The Dramatic Works of Gerhart Hauptmann - LightNovelsOnl.com
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KRUEGER
And that is just the fault of the servant-girl. She was to take the wood in last night.
WEHRHAHN
And it dropped out of her mind.
KRUEGER
She refused to do it. And when I insisted on her doing it, she ended by running away. I intend to bring suit against her parents. I intend to claim full damages.
WEHRHAHN
You may do about that as you please. It isn't likely to help you very greatly.--Now is there any one whom you suspect of the theft?
KRUEGER
No. They're all a set of thieves around here.
WEHRHAHN
You will please to avoid such general imputations. You must surely be able to offer me a clue of some kind.
KRUEGER
Well, you can't expect me to accuse any one at random.
WEHRHAHN
Who lives in your house beside yourself?
KRUEGER
Dr. Fleischer.
WEHRHAHN
[_As if trying to recall something._] Dr. Fleischer? Dr. Fleischer? Why, he is a--What is he, anyhow?
KRUEGER
He is a thoroughly learned man, that's what he is--thoroughly learned.
WEHRHAHN
And I suppose that you and he are very intimate with each other.
KRUEGER
That is my business, with whom I happen to be intimate. That has no bearing on the matter in hand, it seems to me.
WEHRHAHN
How is one to discover anything under such circ.u.mstances? You must give me a hint, at least!
KRUEGER
Must I? Goodness, gracious me! Must I? Two loads of wood have been stolen from me! I simply come to give information concerning the theft....
WEHRHAHN
But you must have a theory of some kind. The wood must necessarily have been stolen by somebody.
KRUEGER
Wha.... Yes ... well, I didn't do it! I of all people didn't do it!
WEHRHAHN
But my dear man....
KRUEGER
Wha...? My name is Krueger.
WEHRHAHN
[_Interrupting and apparently bored._] M-yes.--Well, Glasenapp, just make a record of the facts.--And now, Mr. Krueger, what's this business about your maid? The girl, you say, ran away?
KRUEGER
Yes, that's exactly what she did--ran off to her parents.
WEHRHAHN
Do her parents live in this place?
KRUEGER
[_Not having heard correctly._] I'm not concerned with her face.
WEHRHAHN
I asked whether the parents of the girl live here?
GLASENAPP
She's the daughter of the washerwoman Wolff.
