_] Never mind. There's a reason.
HOFFMANN
Is that so?... Loth, help yourself!... Egg? Tea?
LOTH
I wonder if I could have a glass of milk?
HOFFMANN
With all the pleasure in the world.
HELEN
Edward, tell Miele to get some fresh milk.
HOFFMANN
[_Peeling an egg._] Milk--brrr! Horrible! [_Helping himself to salt and
pepper._] By the way, Loth, what brings you into these parts? Up to now
I've forgotten to ask you.
LOTH
[_Spreading butter on a roll._] I would like to study the local
conditions.
HOFFMANN
[_Looking up sharply._] That so?... What kind of conditions?
LOTH
To be precise: I want to study the condition of your miners.
HOFFMANN
Ah! In general that condition is a very excellent one, surely.
LOTH
Do you think so?--That would be a very pleasant fact ... Before I forget,
however. You can be of some service to me in the matter. You will deserve
very well of political economy, if you ...
HOFFMANN
I? How exactly?
LOTH
Well, you have the sole agency for the local mines?
HOFFMANN
Yes; and what of it?
LOTH
It will be very easy for you, in that case, to obtain permission for me
to inspect the mines. That is to say: I would like to go down into them
daily for at least a month, in order that I may gain a fairly accurate
notion of the management.
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