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raws him into a corner, and whispers].
- The Absolute Reason
- departed this life at eleven last night.
PEER
- God help me-!
BEGRIFFENFELDT
- Why, yes, it's extremely deplorable.
- And as I'm placed, you see, it is doubly unpleasant;
- for this institution has passed up to now
- for what's called a madhouse.
PEER
- A madhouse, ha!
BEGRIFFENFELDT
- Not now, understand!
PEER [softly, pale with fear].
- Now I see what the place is!
- And the man is mad;-and there's none that knows it!
- [Tries to steal away.]
BEGRIFFENFELDT [following him].
- However, I hope you don't misunderstand me?
- When I said he was dead, I was talking stuff.
- He's beside himself. Started clean out of his skin,-
- just like my compatriot Munchausen's fox.
PEER
- Excuse me a moment-
BEGRIFFENFELDT [hol
