What is more, you seem to be rather blessed with that sort of thing hereabouts.

HOFFMANN

[_Almost beside himself._] Why? How? Blessed with what?

LOTH

With drunkards, of course.

HOFFMANN

H-m! Do you think so ... ah ... yes ... I dare say--the miners....

LOTH

Not only the miners. Here, in the inn, where I stopped before I came to you, there sat a fellow, for instance, this way.

[_He rests both elbows on the table, supports his head, with his hands and stares at the table._

HOFFMANN

Really?

[_His embarra.s.sment has now reached its highest point; MRS. KRAUSE coughs; HELEN still commands KAHL with her eyes. His whole body quivers with internal laughter, but he is still capable of enough self-command not to burst out._

LOTH

I'm surprised that you don't know this, well, one might almost say, this matchless example of his kind. It's the inn next door to your house. I was told that the man is an immensely rich farmer of this place who literally spends his days and years in the same tap-room drinking whiskey. Of course he's a mere animal to-day. Those frightfully vacant, drink-bleared eyes with which he stared at me!

[_KAHL, who has restrained himself up to this point, breaks out in coa.r.s.e, loud, irrepressible laughter, so that LOTH and HOFFMANN, dumb with astonishment, stare at him._

KAHL

[_Stammering out through his laughter._] By the Almighty, that was....

Oh, sure, sure--that was the ol' man.

HELEN

[_Jumps up, horrified and indignant. She crushes her napkin and flings it on the table._] You are.... [_With a gesture of utter loathing._] Oh, you are....

[_She withdraws swiftly._

KAHL

[_Violently breaking through the constraint which arises from his consciousness of having committed a gross blunder._] Oh, pshaw!... It's too dam' foolish! I'm goin' my own ways. [_He puts on his hat and says, without turning back:_] Evenin'.

MRS. KRAUSE

[_Calls out after him._] Don' know's I c'n blame you, William. [_She folds her napkin and calls_:] Miele! [_MIELE enters._] Clear the table!

[_To herself, but audibly._] Sich a goose!

HOFFMANN

[_Somewhat angry._] Well, mother, honestly, I must say....

MRS. KRAUSE

You go and...!

[_Arises; exits quickly._

MRS. SPILLER

Madame--m--has had a good many domestic annoyances to-day--m--. I will now respectfully take my leave.

[_She rises, prays silently with upturned eyes for a moment and then leaves._

_MIELE and EDWARD clear the table. HOFFMANN has arisen and comes to the foreground. He has a toothpick in his mouth. LOTH follows him._

HOFFMANN

Well, you see, that's the way women are.

LOTH

I can't say that I understand what it was about.

HOFFMANN

It isn't worth mentioning. Things like that happen in the most refined families. It mustn't keep you from spending a few days with us....

LOTH

I should like to have made your wife's acquaintance. Why doesn't she appear at all?

HOFFMANN

[_Cutting off the end of a fresh cigar._] Well, in her condition, you understand ... women won't abandon their vanity. Come, let's go and take a few turns in the garden.--Edward, serve coffee in the arbour!

EDWARD

Very well, sir.

[_HOFFMANN and LOTH disappear by way of the conservatory. EDWARD leaves by way of the middle door and MIELE, immediately thereafter, goes out, carrying a tray of dishes, by the same door. For a few seconds the room is empty. Then enters_

HELEN

[_Wrought up, with tear-stained eyes, holding her handkerchief against her mouth. From the middle door, by which she has entered, she takes a few hasty steps to the left and listens at the door of HOFFMANN'S room._]