Flamingoes do not swim. They only wade.


IRENE.

Then they are not flamingoes. They are sea-gulls.


PROFESSOR RUBEK.

They may be sea-gulls with red bills, yes. [Plucks broad green leaves
and throws them into the brook.] Now I send out my ships after them.


IRENE.

But there must be no harpoon-men on board.


PROFESSOR RUBEK.

No, there shall be no harpoon-men. [Smiles to her.] Can you remember
the summer when we used to sit like this outside the little peasant hut
on the Lake of Taunitz?


IRENE.

[Nods.] On Saturday evenings, yes,--when we had finished our week's
work---