Jenny
Not a word.
Albert Prudent, circumspect girls who are not up to some intrigue sleep tranquilly in their bed—and don't take the air so early—be it hot or cold.
Jenny And how, if you please, do you expect us to rest when all night one hears nothing but coming, going, opening, closing, crying, tossing, scratching, running, sneezing, coughing? When, by great luck, I fall asleep—a frightful jangling of keys starts me awake. I try to go back to sleep, but cannot. A Wandering Jew who does evil with the greatest pleasure, a mischievous imp vomited by hell to earth, to make an eternal war with sleeping men begins his uproar and annoys us all.
Albert
And what is this imp and Wandering Jew?
Jenny
You.
Albert
Me?
Jenny Yes, you. I believe that these rude manners come from some spirit who is in need of prayers. And to better understand whether this angry thing was soul or body, that made this Sabbath, one evening, I took a cord with two ends firmly attached upstairs. It had the effect I hoped. So soon as all were retired to sleep, I waited in person without noise or light, on guard in a corner. I wasn't long waiting. So pitty-pat down the spirit came, noisily tumbling over the cord. He measured the stairs with his nose. Suddenly, I heard him cry: "Help, I am dead." As these cries increased—at which I laughed very much—I ran and found you spread out—with an apostrophe in place of your face. Your nose gave proof that you were a body and not a spirit.
Albert Ah, miserable scoundrel, adherent of the devil! It was you who played that abominable trick. You wished to kill me with this cursed act!
Jenny (innocently)
No, it was only to trap the ghost.
Albert
I don't know what prevents me from beating you up!