Rheinhardt.
Won't touch it? Very well, he shall not touch it. [Takes a plate from among the curiosities on the table and puts letter upon it.] There; take it on this. [Exit Selim with plate.] And you, come back! [Adene comes down again to his chair and sits thinking. Rheinhardt continues.] Gott in Himmel! so long as it does not touch his skin, so long it is all right. [Laughing.
Adene.
Rheinhardt, who is this assistant of yours, whom I never see?
Rheinhardt.
Who my assistant is?—she was a pupil of mine.
Adene.
If you would allow it, I would like to see her.
Rheinhardt.
[After a pause.] Very well; I also wish you to see her. But [deliberately] you have at present no material for thinking about her—one way or the other. [Adene starts.] I will give you some. When first I heard of Steinmetz's experimentations, and saw his mistakes, I said, "If I had the right assistant, I could save Adene." But I had him not. I wanted—ah, so many things! You will not understand: a doctor who should be also a nurse, who should know my ways—and more. There was just one person, but she was just the one person I could not ask. No. I was too angry.