rear, now saunters in_.

ADELAIDE. He sitting here? What sort of a company is that?

KAeMPE. People say that Professor Oldendorf has a good chance of
election. Many are said to be going to vote for him.

PIEPENBRINK. I have nothing to say against him, only to my mind he is
too young.

SENDEN _is seen in the rear, later_ BLUMENBERG _and guests_.

SENDEN. You here, Miss Runeck?

ADELAIDE. I'm amusing myself with watching those queer people. They
act as though the rest of the company were non-existent.

SENDEN. What do I see? There sits the _Union_ itself and next to one
of the most important personages of the fete!

[_The music ceases_.]

BOLZ (_who has meanwhile been conversing with_ MRS. PIEPENBRINK _but
has listened attentively--to_ MR. PIEPENBRINK). There, you see the
gentlemen cannot desist from talking politics after all. (_To_
PIEPENBRINK.) Did you not mention Professor Oldendorf?

PIEPENBRINK. Yes, my jolly Doctor, just casually.

BOLZ. When you talk of him I heartily pray you to say good things
about him; for he is the best, the noblest man I know.

PIEPENBRINK. Indeed? You know him?

KLEINMICHEL. Are you possibly a friend of his!

BOLZ. More than that. Were the professor to say to me today: "Bolz, it
will help me to have you jump into the water," I should have to jump
in, unpleasant as it would be to me just at this moment to drown in
water.

PIEPENBRINK. Oho! That is strong!

BOLZ. In this company I have no right to speak of candidates for
election. But if I did have a member to elect he should be the
one--he, first of all.

PIEPENBRINK. But you are very much prejudiced in the man's favor.

BOLZ. His political views do not concern me here at all. But what do I
demand of a member? That he be a man; that he have a warm heart and a
sure judgment, and that he know unwaveringly and unquestionably what
is good and right; furthermore, that he have the strength to do what
he knows to be right without delay, without hesitation.

PIEPENBRINK. Bravo!

KLEINMICHEL. But the Colonel, too, is said to be that kind of a man.

BOLZ. Possibly he is, I do not know; but of Oldendorf I know it. I
looked straight into his heart on the occasion of an unpleasant
experience I went through. I was once on the point of burning to
powder when he was kind enough to prevent it. Him I have to thank for
sitting here. He saved my life.

SENDEN. He lies abominably!

[_Starts forward_.]

ADELAIDE (_holding him back