As cashier, I—your brother—thief—very sorry—but out of consideration for my office, I cannot help it—[To CLARA.] He wrote you that on the very day your mother died? For he adds his condolence on her sudden death!
CLARA.
I suppose so!
SECRETARY.
The Devil take him! Great God, the cats, snakes and other monsters which, so to speak, slipped through Thy fingers at Creation, so delighted Beelzebub that he imitated Thy patterns—but he finished them off better than Thou didst; he put them in a human skin, and now they stand in rank and file with the rest of Thy humanity, and one does not recognize them until they begin to scratch and sting!
[To CLARA.]
But it is well, indeed it is fine!
[He tries to embrace her.]
Come! Forever! With this kiss—
CLARA (sinks into his arms).