MERTENS (has also stepped out from the recess of the fireplace, to MRS. SCHNAASE). If you are willing to put up with me for the present, madam? MRS. SCHNAASE. Oh, thank you very much! But I might ... MERTENS. Please, please, madam! May I offer you my arm? (He takes her arm.) JOSUPEIT (has rushed up to the two from the background). Too late! Just my luck! _I_ was about to report! MERTENS. You will have to get up a bit earlier the next time, my dear fellow; _I_ shall take you to the table, madam. JOSUPEIT (from the other side). Take me to the table dear, good madam! I'll tell you something quite interesting too. PAUL (has come forward with ANTOINETTE). We shall eat immediately, Mr. Mertens. MERTENS. Please, please, as concerns me! (He escorts MRS. SCHNAASE.) JOSUPEIT (catches sight of PAUL, suddenly assumes a funereal air). My heartfelt sympathy, Mr. Warkentin! (He seizes his hand and shakes it.) PAUL, (reserved). I thank you! JOSUPEIT (is silent for a moment, then continues). Another man of honor gone. (PAUL nods silently. JOSUPEIT again after a brief silence.) Terribly sudden! PAUL (nods again and says). But I must not detain you, Mr. Josupeit! JOSUPEIT. Once more, my heartfelt sympathy! [JOSUPEIT and the rest go off to the rear.] PAUL (to ANTOINETTE who has stepped forward to the right near the fireplace). You see, madam, that's the way of it! Just back from the cemetery. One buried forever, and the next moment all of their thoughts somewhere else. Joyous and of good cheer. ANTOINETTE (stares into the fire, bitterly). Yes, that's the way of it! PAUL. Life rolls on merrily. The dead are dead. We shall have the same fate some day, madam. ANTOINETTE. Of course we shall. It is immaterial to me. PAUL (looks at her). Really? ANTOINETTE. It does not matter to me, whether it comes today or tomorrow. Sometime I shall have to go! So the quicker the better. It is all over with me! PAUL. Antoinette! ANTOINETTE. You may believe me, I am quite serious! PAUL (completely absorbed, as he looks at her). How calmly you say that! In the very bloom of life! I cannot think of you thus. ANTOINETTE. How? PAUL. Cold and dead. ANTOINETTE. But I can. Very well indeed. I am so now! PAUL. That isn't true, Antoinette. Your eyes tell a different story! ANTOINETTE (shrugging her shoulders). Never mind my eyes! PAUL. But I can't help it. I must look into them! I feel as if I must find something there. ANTOINETTE (turning away). Don't go to any trouble! PAUL. Indeed, indeed, Antoinette! ANTOINETTE. What in the world could you find? PAUL. ... Possibly my lost life? ANTOINETTE (excited). Why do you speak so to me, Paul? PAUL. Do I hear it from your lips, Paul, Paul, as of old? ANTOINETTE (frightened). Paul! Paul! Desist! PAUL. It has been a long time since I have heard that sound! ANTOINETTE. Desist, at least for today, I beg of you! It seems like a sin to me! PAUL. Why like a sin?