another soul!

PAUL (looks at her with glowing eyes). How beautiful you are now,
Toinette!

ANTOINETTE. Am I beautiful? Am I beautiful. For you, my Paul, for you!

PAUL. For me. (He puts his arms around her.)

ANTOINETTE (proudly). I am still beautiful and young and yet I shall
cast it away. I am not afraid.

PAUL (his arms about her). We are not afraid!

ANTOINETTE. Out into night and death together with you!

PAUL. It is not worth living! We have realized that!

ANTOINETTE (looks up at him, smiling). Haven't we, Paul, we two lost
creatures? (In each other's embrace, they are silent for a moment.)

ANTOINETTE (roguishly). Do you remember, dear, what you used to do when
you were a little boy?

PAUL. No, sweetheart, tell me!

ANTOINETTE. Try to recall, dear. What did you do when your mother gave
us bread and cake.

PAUL. I took the bread first, is that what you mean, and then finished
up with the cake.

ANTOINETTE (shakes her finger at him). Kept the cake for the end, you
crafty fellow!

PAUL (is forced to laugh). Kept the best part for the end! Yes that's
what I did.

ANTOINETTE (on his breast). Just wait, you rogue. Now I'll make you
answer. Tell me, what am _I_ now, bread or cake!

PAUL. My last, my best, my all, that's what you are to me!

ANTOINETTE. There can be no joy beyond this. Shall we become old and
gray and withered? Come, my dear, come!

PAUL (looks at her for a long time). Do you know of what you remind me
now?

ANTOINETTE. Of what, Paul?

PAUL. That is just the way you stood in our park when you were a girl,
out there under the alders, and beckoned to me when you wanted me to
come and play with you.

ANTOINETTE (beckoning roguishly). Come on, Paul. Come on. Isn't that
it?

PAUL. Just so! Just so!

ANTOINETTE. Catch me, Paulie!... Catch me! (She runs to the left, opens
the door and remains standing.)

PAUL (runs after her and seizes her). Now I have you, you rogue?

ANTOINETTE (in his arms). Have me and hold me fast!

PAUL. New Year's Eve! New Year's Eve!... Is it here?

ANTOINETTE. It's no longer necessary for us to cast lead to find out
how long we are to live. We know!

PAUL. Soon we shall know nothing!

ANTOINETTE. Soon we shall know all!

PAUL. On your stars, do you mean?

ANTOINETTE (nods). On our star, my lover, you and I shall meet again.

PAUL. There we shall meet again!

ANTOINETTE (starts, and listens). Do you hear?

[INSPECTOR ZINDEL opens th