[Who has meantime been conversing on the steps with Mrs. Halm and Miss Jay, approaches Falk and slaps him on the shoulder.

Well, brooding on a poem?

Falk.

No, a play.

Guldstad.

The deuce;—I never heard it was your line.

Falk.

O no, the author is a friend of mine,

And your acquaintance also, I daresay.

The knave’s a dashing writer, never doubt.