e would have
called the police. You sent me to school, and had me learn manners. Who
but you in the whole world has ever thought anything of me? I've danced
and posed, and was glad to be able to earn my living that way. But
=love= at command, I can't!

SCHOEN. (Raising his voice.) Leave =me= out! Do what you will. I'm not
coming to make scandal; I'm coming to shake the scandal from my neck.
My engagement is costing me sacrifices enough! I had imagined that with
a healthy young man, than whom a woman of your years can wish herself
no better, you would, at last, have been contented. If you are under
obligations to me, don't throw yourself a third time in my way! Am I to
wait yet longer before putting my pile in security? Am I to risk the
whole success of my patents falling into the water again after two
years? What good is it to me to be your married-man, when =you= can be
seen going in and out of my house at every hour of the day? Why the
devil didn't Dr. Goll stay alive just one year more! With him you were
in safe keeping. Then I'd have had my wife long since under my roof!

LULU. And what would you have had then? The kid gets on your nerves.
The child is too uncorrupted for you. She's been much too carefully
brought up. What should I have against your marriage? But you are
deceived about yourself if you think that on account of your impending
marriage you may express your contempt to me.

SCHOEN. Contempt? I shall soon give the child the right idea. If
anything is contemptible, it's your intrigues!

LULU. (Laughing.) Am I jealous of the child? That never once entered my
head.

SCHOEN. Then why talk about the child? The child is not even a whole
year younger than you are. Leave me my freedom to live what life I
still have. No matter how the child's been brought up, she's got her
five senses just like you.... (Schwarz appears, right, brush in hand.)

SCHWARZ. What's the matter here?

LULU. (To Schoen.) Well? Go on. Talk.

SCHWARZ. What's the matter with you two?

LULU. Nothing that touches you--

SCHOEN. (Sharply.) Quiet!

LULU. He's had enough of me. (Schwarz leads her off, to the right.)

SCHOEN. (Turning over the leaves in one of the books on the table.) It
had to come out--I must have my hands free at last!

SCHWARZ. (Coming back.) Is that a way to jest?

SCHOEN. (Pointing to a chair.) Please.

SCHWARZ. What is it?

SCHOEN. Please.

SCHWARZ. (Seating himself.) Well?

SCHOEN. (Seating himself.