SCHIGOLCH--What’s the beastly weather made of my ulster!--When _I_ was five-and-twenty, I knew how to help myself! ALVA--Not everyone has had the joy of my sunny, glorious youth! SCHIGOLCH--I guess it’s going right out. When they come back it’ll be as dark in here again as in the womb. ALVA--With the clearest consciousness of my purpose I sought the companionship of people who’d never read a book in their lives. With self-denial, with exaltation, I clung to the elements, that I might be carried to the loftiest heights of poetic fame. The reckoning was false. I am the martyr of my calling. Since the death of my father I have not written a single verse! SCHIGOLCH--If only they haven’t stayed together! Nobody but a silly boy will go with two, no matter what. ALVA--They’ve not stayed together! SCHIGOLCH--That’s what I hope. If need be, she’ll keep the creature off from her with kicks. ALVA--One, risen from the dregs, is the most celebrated man of his nation; another, born in the purple, lies in the mud and cannot die! SCHIGOLCH--Here they come! ALVA--And what blessed hours of mutual joy in creation they had lived thru with each other! SCHIGOLCH--That they can rightly do for the first time now!--We must hide again. ALVA--I stay here. SCHIGOLCH--Just what do you pity them for?--He who spends his money has his good reasons for it! ALVA--I have no longer the moral courage to let my comfort be disturbed for a miserable sum of money! [_He wraps himself up in his plaid._] SCHIGOLCH--Noblesse oblige! A respectable man does what he owes his position. [_He hides, left._ LULU _opens the door, saying “Come right in, dearie,” and there enters_ PRINCE KUNGU POTI, _heir-apparent of Uahubee, in a light suit, white spats, tan button-boots, and a gray tall hat. His speech, interrupted with frequent hiccoughs, abounds with the peculiar African hiss-sounds._] KUNGU POTI--God damn--it’s dark on the stairs! LULU--It’s lighter here, sweetheart. [_Pulling him forward by the hand._] Come on! KUNGU POTI--But it’s cold here, awful cold! LULU--Have some brandy? KUNGU POTI--Brandy? You bet--always! Brandy’s good! LULU--[_Giving him the bottle._] I don’t know where the glass is. KUNGU POTI--Doesn’t matter. [_Drinks._] Brandy! Lots of it! LULU--You’re a nice-looking young man. KUNGU POTI--My father’s the emperor of Uahubee. I’ve got six wives here, two Spanish, two English, two French. Well--I don’t like my wives. Always I must take a bath, take a bath, take a bath.... LULU--How much will you give me? KUNGU POTI--Gold! You trust me, you’ll have gold! One gold-piece. I always give gold-pieces. LULU--You can give it to me later, but show it to me. KUNGU POTI--I never pay beforehand. LULU--But you can show it to me, tho! KUNGU POTI--Don’t understand, don’t understand! Come, Ragapsishimulara! [_Seizing_ LULU _round the waist_.] Come on!