Dominica—[Goes to her in alarm.] But what is the matter?
Hyacinth—[Restraining her.] I shall tell you, Dominica.
Beatrice—[Terrified; quavering.] Karl! Karl!
Hyacinth—Peace! Let me speak now. Dominica, you are regarded—and not without reason—as the cleverest woman in Europe.
Dominica—But Karl!
Hyacinth—Now don't be modest. You'll be needing all your cleverness in a moment. For we have a bit of a difficulty here. I don't consider it so, but Beatrice, apprehensive as usual, does. . . . Something has happened, Dominica.
Dominica—Jesus and Mary! Not to Alexandra?
Hyacinth—There! Didn't I say she was the cleverest woman in
Dominica—Something has happened . . . to Alexandra?
Hyacinth—No, but almost.
Beatrice—[Terrified.] Karl!
Dominica—Good heavens!
Hyacinth—I implore you, don't you faint too.
Dominica—Karl! You terrify me.
Hyacinth—On the contrary. I am reassuring you.
Dominica—What happened, in heaven's name?
