Madame—m—has had a good many domestic annoyances to-day—m—. I will now respectfully take my leave.
[She rises, prays silently with upturned eyes for a moment and then
leaves.
MIELE and EDWARD clear the table. HOFFMANN has arisen and comes to the foreground. He has a toothpick in his mouth. LOTH follows him.
HOFFMANN
Well, you see, that's the way women are.
LOTH
I can't say that I understand what it was about.
HOFFMANN
It isn't worth mentioning. Things like that happen in the most refined families. It mustn't keep you from spending a few days with us….