The Dramatic Works of Gerhart Hauptmann Volume Ii Part 109

They were inquiring for Mrs. John.

SCHIERKE

May I be permitted to ax somethin' too?

Ha.s.sENREUTER

If you please.

PAULINE

Jus' let him ax. We don't has to worry.

SCHIERKE

[_To MRS. KIELBACKE._] What's your name?

MRS. KIELBACKE

I'm Mrs. Kielbacke.

SCHIERKE

You're connected with the society for raisin' children, eh? Where do you live?

MRS. KIELBACKE

Linien street number nine.

SCHIERKE

Is that your child that you have there?

MRS. KIELBACKE

That's Miss Pipercarcka her child.

SCHIERKE

[_To PAULINE._] An' your name?

PAULINE

Paula Pipercarcka from Skorzenin.

SCHIERKE

This woman a.s.serts that the child is yours. Do you a.s.sert that too?

PAULINE

Sergeant, I has to ax for your protection because suspicions is cast on me an' I'm innercent. The gentleman from the city did come to me. An' I did get my child outa the room o' Mrs. John what I had it in board with ...

SCHIERKE

[_With a searching look._] Yes? Maybe it was the door across the way where the restaurant keeper's widow k.n.o.bbe lives. n.o.body knows what you're up to with that child nor who sent you an' bribed you. You ain't got a good conscience! You took the child an' slipped up here with it while its rightful mother, the widow k.n.o.bbe, what it's been stolen from, is huntin' all over the stairs an' halls for it an' while a detective is standin' acrost the way.

PAULINE

I don't care about no detective. I'm ...

Ha.s.sENREUTER

You are refuted, my good girl. Can't you comprehend that? First you say that Mrs. John has no child. Next you say--kindly attend to me--that you had taken your child, which has been pa.s.sing for Mrs. John's, out of the latter's room. However; all of us here happen to know Mrs. John's child and the one you have here is another. Is that clear to you? Hence your a.s.sertion cannot, in any circ.u.mstances, be a correct one!--And now, Schierke, you would do me a favour if you would conduct these ladies out so that I can continue giving my lesson.

SCHIERKE

All right, but if I does that we'll get into that k.n.o.bbe crowd. Because her child has been stolen.

PAULINE

It ain't me that done it; it's Mrs. John.

SCHIERKE

That's all right. [_Continuing his account to Ha.s.sENREUTER._] And they says that the child has blue blood in it on its father's side. So Mrs.

k.n.o.bbe thinks as how it's a plot of enemies 'cause they grudges her the alimony in some quarters an' a gentleman's eddication for the kid.

[_Someone is beating at the door with fists._] That's the k.n.o.bbe woman.

There she comes now!

Ha.s.sENREUTER

Mr. Schierke, you are responsible to me. If these people trespa.s.s on my premises and I suffer any damages thereby, I'll complain to the chief of police. I know Mr. Maddei very well. Don't be afraid, my dear boys. You are my witnesses.

SCHIERKE

[_At the door._] You stay out there! You don't get in here!

_A small mob howls outside of the door._

PAULINE

They c'n holler all they wants to but they can't get my child.

Ha.s.sENREUTER

Perhaps this is the better way. You go into the library for the present.

[_He escorts PAULINE, MRS. KIELBACKE and the child into the library._]

And now, Mr. Schierke, we might risk letting that fury enter in here.