Florence. Is it necessary that your wife have a reason for coming to your office?
Hossefrosse. You wanted to embarrass Mrs. Rush, that was it, wasn’t it?
Mrs. Pampinelli. [Waving her hand toward them with an upward movement] Tempo, children!
Florence. I wanted to meet my rival.
Hossefrosse. You could have met Mrs. Rush under more candid circumstances.
Mrs. Pampinelli. [Moving around towards them, in front of the table] Tempo, children!
Florence. The present ones suited my purposes better.
Hossefrosse. [Turning away impatiently] Naturally!—You wanted a scene! [He starts over to the right, but Mrs. Pampinelli is standing right in his way, so he stops short, but maintains the physical tautness of his character. Florence, too, has turned away, to the left, and is moving across in front of the table towards the arm-chair.]
Mrs. Pampinelli. [Oblivious of Hossefrosse, and still making her upward waving gesture over his shoulder] Tempo, Florence! [Suddenly becoming conscious that she is obstructing Hossefrosse’s cross, and stepping below him] I beg your pardon.
Hossefrosse. [Bowing stiffly] Not at all. [He continues over to the right and stops, right in front of Spindler, and they stand looking into each other’s eyes; while Mrs. Pampinelli comes up at the left of the table to the piano.]