countess! If I don't get the twenty thousand
marks by to-morrow evening, I make a statement to the police and your
court has an end. Auf Wiedersehen! (_Heilmann enters, breathless,
upper right._)

LULU. You're looking for Miss Magelone? She's not here.

HEILMANN. No, I'm looking for something else--

RODRIGO. (_Taking him to the entry-door, opposite him._) Second door
on the left.

LULU. (_To Rodrigo._) Did you learn that from your bride?

HEILMANN. (_Bumping into Puntschu in the doorway._) Excuse me, my
angel!

PUNTSCHU. Ah, it's you. Miss Magelone's waiting for you in the lift.

HEILMANN. You go up with her, please. I'll be right back. (_He
hurries out, left. Lulu goes out at lower left. Rodrigo follows
her._)

PUNTSCHU. Some heat, that! If I don't cut off *your* ears, you'll cut
'em off me! If I can't hire out my Jehoshaphat, I've just got to help
myself with my brains! Won't they get wrinkled, my brains! Won't they
get indisposed! Won't they need to bathe in Eau de Cologne! (_Bob, a
groom in a red jacket, tight leather breeches, and twinkling
riding-boots, 15 years old, brings in a telegram._)

BOB. Mr. Puntschu, the banker!

PUNTSCHU. (_Breaks open the telegram and murmurs:_) "Jungfrau
Funicular Stock fallen to--" Ay, ay, so goes the world! (_To Bob._)
Wait! (_Gives him a tip._) Tell me--what's your name?

BOB. Well, it's really Freddy, but they call me Bob, because that's
the fashion now.

PUNTSCHU. How old are you?

BOB. Fifteen.

KADIDIA. (_Enters hesitatingly from lower left._) I beg your pardon,
can you tell me if mama is here?

PUNTSCHU. No, my dear. (_Aside._) Devil, she's got breeding!

KADIDIA. I'm hunting all over for her; I can't find her anywhere.

PUNTSCHU. Your mama will turn up again soon, as true as my name's
Puntschu! (_Looking at Bob._) And that pair of breeches! God of
Justice! It gets uncanny! (_He goes out, upper right._)

KADIDIA. Haven't *you* seen my mama, perhaps?

BOB. No, but you only need to come with me.

KADIDIA. Where is she then?

BOB. She's gone up in the lift. Come along.

KADIDIA. No, no, I can't go up with you.

BOB. We can hide up there in the corridor.

KADIDIA. No, no, I can't come, or I'll be scolded. (_Magelone,
terribly excited, rushes in, upper left, and possesses herself of
Kadidia._)

MAGELONE. Ha, there you are at last, you common creature!

KADIDIA. (_Crying._) O mama, mama, I was hunting for you!

MAGELONE. Hunting for me? Did I te