our town;"
trumpets join in; then many voices: "Long live_ COLONEL BERG!
_Hurrah!_" ADELAIDE _has entered on the left, during the noise_.

ADELAIDE.

Well, is the whole town upside-down today?

BOLZ.

I've done my share; he is half converted. Good night!

COLONEL (_throwing the lantern on the ground--in a rage_).

To the devil with all journalists!

_Male chorus_, SENDEN, BLUMENBERG _and many other gentlemen, in
procession, are visible through the door into the garden; the
deputation comes in; chorus and lantern-bearers form a group at the
entrance_.

SENDEN (_with a loud voice while the curtain is lowered_).

Colonel, the Club has the honor of greeting its revered members!

ACT IV

SCENE I

_The_ COLONEL'S _summer parlor_. COLONEL _enters from the garden,
followed by_ CARL.

COLONEL (_on entering, crossly_).

Who ordered William to bring the horse round in front of the bedrooms?
The brute makes a noise with his hoofs that would wake the dead.

CARL.

Are you not going to ride today, Colonel?

COLONEL.

No. Take the horse to the stable!

CARL.

Yes, Colonel. [_Exit_.]

COLONEL (_rings_, CARL _reappears at the door_).

Is Miss Runeck at home?

CARL.

She is in her room; the judge has been with her an hour already.

COLONEL.

What? Early in the morning?

CARL.

Here she is herself.

[_Exit as soon as_ ADELAIDE _enters_.]

_Enter_ ADELAIDE _and_ KORB _through the door on the right_.

ADELAIDE (_to_ KORB).

You had better remain near the garden gate, and when the said young
man comes bring him to us.

[_Exit_ KORB.]

Good-morning, Colonel.

[_Going up to him and examining him gaily_.]

How is the weather today?

COLONEL.

Gray, girl, gray and stormy. Vexation and grief are buzzing round in
my head until it is fit to burst. How is the child?

ADELAIDE.

Better. She was wise enough to fall asleep toward morning. Now she is
sad, but calm.

COLONEL.

This very calmness annoys me. If she would only once shriek and tear
her hair a bit! It would be horrible, but there would be something
natural about it. It is this smiling and then turning away to dry
secret tears that makes me lose my composure. It is unnatural in my
child.

ADELAIDE.

Possibly she knows her father's kind heart better than he does
himself; possibly she still has hopes.

COLONEL.

Of what? Of a reconciliation with him? After what has happened a
reconciliation between Oldendorf and my