What do you mean by that?
[Putting the question aside.] Nothing. Nothing that you would understand.
[IRENE advances from the right over the upland. The children
at their play have already caught sight of her and run to
meet her. She is now surrounded by them; some appear confident
and at ease, others uneasy and timid. She talks low to them
and indicates that they are to go down to the hotel; she
herself will rest a little beside the brook. The children
run down over the slope to the left, half way to the back.
IRENE goes up to the wall of rock, and lets the rillets of
the cascade flow over her hands, cooling them.
[In a low voice.] Go down and speak to her alone, Rubek.
And where will you go in the meantime?
[Looking significantly at him.] Henceforth I shall go my own ways.
[She descends form the hillock and leaps over the brook, by aid
of her alpenstock. She stops beside IRENE.
Professor Rubek is up there, waiting for you, madam.
What does he want?
He wants you to help him to open a casket that has snapped to.