[She goes to the table on the left.]

Gustav. You tell me how you are. [He goes behind the square table on the left, over to the sofa.—Thekla, embarrassed, takes the cloth off the figure absent-mindedly.] No! who is that? Why—it's you!

Thekla. I don't think so.

Gustav. But it looks like you.

Thekla [cynically]. You think so?

Gustav [sits down on the sofa]. It reminds one of the anecdote: "How could your Majesty say that?"

Thekla [laughs loudly and sits down opposite him on the settee]. What foolish ideas you do get into your head. Have you got by any chance some new yarns?

Gustav. No; but you must know some.

Thekla. I don't get a chance any more now of hearing anything which is really funny.

Gustav. Is he as prudish as all that?