[Draws himself up, throws back his head, stares at BECKER; his nostrils tremble.] Oh, indeed!—Becker. [_To PFEIFER.] Is he the man?…

[The clerks nod.

BECKER

[Insolently.] Yes, Mr. Dreissiger, yes! [Pointing to himself.] This is the man. [Pointing to DREISSIGER.] And that's a man too!

DREISSIGER

[Angrily.] Fellow, how dare you?

PFEIFER

He's too well off. He'll go dancing on the ice once too often, though.

BECKER

[Recklessly.] You shut up, you Jack-in-the-box. Your mother must have gone dancing once too often with Satan to have got such a devil for a son.