HUGENBERG--I’m trying to get into the confidence of a turnkey. ALVA--What do you mean to live on? HUGENBERG--I’m living with a girl who’s had a child by my father. ALVA--Who is your father? HUGENBERG--He’s a police captain. I know the prison without ever having been inside it; and nobody in it will recognize me as I am now. But I don’t count on that at all. I know an iron ladder by which one can get from the first court to the roof and thru an opening there into the attic. There’s no way up to it from inside. But in all five wings boards and laths and great heaps of shavings are lying under the roofs, and I’ll drag them all together in the middle and set fire to them. My pockets are full of matches and all the things used to make fires. ALVA--But then you’ll burn up there! HUGENBERG--Of course, if I’m not rescued. But to get into the first court I must have the turnkey in my power, and for that I need money. Not that I mean to bribe him; that wouldn’t go. I must lend him money to send his three children to the country, and then at four o’clock in the morning when the prisoners of respected families are discharged, I’ll slip in the door. He’ll lock-up behind me and ask me what I’m after, and I’ll ask him to let me out again in the evening. And before it gets light, I’m up in the attic. ALVA--How did you escape from the reform-school? HUGENBERG--Jumped out the window. I need two hundred marks for the rascal to send his family to the country. RODRIGO--[_Stepping out of the portières, right._] Will the Herr Baron have coffee in the music-room or on the veranda? HUGENBERG--How did that man come here? Out of the same door! He jumped out of the same door! ALVA--I’ve taken him into my service. He is dependable. HUGENBERG--[_Grasping his temples._] Fool that I am! Oh, fool! RODRIGO--Oh, yah, we’ve seen each other here before! Cut away now to your vice-mama. Your kid brother might like to uncle his brothers and sisters. Make your sir-papa the grandfather of his children! You’re the only thing we’ve missed. If you once get into my sight in the next two weeks, I’ll beat your bean up for porridge. ALVA--Be quiet, you! HUGENBERG--I’m a fool! RODRIGO--What do you want to do with your fire? Don’t you know the lady’s been dead three weeks? HUGENBERG--Did they cut off her head? RODRIGO--No, she’s got that still. She was mashed by the cholera. HUGENBERG--That is not true! RODRIGO--What do you know about it! There, read it: here! [_Taking out a paper and pointing to the place._] “The murderess of Dr. Schön....” [_Gives_ HUGENBERG _the paper. He reads_:] HUGENBERG--“The murderess of Dr. Schön has in some incomprehensible way fallen ill of the cholera in prison.” It doesn’t say that she’s dead.