HEILMANN. (_To Puntschu._) Will you accept this share of Jungfrau-stock, sir?
PUNTSCHU. But that paper has no exchange, my friend.
HEILMANN. You rascal! You just don't want to give me my revenge!
MAGELONE. (_To Bianetta._) Have you any idea what it's all about?
LUDMILLA. Puntschu has taken all his money from him, and now gives up the game.
HEILMANN. Now he's got cold feet, the filthy Jew!
PUNTSCHU. How have I given up the game? How have I got cold feet? The gentleman has merely to lay plain cash! Is this my banking-office I'm in? He can proffer me his trash to-morrow morning!
HEILMANN. Trash you call that? The stock in my knowledge is at 210!
PUNTSCHU. Yesterday it was at 210, you're right. To-day, it's just nowhere. And to-morrow you'll find nothing cheaper or more tasteful to paper your stairs with.
ALVA. But how is that possible? Then we *would* be down and out!
PUNTSCHU. Well, what am _I_ to say, who have lost my whole fortune in it! To-morrow morning I shall have the pleasure of taking up the struggle for an assured existence for the thirty-sixth time!
MAGELONE. (_Passing forward._) Am I dreaming or do I really hear the Jungfrau-stock has fallen?
PUNTSCHU. Fallen even lower than you! Tho you can use 'em for curl-paper.
MAGELONE. O God in Heaven! Ten years' work! (_Falls in a faint._)
BIANETTA. Say, Mr. Puntschu, where will you eat this evening, since you've lost your whole fortune?
PUNTSCHU. Wherever you like, young lady! Take me where you will, but quickly! Here it's getting frightful. (_Exeunt Puntschu and Bianetta._)
HEILMANN. (_Squeezing up his stock and flinging it to the ground._) That is what one gets from this pack!
LUDMILLA. Why do you speculate on the Jungfrau too? Send a few little notices on the company to the German police here, and then you'll still win something in the end.
HEILMANN. I've never tried that in my life, but if you want to help me--?
LUDMILLA. Let's go to an all-night restaurant. Do you know the Five-footed Calf?
LUDMILLA. Or the Sucking Lamb, or the Smoking Dog? They're all right near here. We'll be all by ourselves there, and before dawn we'll have a little article ready.
LUDMILLA. Oh, of course; but not at night. (_Exeunt Heilmann and Ludmilla._)
ALVA. (_Who has been trying to resuscitate Magelone._) Ice-cold hands! Ah, what a splendid woman! We must undo her waist. Come, Kadidia, undo your mother's waist! She's so fearfully tight-laced.