[Pertly.] I simply have no inclination to drink to-day. That's all.
HOFFMANN
Oh, I beg your pardon, very humbly indeed … Let me see, what were we talking about?
LOTH
We were saying that there were whole families of dipsomaniacs.
HOFFMANN
[Embarrassed anew.] To be sure, to be sure, but … er….
[Growing anger is noticeable in the behaviour of MRS. KRAUSE. KAHL is obviously hard put to it to restrain his laughter concerning something that seems to furnish him immense inner amusement. HELEN observes KAHL with burning eyes and her threatening glance has repeatedly restrained him from saying something that is clearly on the tip of his tongue. LOTH, peeling an apple with a good deal of equanimity, has taken no notice of all this.
LOTH
What is more, you seem to be rather blessed with that sort of thing hereabouts.