Mean!—I should think they are.—However, we can speak of that later. I have rather a headache—(puts his hand on the back of his head). There! that’s another disgraceful thing! I know well enough whom I have to thank for that! I’ll just see whether I can’t drive it away with a sound sleep—I am very tired.
Mrs Scholz.
But there’s no fire upstairs, Fritz!
Dr Scholz.
Think of that. From Vienna without stopping and no fire!—Never mind; Friebe will have seen to that. Tell me about Friebe—I mean—is he still as trustworthy?
Mrs Scholz.
Friebe is—what he always was.
Dr Scholz.
I was sure of it—well for the present—(after he has pressed his wife’s hand, he turns with a deep thoughtful expression and goes towards the staircase. Noticing the Christmas tree, he stops and looks at it forlornly.) What is that?