[Falling around his neck with a cry of joyous gratitude.] Dear—dearest!

[She kisses him madly and hurries out.

DR. SCHIMMELPFENNIG comes in through the middle door and catches a glimpse of HELEN disappearing into the conservatory.

DR. SCHIMMELPFENNIG

Who was that?—Ah, yes! [To himself.] Poor thing!

[He sits down beside the table with a sigh, finds his old cigar, throws it aside, takes a new cigar from the case and starts to knock it gently against the edge of the table. Thoughtfully he looks away across it.

LOTH

[Watching him.] That's just the way you used to loosen every cigar before smoking it eight years ago.

DR. SCHIMMELPFENNIG

It's possible—[When he has lit and begun to smoke the cigar.] Listen to me!