SCHÖN. (Behind his chair.) Write! Persecution—mania....

ESCHERICH. (Writes.) Per-secu-tion—mania. (The bell rings in the corridor.)

CURTAIN

ACT III

A theatrical dressing-room, hung with red. Door upper right. Across upper left corner, a Spanish screen. Centre, a table set endwise, on which dance costumes lie. Chair on each side of this table. Lower right, a smaller table with a chair. Lower left, a high, very wide, old-fashioned arm-chair. Above it, a tall mirror, with a make-up stand before it holding puff, rouge, etc., etc.

Alva is at lower right, filling two glasses with red wine and champagne.

ALVA. Never since I began to work for the stage have I seen a public so uncontrolled in enthusiasm.

LULU. (Voice from behind the screen.) Don't give me too much red wine. Will he see me to-day?

ALVA. Father?