Impudent fellow—­

JACKPUD.

Look, he is even jealous of the small part I am playing now.

PLAYWRIGHT (on the other side of the stage with a bow).

Worthy friends!  I never should have dared to give this man a more important part since I know your taste—­

JACKPUDDING (on the other side).

Your taste?  Now you see his jealousy—­and they have all just declared that my taste is the same as theirs.

PLAYWR.

I wished, by means of the present play, only to prepare you for even more extravagant products of the imagination.

ALL IN THE PIT.

How?  What?

JACKPUD.

Of course for plays in which I would have no part to act at all.

PLAYWR.

For the development of this matter must advance step by step.

JACKPUD.

Don’t believe a word he says!

PLAYWR.

Now I withdraw, not to interrupt the course of the play any longer.

[Exit.]

JACKPUD.

Adieu, until we meet again. (Exit, returns again quickly.) Apropos—­another thing—­the discussion which has just taken place among us is not part of the play either.

[Exit.]

THE PIT (laughs).

JACKPUDDING (returns again quickly).

Let us finish the wretched play today; make believe you do not notice at all how bad it is; as soon as I get home I’ll sit down and write one for you that you will certainly like.

[Exit, some applause.]

(Enter GOTTLIEB and HINZE)

GOTTLIEB.

Dear Hinze, it is true you are doing much for me, but I
still cannot understand what good it is going to do me.

HINZE.

Upon my word, I want to make you happy.

GOTTLIEB.

Happiness must come soon, very soon, otherwise it will be too late; it is already half past seven and the comedy ends at eight.

HINZE.

Say, what the devil does that mean?

GOTTLIEB.

Oh, I was lost in thought—­See!  I meant to say, how beautifully the sun has risen.  The accursed prompter speaks so indistinctly; and then if you want to extemporize once in a while, it always goes wrong.

HINZE (quietly).

Do bethink yourself, otherwise the whole play will
break in a thousand pieces.

SCHLOSS.

I wish somebody would tell me why I can no longer understand anything.

FISCHER.

My intelligence is at a standstill too.

GOTTLIEB.

So my fortune is yet to be determined today?

HINZE.

Yes, dear Gottlieb, even before the sun sets.  See, I love you so much that I would run through fire for you—­and you doubt my sincerity?

WIESENER.

Did you hear that?  He is going to run through fire.  Ah, fine, here we get the scene from the Magic Flute too, with the fire and the water!