"Potztausend—and why?"
She backed slowly away from him and the cloak fell to the ground.
"Kaya, you shake as if you had a chill!"
"Can Brünnhilde sit aloft in the flies?" she said, "She is there in front of the footlights and everyone sees her. Oh—I forgot!"
"Donnerwetter! Of course she is seen! Is it the sight of the audience that will frighten you?"
"No," she said, "not the audience."
Ritter made an impatient movement forward: "What then? Sacrement! You were full of joy not a moment ago; there was no fear in your eyes, and now—it is as if someone had struck you!" He followed her to the corner where she had retreated step by step; and when she could go no further, he laid his hands on her shoulders.
"Look at me," he said, "straight in the eyes, Kaya, straight in the eyes. You must."
"I—cannot!"
"I tell you you must."