CURT. Has he ever laid hands on you?
ALICE. On me? Oh, no, for he knew that then I should have left him. One has to preserve some pride.
From without is heard: "Who goes there?—Friend."
CURT. [Rising] Is he coming?
ALICE. [Frightened] Yes, that's he. [Pause.
CURT. What in the world are we to do?
ALICE. I don't know, I don't know!
CAPTAIN. [Enters from the background, cheerful] There! Leisure now! Well, has she had time to make her complaints? Is she not unhappy—hey?
CURT. How's the weather outside?—
CAPTAIN. Half storm—[Facetiously; opening one of the doors ajar] Sir Bluebeard with the maiden in the tower; and outside stands the sentry with drawn sabre to guard the pretty maiden—and then come the brothers, but the sentry is there. Look at him. Hip—hip! That's a fine sentry. Look at him. Malbrough s'en va-t-en guerre! Let us dance the sword dance! Curt ought to see it!