is arms; the animal-tamer
pats her on the hips.)

Sweet innocence--my dearest treasure-case!

(The stage-hand carries Lulu back into the tent.)

And now I'll tell the best thing in the day:
My poll between the teeth of a beast of prey!
Walk in! Tho to be sure the show's not new,
Yet everyone takes pleasure in its view!
Wrench open this wild animal's jaws I dare,
And he to bite dares not! My pate's so =fair=,
So =wild=, so =gaily decked=, it wins respect!
I offer it him with confidence unchecked.
One =joke=, and my two temples crack!--but, lo,
The lightning of my eyes I will forego,
Staking my =life= against a =joke=! and throw
My whip, my weapons, down. I am in my skin!
I yield me to this beast!--His name do ye know?
--The honored public! that has just walked in!

(The animal-tamer steps back into the tent, accompanied
by cymbals and kettledrums.)

ACT I

_A roomy studio. Entrance door at the rear, left. Another door at lower
left to the bed-room. At centre, a platform for the model, with a
Spanish screen behind it and a Smyrna rug in front. Two easels at lower
right. On the upper one is the picture of a young girl's head and
shoulders. Against the other leans a reversed canvas. Below these,
toward centre, an ottoman, with a tiger-skin on it. Two chairs along
the left wall. In the back-ground, right, a step-ladder._

_Schoen sits on the foot of the ottoman, inspecting critically the
picture on the further easel. Schwarz stands behind the ottoman, his
palette and brushes in his hands._

SCHOEN. Do you know, I'm getting acquainted with a brand new side of the
lady.

SCHWARZ. I have never painted anyone whose expression changed so
continuously. I could hardly keep a single feature the same two days
running.

SCHOEN. (Pointing to the picture and observing him.) Do you find that in
it?

SCHWARZ. I have done everything imaginable to call forth some sort of
quiet in her mood by my conversation during the sittings.

SCHOEN. Then I understand the difference. (Schwarz dips his brush in the
oil and draws it over the features of the face.) Do you think that
makes it look more like her?

SCHWARZ. We can only work with art as scientifically as possible.

SCHOEN. Tell me--

SCHWARZ. (Stepping back.) The color had sunk in pretty well, too.

SCHOEN. (Looking at him.) Have you ever loved a woman in your life?

SCHWARZ. (Goes to th