_EDWARD goes through the door at the right, reappears through the middle-door and then withdraws._
LOTH
I simply meant that you hadn't understood me in one particular respect.
HOFFMANN
[_Worrying his foot into the other shoe._] Ouch! There! [_He rises and stamps his feet._] There we are. Nothing is more disagreeable than tight shoes ... What were you saying just now?
LOTH
You were speaking of my departure ...
HOFFMANN
Well?
LOTH
But I thought I had explained that I must stay here for a specific purpose.
HOFFMANN
[_In extreme consternation and thoroughly indignant at once._] Look here!... That comes near being caddish!--Don't you know what you owe me as your friend?
LOTH
Not, I hope, the betrayal of my cause!
HOFFMANN
[_Beside himself._] Well then--in that case--I haven't the slightest motive for treating you as a friend. And so I tell you that I consider your appearance and demeanour here--to put it mildly--incredibly impudent.
LOTH
[_Quite calmly._] Perhaps you'll explain what gives you the right to use such epithets ...
HOFFMANN
Yon want an explanation of that? That is going to an extreme! Not to feel a thing like that it's necessary to have a rhinoceros-hide instead of skin on one's back! You come here, enjoy my hospitality, thresh out a few of your thread-bare phrases, turn my sister-in-law's head, go on about old friendship and other pleasant things, and then you tell me quite coolly: you're going to write a descriptive pamphlet about the local conditions. Why, what do you take me to be, anyhow? D'you suppose I don't know that these so-called essays are merely shameless libels?... You want to write a denunciation like that, and about our coal district, of all places! Are you so blind that you can't see whom such a rag would harm most keenly? Only me, of course! I tell you, the trade that you demagogues drive ought to be more firmly stamped out than has been done up to now! What is it you do? You make the miners discontented, presumptuous; you stir them up, embitter them, make them rebellious, disobedient, wretched! Then you delude them with promises of mountains of gold, and, in the meantime, grab out of their pockets the few pennies that keep them from starving!
LOTH
Do you consider yourself unmasked now?
HOFFMANN
[_Brutally._] Oh, pshaw! You ridiculous, pompous wind-bag! What do you suppose I care about being unmasked by you?--Go to work! Leave off this silly drivelling!--Do something! Get ahead! I don't need to sponge on any one for two-hundred marks!
[_He rushes out through the middle door._
_For several moments LOTH looks calmly after him. Then, no less calmly, he draws a card case out of his inner pocket, takes a slip of paper therefrom--HOFFMANN'S cheque--and tears it through several times. Then he drops the scraps slowly into the coal-bin. Hereupon he takes his hat and cane and turns to go. At this moment HELEN appears on the threshold of the conservatory._
HELEN
[_Softly._] Mr. Loth!
LOTH
[_Quivers and turns._] Ah, it is you.--Well, then I can at least say farewell to _you_.
HELEN
[_In spite of herself._] Did you feel the need of doing that?
LOTH
Yes! I did feel it, indeed. Probably, if you were in there, you heard what has taken place here, and--in that case....
HELEN
I heard everything.
LOTH
In that case it won't astonish you to see me this house with so little ceremony.
HELEN
No-o! I do understand--! But I should like you to feel less harshly toward my brother-in-law. He always repents very quickly. I have often....
LOTH
Quite possibly. But for that very reason what he has said just now probably expresses his true opinion of me.--In fact, it is undoubtedly his real opinion.
HELEN
Do you seriously believe that?
LOTH
Oh, yes, quite seriously. And so.... [_He walks toward her and takes her hand._] I hope that life will be kind to you. [_He turns but at once stops again._] I don't know...! or rather:--[_he looks calmly and directly into HELEN'S face_]--I do know, I know--at this moment the knowledge becomes clear--that it is not so easy for me to go away from here ... and ... yes ... and ... well, yes...!
HELEN
But if I begged you--begged you truly--from my heart ... to stay a little longer--
LOTH