CURT. No, let us have "The Entry of the Boyars" instead!
CAPTAIN. Oh, you know that one, do you?—Alice in the kitchen apron, come and play. Come, I tell you!
[ALICE goes reluctantly to the piano.
CAPTAIN. [Pinching her arm] Now you have been black-guarding me!
ALICE. I?
CURT turns away from them.
ALICE plays "The Entry of the Boyars."
The CAPTAIN performs some kind of Hungarian dance step behind the writing-table so that his spurs are set jingling. Then he sinks down on the floor without being noticed by CURT and ALICE, and the latter goes on playing the piece to the end.
ALICE. [Without turning around] Shall we have it again? [Silence. Turns around and becomes aware of the CAPTAIN, who is lying unconscious on the floor in such a way that he is hidden from the public by the writing-table] Lord Jesus!
She stands still, with arms crossed over her breast, and gives vent to a sigh as of gratitude and relief.
CURT. [Turns around; hurries over to the CAPTAIN] What is it? What is it?
ALICE. [In a high state of tension] Is he dead?