SCHIGOLCH. (Draws her onto his knee and holds her in his arms like a little child.) Hm—You're trying to do too much, child. You must go to bed, now and then, with a story.—Cry, that's right, cry it all out. It used to shake you just so fifteen years ago. Nobody has screamed since then, the way you could scream! You didn't wear any white tufts on your head then, nor any transparent stockings on your legs: you had neither shoes nor stockings then.
LULU. (Crying.) Take me home with you! Take me home with you to-night! Please! We'll find carriages enough downstairs!
SCHIGOLCH. I'll take you with me; I'll take you with me.—What is it?
LULU. It's going round my neck! I'm to be shown up!
SCHIGOLCH. By who? Who's showing you up?
LULU. The acrobat.
SCHIGOLCH. (With the utmost composure.) I'll look after him.
LULU. Look after him! Please, look after him! Then do with me what you will!
SCHIGOLCH. If he comes to me, he's done for. My window is over the water. But (shaking his head) he won't come; he won't come.
LULU. What number do you live at?