THIRD SCENE
The front of the house as in the First Scene. There is light in the confectioner's place in the basement. The gas is also lit on the second floor, where now the shades are raised and the windows open.
STARCK is sitting near the gateway.
MASTER. [Seated on the green bench] That was a nice little shower we had.
STARCK. Quite a blessing! Now the raspberries will be coming in again——
MASTER. Then I'll ask you to put aside a few jars for us. We have grown tired of making the jam ourselves. It only gets spoiled.
STARCK. Yes, I know. Jars of jam are like mischievous children: you have to watch them all the time. There are people who put in salicylic acid, but those are newfangled tricks in which I take no stock.
MASTER. Salicylic acid—yes, they say it's antiseptic—and perhaps it's a good thing.
STARCK. Yes, but you can taste it—and it's a trick.
MASTER. Tell me, Mr. Starck, have you got a telephone?