PITICHINACCIO.

Good.

SCHLEMIL (to Pitichinaccio).

Microbe!

PITICHINACCIO.

Hola!

GIULIETTA.

Calm yourselves!

We have a strange poet among us.

(Presenting) Hoffman!

SCHLEMIL (with bad grace).

Monsieur!

HOFFMAN.

Monsieur!

GIULIETTA (to Schlemil).

Smile on us, I beg, And come take your place At pharaoh!

THE CHORUS.

Bravo! To pharaoh!

(Giulietta after having invited all to follow her, goes toward door.

Hoffman offers his hand to Giulietta. Schlemil comes between.)

SCHLEMIL (taking Giulietta's hand).

By heavens!

GIULETTA.

To the game, gentlemen, to the game!

THE CHORUS.

To the game, the game!

(All go out except Hoffman and Nicklausse.)

NICKLAUSSE.

One word! I have two horses saddled. At the first dream That Hoffman permits himself, I carry him off.

HOFFMAN.

And what dream ever could be born By such realities?

Does one love a courtezan?

NICKLAUSSE.

Yet this Schlemil...

HOFFMAN.

I am not Schlemil.

NICKLAUSSE.

Take care, the devil is clever.

DAPERTUTTO (appears at back).

HOFFMAN.

Were it so, If he makes me love her, may he d.a.m.n me, Come!

NICKLAUSSE.

Let us go.