HEILMANN--[_Bumping into_ PUNTSCHU _in the doorway_.] Excuse me, my angel! PUNTSCHU--Ah, it’s you. Miss Magelone’s waiting for you in the lift. HEILMANN--You go up with her, please. I’ll be right back. [_He hurries out, left._ LULU _goes out at lower left_. RODRIGO _follows her_.] PUNTSCHU--Some heat, that! If I don’t cut off =your= ears, you’ll cut ’em off me! If I can’t hire out my Jehoshaphat,[9] I’ve just got to help myself with my brains! Won’t they get wrinkled, my brains! Won’t they get indisposed! Won’t they need to bathe in Eau de Cologne! [BOB, _a groom in a red jacket, tight leather breeches, and twinkling riding-boots, fifteen years old, brings in a telegram_.] BOB--Mr. Puntschu, the banker! PUNTSCHU--[_Breaks open the telegram and murmurs_:] “Jungfrau Funicular Stock fallen to----” Ay, ay, so goes the world! [_To_ BOB.] Wait! [_Gives him a tip._] Tell me--what’s your name? BOB--Well, my name is Freddy, but they call me Bob, because that’s the fashion now. PUNTSCHU--How old are you? BOB--Fifteen. KADIDIA--[_Enters hesitatingly from lower left._] I beg your pardon, can you tell me if Mama is here? PUNTSCHU--No, my dear. [_Aside._] Devil, she’s got breeding! KADIDIA--I’m hunting all over for her; I can’t find her anywhere. PUNTSCHU--Your mama will turn up again soon, as true as my name’s Puntschu! [_Looking at_ BOB.] And that pair of breeches! God of Justice! It gets uncanny! [_He goes out, upper right._] KADIDIA--Haven’t =you= seen my mama, perhaps? BOB--No, but you only need to come with me. KADIDIA--Where is she then? BOB--She’s gone up in the lift. Come along. KADIDIA--No, no, I can’t go up with you. BOB--We can hide up there in the corridor. KADIDIA--No, no, I can’t come, or I’ll be scolded. [MAGELONE, _terribly excited, rushes in, upper left, and possesses herself of_ KADIDIA.] MAGELONE--Ha, there you are at last, you common creature! KADIDIA--[_Crying._] O Mama, Mama, I was hunting for you! MAGELONE--Hunting for me? Did I tell you to hunt for me? What have you had to do with this fellow? [HEILMANN, ALVA, LUDMILLA, PUNTSCHU, GESCHWITZ, _and_ LULU _enter, lower left_. BOB _has slipped away_.] Now don’t bawl before all the people on me; look out, I tell you! LULU--[_As they all surround_ KADIDIA.] But you’re crying, sweetheart! Why are you crying? PUNTSCHU--By God, she’s really been crying! Who’s done anything to hurt you, little goddess? LUDMILLA--[_Kneels before her and folds her in her arms._] Tell me, cherub, what bad thing has happened. Do you want a cookie? Do you want some chocolate? MAGELONE--It’s just nerves. The child’s getting them much too soon. It would be best, anyway, if no one paid any attention to her! PUNTSCHU--That sounds like you! You’re a pretty mother! The courts’ll take the child away from you yet and appoint me her guardian! [_Stroking_ KADIDIA’S _cheeks_.] Isn’t that so, my little goddess?