUNT CLARA (gleefully). Her estate, Grosz-Rukkoschin, went to him right at her marriage. You know that belongs to her from her father's side. _You_ might have that now, Paul. PAUL (interested). Well, and how do the two get along? He and Antoinette? AUNT CLARA (shrugging her shoulders). Oh, Paul, what do I know about it? They have no children.