Nibelung music, and you vanish from sight . . . nobody finds you. Or I
sell you the magic ring . . . you wear that . . . [Hands it to
GERALD.] Put it on your finger . . . so. Now you play, and the
Nibelungs come . . . they dance about in the woods . . . they bring
you gold treasures . . . ha, ha, ha! [Amused at GERALD's perplexity.]
What you think they look like, hey? . . . those Nibelungs!

GERALD. Why . . . I don't know . . .

MIMI. What do your poets tell you? ha?

GERALD. Why . . . they're little men . . . with long hair and funny
clothes . . . and humpbacked.

MIMI. Look like me, hey?

GERALD. [Embarrassed.] Why . . . yes . . . in a way.

MIMI. What are their names?

GERALD. Their names?

MIMI. Yes . . . what ones do you know about?

GERALD. Well, there was Alberich, the king.

MIMI. Alberich!

GERALD. He was the one who found the Rheingold. And then there was
Hagen, his son.