ALICE. But it will be very simple, as our housemaid has just left us.
CURT. Oh, it will do for me, I am sure.
ALICE. You ask for so little, dear Curt.
CAPTAIN. [At the barometer] If you could only see how the mercury is dropping! Oh, I felt it coming!
ALICE. [Secretly to CURT] He is nervous.
CAPTAIN. We ought to have supper soon.
ALICE. [Rising] I am going to see about it now. You can sit here and philosophise—[secretly to CURT], but don't contradict him, for then he gets into bad humour. And don't ask him why he was not made a major.
[CURT nods assent.
[ALICE goes toward the right.
CAPTAIN. See that we get something nice now, old lady!
ALICE. You give me money, and you'll get what you want.