HYACINTH—What if she _doesn’t_ feel well? I don’t feel so well myself
just now. I forbid you to faint.... Sit down. [_With an expression of
dread, BEATRICE sits._]
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?