Mr.... uh?

Tartelet (nodding to him): Sir! ... (Aside) What an awkward way of speaking! He doesn't even know how to greet people properly.

Valdemar: Good day, sir. Mr.... uh? Usually, when people meet someone in their travels, even at the ends of the earth or farther, they soon get acquainted. May I be so bold as to ask your name?

Tartelet: Professor Tartelet.

Valdemar (aside): A professor! He's a scientist! (Aloud) What country are you from, sir?

Tartelet: I'm French. I was born in Asnieres.''

Valdemar: Asnieres. Ah, yes, Asnieres de Bigorre.'6 I know that place.

Tartelet: No you don't.

Valdemar: Are you married, Mr. Tartelet?

Tartelet: No, why do you ask?

Valdemar: Then you don't have any little Tartelets?

Tartelet: No.

Valdemar (laughs): No little Tarts?

Tartelet: No little.... (Aside) Who is this big oaf? (He looks at Valdemar's feet) Ah, those feet!

Valdemar: I beg your pardon?

Tartelet: Out, young man, out.

Valdemar (surprised): Out? He's sending me away. He wants to be alone.

Tartelet: Where are you going?

Valdemar: You told me to go out.

Tartelet: I meant you should point your toes out. It's what we call the choreographic angle.

Valdemar: The what?

Tartelet (touching him with the tip of his bow): Farther apart. Farther, farther. (Valdemar nearly falls down) That's fine, just like that.

Valdemar: Oh, you think that's fine, do you? A funny kind of scientist you are!

Tartelet: I have the honor of speaking to Mr.... ?

Valdemar: Axel" Valdemar, from Copenhagen.

Tartelet: Excellent! Well, Mr. Axel Vladimir...

Valdemar: Excuse me, it's Valdemar.

Tartelet: All right, all right.

Valdemar: And you've come from ... ?

Tartelet: From Aalborg.

Valdemar: You came by train?

Tartelet: No.

Valdemar: By ship?

Tartelet: No.

Valdemar: By stage coach?

Tartelet: No, I ran.

Valdemar: You ran?

Tartelet: On electricity.

Valdemar: You ran on electricity!

Tartelet: Yes.

Valdemar: And where are you going?

Tartelet (pointing to the ground): Down there!

Valdemar: Into the cellar?

Tartelet: Lower.

Valdemar: Lower my voice? Why? Is anyone listening to us?

Tartelet: Underground. To the center.

Valdemar: To the center of the earth?

Tartelet: Through the crater.

Valdemar: That's not possible.

Tartelet: It's not possible, but we'll do it, my friend. Your feet! (Correcting his position) Your feet!

Valdemar: (Aside) Again! A funny kind of scientist he is!

Tartelet: And you, Mr. Vladimir?

Valdemar: Val ... demar, if you please.

Tartelet: Very well. Now it's your turn to tell me about yourself. Where are you going, Mr. Vladimir?

Valdemar (aside): He insists on calling me Vladimir! (Aloud) I'm going to a place, Mr. Tartelet, where a man can make his fortune.

Tartelet: That's a place I haven't found yet.

Valdemar: You see, I'm in love with a charming young lady in Copenhagen, Miss Babichok.18

Tartelet: And naturally, Miss Babichok is not in love with you, Mr. Vladimir.

Valdemar: Vladimir again! I told you my name is Valdemar.

Tartelet: Ah! Excuse me, young man. It's just that there are some names I can't manage to pronounce, and I don't think I'd ever be able to say yours. I'd rather call you Matthew. Is that all right?

Valdemar: Matthew suits me fine. I once had a good friend named Matthew.

Tartelet: So did I.

Valdemar: He was an astronomer.

Tartelet: Matthew Laensberg, it was.