e!

JUST.
Or if we ruin his daughter? But she is cursedly ugly.

WER.
She has probably been ruined long ago. At any rate you don't want any
help there. But what is the matter with you? What has happened?

JUST.
Just come with me, and you shall hear something to make you stare.

WER.
The devil must be loose here, then?

JUST.
Just so; come along.

WER.
So much the better! To Persia, then; to Persia.

ACT II.

SCENE I.
Minna's Room. Minna, Franziska

MIN. (in morning dress, looking at her watch).
Franziska, we have risen very early. The time will hang heavy on our
hands.

FRAN.
Who can sleep in these abominable large towns? The carriages, the
watchmen, the drums, the cats, the soldiers, never cease to rattle, to
call, to roll, to mew, and to swear; just as if the last thing the
night is intended for was for sleep. Have a cup of tea, my lady!

MIN.
I don't care for tea.

FRAN.
I will have some chocolate made.

MIN.
For yourself, if you like.

FRAN.
For myself! I would as soon talk to myself as drink by myself. Then
the time will indeed hang heavy. For very weariness we shall have to
make our toilets, and try on the dress in which we intend to make the
first attack!

MIN.
Why do you talk of attacks, when I have only come to require that the
capitulation be ratified?

FRAN.
But the officer whom we have dislodged, and to whom we have
apologized, cannot be the best bred man in the world, or he might at
least have begged the honour of being allowed to wait upon you.

MIN.
All officers are not Tellheims. To tell you the truth, I only sent him
the message in order to have an opportunity of inquiring from him
about Tellheim. Franziska, my heart tells me my journey will be a
successful one and that I shall find him.

FRAN.
The heart, my lady! One must not trust to that too much. The heart
echoes to us the words of our tongues. If the tongue was as much
inclined to speak the thoughts of the heart, the fashion of keeping
mouths under lock and key would have come in long ago.

MIN.
Ha! ha! mouths under lock and key. That fashion would just suit me.

FRAN.
Rather not show the most beautiful set of teeth, than let the heart be
seen through them every moment.

MIN.
What, are you so reserved?

FRAN.
No, my lady; but I would willingly be more so. People seldom talk of