cannot help laughing at them.

BLUMENBERG.

Not always. In today's attack on the best articles the
_Coriolanus_ has published in a long time I see no wit at all.

COLONEL.

Attack on what articles?

BLUMENBERG.

On yours, Colonel. I must have the paper somewhere about
me.

[_Searches, and gives him a copy of the Union._]

COLONEL.

Oldendorf's paper attacks my articles! [_Reads._] "We regret
such lack of knowledge--"

BLUMENBERG.

And here--

COLONEL.

"It is an unpardonable piece of presumption"--What! I am
presumptuous?

BLUMENBERG.

And here--

COLONEL.

"One may be in doubt as to whether the naivete of the
contributor is comical or tragical, but at all events he has no right
to join in the discussion"--[_Throwing down the paper._] Oh, that is
contemptible! It is a low trick!

_Enter_ IDA _and_ OLDENDORF _from the garden._

SENDEN (_aside_).

Now comes the cloud-burst!

COLONEL.

Professor, your newspaper is making progress. To bad principles is now
added something else--baseness.

IDA (_frightened_).

Father!

OLDENDORF (_coming forward_).

Colonel, how can you justify this insulting expression?

COLONEL (_holding out the paper to him_).

Look here! That stands in your paper! In your paper, Oldendorf!

OLDENDORF.

The tone of the attack is not quite as calm as I could have wished--

COLONEL.

Not quite so calm? Not really?

OLDENDORF.

In substance the attack is justified.

COLONEL.

Sir! You dare say that to me!

IDA.

Father!

OLDENDORF.

Colonel, I do not comprehend this attitude, and I beg you to consider
that we are speaking before witnesses.

COLONEL.

Do not ask for any consideration. It would have been your place to
show consideration for the man whose friendship you are otherwise so
ready to claim.

OLDENDORF.

But, first of all, tell me frankly what is your own connection with
the articles attacked in the _Coriolanus_?

COLONEL.

A very chance connection, too insignificant in your eyes to deserve
your regard. The articles are by me!

IDA.

Heavens!

OLDENDORF (_vehemently_).

By you? Articles in the paper of this gentleman?

IDA (_entreating him_).

Edward!

OLDENDORF (_more calmly_).

The _Union_ has attacked not you but an unknown person, who to us was
merely a partisan of this gentleman. You would have spared us both
this painful scene had you not concealed from me the fact that you are
a correspondent of the _Coriola