LENE (admiring the chandelier). Oh my, but now it's beautiful, Miss Clara! The young master will be pleased when he comes. [AUNT CLARA stands before the chandelier with folded hands, engrossed in thought. The hall is now brightly illumined. Only the remotest corners remain in a shadow.] INSPECTOR ZINDEL (comes in again from the right with a lighted lantern, stops in astonishment). The deuce, Miss Clara! You're up to the business. I do say, the world must come to an end, in grand style! (He puts down the lantern beside the fireplace.) LENE. Anything else to do, Miss? AUNT CLARA (absent-minded). You may go now. If I need you I'll call. LENE (departing). All right, Miss, the water's been put on for the coffee. (Goes off to the right.) INSPECTOR ZINDEL. I was out on the road. Miss. Not a sound yet. AUNT CLARA (starts from her dreams and points to the chandelier). For ten years it has not been lighted, Zindel! Ever since Paul has been gone! INSPECTOR ZINDEL (approaching from the fireplace, mysteriously). Do you know, Miss Clara? AUNT CLARA (with a start). Goodness!... What is it? INSPECTOR ZINDEL. I say, Miss Clara? You'll put in a good word for me with the young master? A fellow does want to know where he's at. AUNT CLARA. Yes, yes. (Listens toward the outside.) INSPECTOR ZINDEL. Especially now that the old master is dead, and the young master doesn't know about things, all of the work is on a fellow's shoulders, you see. AUNT CLARA (still listening). Don't you hear something, Zindel? It seems to me? INSPECTOR ZINDEL (is startled and listens also). Where, pray tell?... [Brief silence.] AUNT CLARA (taking her hand from her ear). No, nothing. It only seemed to me.... INSPECTOR ZINDEL. Heavens, Miss Clara!... Where was it--? (He walks up and down restlessly.) AUNT CLARA (has sat down in a chair at the table before the sofa). Now they may be here at any time. What time is it, Zindel? INSPECTOR ZINDEL. Almost seven. Miss. The Berlin train arrives at ten minutes after six. AUNT CLARA. You were outside, Zindel, weren't you; didn't you hear a carriage on the road? INSPECTOR ZINDEL (warms his hands at the fireplace). The wind's from the other way, Miss. One can hear nothing. And it's cold as the deuce! They'll be nice and cold on the way. AUNT CLARA. I do not know how it comes, but the day seems unwilling to break this morning. How does it look outside? INSPECTOR ZINDEL. Dark, pitch dark. Not a star, nothing. Only over toward the Sobbowitz woods, it's beginning to dawn a bit. AUNT CLARA (yawning). Of course, that's where the sun must rise. INSPECTOR ZINDEL (also yawning). We'll not get much of a peep at it today. It's going to be a gloomy day. AUNT CLARA. Possibly it will snow. INSPECTOR ZINDEL. May be, why it's time. Christmas without snow, I can't remember such a thing for the last few years.