come here every day. Yes, you know perfectly why and for whose
sake I come! Oh, my sweet tigress! don't look at me in that way;
I am an old bird!

HELENA. [Perplexed] A tigress? I don't understand you.

ASTROFF. Beautiful, sleek tigress, you must have your victims!
For a whole month I have done nothing but seek you eagerly. I
have thrown over everything for you, and you love to see it. Now
then, I am sure you knew all this without putting me through your
examination. [Crossing his arms and bowing his head] I surrender.
Here you have me--now, eat me.

HELENA. You have gone mad!

ASTROFF. You are afraid!

HELENA. I am a better and stronger woman than you think me.
Good-bye. [She tries to leave the room.]

ASTROFF. Why good-bye? Don't say good-bye, don't waste words. Oh,
how lovely you are--what hands! [He kisses her hands.]

HELENA. Enough of this! [She frees her hands] Leave the room! You
have forgotten yourself.

ASTROFF. Tell me, tell me, where can we meet to-morrow? [He puts
his arm around her] Don't you see that we must meet, that it is
inevitable?