MISS COEURNE (sixteen years old, short skirts, loose-hanging light hair. Has a bouquet of red roses in her hand, speaks with an English accent, looks at GERARDO with a full and frank expression). Please, do not send me away. GERARDO. What else am I to do with you? Heaven knows _I_ did not ask you to come here. It would be wrong of you to take it amiss but, you see, I have to sing tomorrow night. I must tell you frankly. I thought I should have this half hour to myself. Only just now I've given special and strictest orders not to admit anybody, no matter who it might be. MISS COEURNE (stepping forward). Do not send me away. I heard you as Tannhaeuser last night and came here merely to offer you these roses. GERARDO. Yes?--Well?--And--? MISS COEURNE. And myself!--I hope I am saying it right. GERARDO (grasps the back of a chair; after a short struggle with himself he shakes his head). Who are you? MISS COEURNE. Miss Coeurne. GERARDO. I see. MISS COEURNE. I am still quite a simple girl. GERARDO. I know. But come here, Miss Coeurne. (Sits down in an armchair and draws her up in front of him.) Let me have a serious talk with you, such as you have never heard before in your young life but seem to need very much at the present time. Do you think because I am an artist--now don't misunderstand me, please. You are--how old are you? MISS COEURNE. Twenty-two. GERARDO. You are sixteen, at most seventeen. You make yourself several years older in order to appear more attractive to me. Well now? You are still quite simple, to be sure. But, as I was going to say, my being an artist certainly does not impose upon me the duty to help you to get over being simple! Don't take it amiss. Well? Why are you looking away now? MISS COEURNE. I told you I was still very simple because that's the way they like to have young girls here in Germany. GERARDO. I am not a German, my child, but at the same time ... MISS COEURNE. Well?--I am not so simple, after all. GERARDO. I am no children's nurse either! That's not the right word, I feel it, for--you are no longer a child, unfortunately? MISS COEURNE. No!--Unfortunately!--Not now. GERARDO. But you see, my dear young woman--you have your games of tennis, you have your skating club, you may go bicycling or take mountain trips with your lady friends. You may enjoy yourself swimming or riding on horseback or dancing whichever you like. I am sure you have everything a young girl could wish for. Then why do you come to me? MISS COEURNE. Because I hate all of that and because it's such a bore!