GESCHWITZ--[_After he has gone._] I will sit behind the door. I will look on at everything and not quiver an eyelash. [_Sits on the broken chair._] Men and women don’t know themselves--they know not what they are. Only one who is neither man nor woman knows them. Every word they say is untrue, a lie. And they do not know it, for they are to-day so and to-morrow so, according as they have eaten, drunk, and loved, or not. Only the body remains for a time what it is, and only the children have reason. The men and women are like the animals: none knows what it does. When they are happiest they bewail themselves and groan, and in their deepest misery they rejoice over every tiny morsel. It is strange how hunger takes from men and women the strength to withstand misfortune. But when they have fed full they make this world a torture-chamber, they throw away their lives to satisfy a whim, a mood. Have there ever once been men and women to whom love brought happiness? And what is their happiness, save that they sleep better and can forget it all? My God, I thank thee that thou hast not made me as these. I am not man nor woman. My body has nothing common with their bodies. Have I a human soul? Tortured humanity has a little narrow heart; but I know it’s no virtue of mine if I resign all, sacrifice all.... [LULU _opens the door, and_ DR. HILTI _enters_. GESCHWITZ, _unnoticed, remains motionless by the door_.] LULU--[_Gaily._] Come right in! Come!--you’ll stay with me all night? DR. HILTI--[_His accent is very broad and flat._[10]] But I have no more than five shillings on me. I never take more than that when I go out. LULU--That’s enough, seeing it’s you! You have such faithful eyes! Come, give me a kiss! [_She flings herself down on the couch._ DR. HILTI _begins to swear in his native tongue_.[11]] Please, don’t say that. DR. HILTI--By the devil, this is really the first time I’ve ever gone with a girl! You can believe me. Mass, I hadn’t thought it would be like this! LULU--Are you married? DR. HILTI--Heaven and Hail, why do you think I am married?--No, I’m a tutor; I read philosophy at the University. The truth is, I come of a very old country family. When I was a student, I only got two gulden a week for pocket-money, and I could make better use of that than for girls! LULU--So you have never been with a woman? DR. HILTI--Just so, yeah! But I want it now. I got engaged this evening to a country-woman of mine. She’s a governess here. LULU--Is she pretty? DR. HILTI--Yeah, she’s got a hundred thousand.--I am very much excited, as it seems to me. LULU--[_Tossing back her hair and getting up._] I =am= in luck! [_Takes the lamp._] Well, if you please, Mr. Tutor? [_They go into her room._ GESCHWITZ _draws a small black revolver from her pocket and sets it to her forehead_.] GESCHWITZ--Come, come,--beloved! [DR. HILTI _tears open the door again_.] DR. HILTI--[_Plunging in._] Insane seraphs! Someone’s lying in there!