work against him behind his back. You would have spared
me this moment had you not previously deceived me by your assurances
as to the sentiments of the majority. However, I bear you no malice.
You acted from the best of motives, I am sure. I beg the company to
excuse me if I withdraw for today. I hope to see you tomorrow again,
dear Senden.

SENDEN.

Meanwhile I will start the fund for the purchase of the newspaper. I
bid you good day. [_Exit_.]

COLONEL.

Pardon me, Adelaide, if I leave you alone. I have some letters to
write, and [_with a forced laugh_] my newspapers to read.

ADELAIDE (_sympathetically_).

May I not stay with you now, of all times?

COLONEL (_with an effort_).

I shall be better off alone, now.

[_Exit through centre door_.]

ADELAIDE (_alone_).

My poor Colonel! Injured vanity is hard at work in his faithful soul.
And Ida. [_Gently opens the door on the left, remains standing_.] She
is writing. It is not difficult to guess to whom. [_Closes the door_.]
And for all of this mischief that evil spirit Journalism is to blame.
Everybody complains of it, and every one tries to use it for his own
ends. My Colonel scorned newspaper men until he became one himself,
and Senden misses no opportunity of railing at my good friends of
the pen, merely because he wishes to put himself in their place. I see
Piepenbrink and myself becoming journalists, too, and combining to
edit a little sheet under the title of _Naughty Bolz_. So the _Union_
is in danger of being secretly sold. It might be quite a good thing
for Conrad: he would then have to think of something else besides the
newspaper. Ah! the rogue would start a new one at once!

_Enter_ OLDENDORF _and_ CARL.

OLDENDORF (_while still outside of the room_).

And the Colonel will receive no one?

CARL.

No one, Professor. [_Exit_.]

ADELAIDE (_going up to_ OLDENDORF).

Dear Professor, this is not just the right moment for you to come. We
are very much hurt and out of sorts with the world, but most of all
with you.

OLDENDORF.

I am afraid you are, but I must speak to him.

_Enter_ IDA _through the door on the left_.

IDA (_going toward him_).

Edward! I knew you would come!

OLDENDORF.

My dear Ida! [_Embraces her_.]

IDA (_with her arms around his neck_).

And what will become of us now?

_Enter_ COLONEL _through centre door_.

COLONEL (_with forced calmness_).

You shall remain in no doubt about that, my daughter! I be