HOFFMANN
My dear girl! You almost act as if I … How can I help it? D'you suppose
I invited him? [Heavy steps are heard in the outer hall.] Ah!
"Misfortune strides apace!"
KAHL enters without having first knocked. He is twenty-four years old: a clumsy peasant who is evidently concerned, so far as possible, to make a show not only as a refined but, more especially, as a wealthy man. His features are coarse; his predominant expression is one of stupid cunning. He wears a green jacket, a gay velvet waist-coat, dark trousers and patent-leather top-boots. His head-covering is a green forester's hat with a cock's feather. His jacket has buttons of stag's horn and stag's teeth depend from his watch-chain. He stammers.
KAHL
G-good evening everybody!
[He sees LOTH, is much embarrassed and, standing still, cuts a rather sorry figure.
HOFFMANN
[Steps up to him and shakes hands with him encouragingly.] Good evening, Mr. Kahl.
HELEN
[Ungraciously.] Good evening.