LULU--[_Defending herself with all her strength._] Let me be! Let me be! [ALVA, _who has risen painfully from his couch, sneaks up to_ KUNGU POTI _from behind and pulls him back by the collar_.] KUNGU POTI--[_Whirling round._] Oh! Oh! This is a murder-hole! Come, my friend. I’ll put you to sleep! [_Strikes him over the head with a loaded cane._ ALVA _groans and falls in a heap_.] Here’s a sleeping-draught! Here’s opium for you! Sweet dreams to you! Sweet dreams! [_Then he gives_ LULU _a kiss; pointing to_ ALVA.] He dreams of you, Ragapsishimulara! Sweet dreams! [_Rushing to the door._] Here’s the door! [_Exit._] LULU--But I’ll not stay here?!--Who can stand it here now!--Rather down onto the street! [_Exit._ SCHIGOLCH _comes out_.] SCHIGOLCH--Blood!--Alva!--He’s got to be put away somewhere. Hop!--Or else our friends’ll get a shock from him--Alva! Alva!--He that isn’t quite clear about it---- One thing or t’other; or it’ll soon be too late! I’ll give him legs! [_Strikes a match and sticks it into_ ALVA’S _collar_....] He will have his rest. But no one sleeps here.--[_Drags him by the head into_ LULU’S _room. Returning, he tries to turn up the light._] It’ll be time for me, too, right soon now, or they’ll get no more Christmas puddings down there in the tavern. God knows when she’ll be coming back from her pleasure tour! [_Fixing an eye on_ LULU’S _picture_.] She doesn’t understand business! She can’t live off love, because her life is love.--There she comes. I’ll just talk straight to her once---- [COUNTESS GESCHWITZ _enters_.] ... If you want to lodge with us to-night, kindly take a little care that nothing is stolen here. GESCHWITZ--How dark it is here! SCHIGOLCH--It gets much darker than this.--The doctor’s already gone to rest. GESCHWITZ--She sent me ahead. SCHIGOLCH--That was sensible.--If anyone asks for me, I’m sitting downstairs in the pub.