KAHL. D-d-damn right, c-cousin!
EDWARD. (About to pour champagne into Loth's glass.) Champagne, sir?
LOTH. (Quickly covers his glass with his hand.) No! . . . No, thank you.
HOFFMANN. Don't be silly.
HELEN. What? You don't drink?
LOTH. No, Miss Krause.
HOFFMANN. Now, look here, Alfred. . . . This is getting to be a bit of a bore, isn't it?
LOTH. Were I to drink, I'd only become a bigger bore.
HELEN. That's very interesting, Doctor.
LOTH. (Tactlessly.) What? That drinking wine makes me even more boring?
HELEN. (Somewhat taken aback.) No! Oh my, no – not that. Only that you don't drink. . . . I mean, not at all.
LOTH. Why should that be particularly interesting?
HELEN. (Blushing.) It's . . . it's just so unusual. (She grows even more flushed and embarrassed.)
LOTH. (Heavy handed.) Absolutely correct – unfortunately.
MRS. KRAUSE.(To Loth.) This stuff sets us back fifteen Marks a bottle. Ya don't gotta be scared t' drink it. Comes straight from Rheims. We ain't puttin' no cheap swill in front o' ya; wouldn' touch it ourselves.
MRS. SPILLER. Oh, believe me, Doctor – nnngg – if his Excellency, Minister von Schadendorf, had – nnngg – been able to set such a table . . .
KAHL. I couldn't live without my wine.
HELEN. (To Loth.) Could you tell us why you don't drink?
LOTH. With pleasure. I . . .
HOFFMANN. Oh, what is all this, Alfred? (He takes the bottle from the servant so that he may now try to inflict it upon Loth.) Think about the good old days, how we used to spend many a happy hour . . .
LOTH. No, please. Don't bother to . . .
HOFFMANN. Drink today – just this once.
LOTH. You're wasting your time.
print version
return to list
previous document