MAIA.

You said your nearest friends—–­

ULFHEIM.

Well, who should they be but my dogs?

MAIA.

Are your dogs your nearest friends?

ULFHEIM.

I have none nearer.  My honest, trusty, absolutely loyal comrades—.  When one of them turns sick and miserable—­bang!—­and there’s my friend sent packing—­to the other world.

    [The SISTER OF MERCY comes out of the hotel with a tray on which
       is bread and milk.  She places it on the table outside the
       pavilion, which she enters.

ULFHEIM.

[Laughs scornfully.] That stuff there—­is that what you call food for human beings!  Milk and water and soft, clammy bread.  Ah, you should see my comrades feeding.  Should you like to see it?

MAIA.

[Smiling across to the PROFESSOR and rising.] Yes, very much.

ULFHEIM.

[Also rising.] Spoken like a woman of spirit, madam!  Come with me, then!  They swallow whole great thumping meat-bones—­gulp them up and then gulp them down again.  Oh, it’s a regular treat to see them.  Come along and I’ll show you—­and while we’re about it, we can talk over this trip to the mountains—–­

    [He goes out by the corner of the hotel, MAIA following him.

    [Almost at the same moment the STRANGE LADY comes out of the
       pavilion and seats herself at the table.

    [The LADY raises her glass of milk and is about to drink, but
       stops and looks across at RUBEK with vacant, expressionless
       eyes.

PROFESSOR RUBEK.

[Remains sitting at his table and gazes fixedly and earnestly at her.  At last he rises, goes some steps towards her, stops, and says in a low voice.] I know you quite well, Irene.

THE LADY.

[In a toneless voice, setting down her glass.] You can guess who I am, Arnold?

PROFESSOR RUBEK.

[Without answering.] And you recognise me, too, I see.

THE LADY.

With you it is quite another matter.

PROFESSOR RUBEK.

With me?—­How so?

THE LADY.

Oh, you are still alive.

PROFESSOR RUBEK.

[Not understanding.] Alive—–?