GESCHWITZ--How we did rejoice when Sister Theophila was really dead! From that day on we were free from supervision. We changed our beds as we liked. I had done my hair like hers, and copied every tone of her voice. When the professor came he called =her= “gnädiges Fräulein” and said to me, “It’s better living here than in prison!”... When the Sister suddenly was missing, we looked at each other in suspense: we had both been sick five days: now was the deciding moment. Next morning came the assistant.--“How is Sister Theophila?”--“Dead!”--We communicated behind his back, and when he had gone we sank in each other’s arms: “God be thanked! God be thanked!”--What pains it cost me to keep my darling from betraying how well she already was! “You have nine years of prison before you,” I cried to her early and late. And now they probably wouldn’t let her stay in the contagious ward three days more! RODRIGO--I lay in the hospital full three months to spy out the ground, after toilfully peddling together the qualities necessary for such a long stay. Now I act the valet here with you, Dr. Schön, so that no strange servants may come into the house. Where is the bridegroom who’s ever done so much for his bride? My fortune has also been shattered. ALVA--When you succeed in developing her into a respectable artiste you will have put the world in debt to you. With the temperament and the beauty that she has to give out from the inmost depths of her nature she can make the most blasé public hold its breath. And then, too, she will be protected, by =acting= passion, from a second time becoming a criminal in reality. RODRIGO--I’ll soon drive her kiddishness out of her! GESCHWITZ--There he comes! [_Steps louden in the gallery. Then the curtains part at the head of the stairs and_ SCHIGOLCH _in a long black coat with a white sun-shade in his right hand comes down. Thruout the play his speech is interrupted with frequent yawns._] SCHIGOLCH--Confound the darkness! Outdoors the sun burns your eyes out. GESCHWITZ--[_Wearily unwrapping herself._] I’m coming! RODRIGO--Her ladyship has seen no daylight for three days. We live here like in a snuff-box. SCHIGOLCH--Since nine o’clock this morning I’ve been round to all the old-clothes-men. Three brand-new trunks stuffed full of old trousers I’ve expressed to Buenos Aires via Bremerhaven. My legs are dangling on me like the tongue of a bell. It’s going to be a different life for me from now on! RODRIGO--Where are you going to get off to-morrow morning? SCHIGOLCH--I hope not straight into Ox-butter Hotel again! RODRIGO--I can tell you a fine hotel. I lived there with a lady lion-tamer. The people were born in Berlin. GESCHWITZ--[_Upright in the arm-chair._] Come and help me! RODRIGO--[_Hurries to her and supports her._] And you’ll be safer from the police there than on a high tight-rope! GESCHWITZ--He means to let you go with her alone this afternoon. SCHIGOLCH--Maybe he’s still suffering from his chilblains!