Louise. Hopla, hopla, hopla....
[Vennema and Sophie mount the stairs.]
Sophie [to Vennema behind the portières]. Come this way, sir. You may come in.
[Vennema comes in hesitating and stops at the door. He is a kindly country parson type, wholly gray, with a gray beard and mustache. He is wearing an ecclesiastical hat, a black coat and black trousers. He gazes about anxiously and finally his eyes light on Van der Elst. Van der Elst beckons to Vennema and indicates Louise on the couch. Sophie goes out.]
Van Elst. There she is.
Vennema. Is she ill?
Van Elst. No, that isn't it. She's dreaming. She's very nervous. She was quite agitated a moment ago.
Vennema. What did she say?
Van Elst. She wouldn't listen to me. She insisted on speaking of other things. As a matter of fact; she acted very queerly.
Louise. First prize ... splendid.