Oh, but she is praying so to die. She wails and wails: Do let me die!…
The doctor!
[She jumps up and slips into the conservatory.
DR. SCHIMMELPFENNIG
[On entering.] I do really wish now that that little woman upstairs would hurry a bit! [He sits down beside the table, takes out his cigar case again, extracts a cigar from it and lays the latter down on the table.] You'll come over to my house afterward, won't you? I have a necessary evil with two horses standing out there in which we can drive straight over. [He taps his cigar against the edge of the table.] Oh, the holy state of matrimony! O Lord! [Striking a match.] So you're still pure, free, pious and merry?
LOTH
You might better have waited a few more days with that question.
DR. SCHIMMELPFENNIG
[His cigar is lit now.] Oho! I see!—[laughing]—so you've caught on to my tricks at last!
LOTH
Are you still so frightfully pessimistic in regard to women?