ted.

BELLMAUS. I'll look out, old tom-cat.--Come along Schmock!

[BELLMAUS _and_ SCHMOCK _leave_.]

BOLZ. We might as well separate, too.

KAeMPE. I'll go and see how people feel. If I need you I'll look you
up.

BOLZ. I had better not show myself much. I'll stay around here.

[_Exit_ KAeMPE.]

Alone at last!

[_Goes to centre door_.]

There stands the Colonel, closely surrounded. It is she! She is here,
and I have to lie in hiding like a fox under the leaves.--But she has
falcon eyes,--perhaps--the throng disperses--she is walking through
the hall arm-in-arm with Ida--(_Excitedly_.) They are drawing nearer!
(_Irritably_.) Oh, bother! There is Korb rushing toward me! And just
now!

_Enter_ KORB.

KORB. Mr. Conrad! I can't believe my eyes! You here, at this fete!

BOLZ (_hastily_). Hush, old chap! I'm not here without a reason. I can
trust you--you're one of us, you know.

KORB. Body and soul. Through all the talking and fiddling I've kept
saying to myself, "Long live the _Union!"_ Here she is!

[_Shows him a paper in his pocket_.]

BOLZ. Good, Korb, you can do me a great favor. In a corner of the
refreshment room Bellmaus is sitting with a stranger. He is to pump
the stranger, but cannot stand much himself and is likely to say
things he shouldn't. You'll do the party a great service if you will
hurry in and drink punch so as to keep Bellmaus up to the mark. You
have a strong head--I know it from of old.

KORB (_hastily_). I go! You are as full of tricks as ever, I see. You
may rely on me. The stranger shall succumb, and the _Union_ shall
triumph.

[_Exit quickly. The music ceases_.]

BOLZ. Poor Schmock! [_At the door_.]

Ah, they are still walking through the hall. Ida is being spoken to,
she stops, Adelaide goes on--(_Excitedly_.) she's coming, she's coming
alone!

ADELAIDE (_makes a motion as though to pass the door, but suddenly
enters_. BOLZ _bows_). Conrad! My dear doctor!

[_Holds out her hand_. BOLZ _bends low over it_.]

ADELAIDE (_in joyous emotion_). I knew you at once from a distance.
Let me see your faithful face. Yes, it has changed but little--a scar,
browner, and a small line about the mouth. I hope it is from laughing.

BOLZ. If at this moment I feel like anything but laughing it is only a
passing malignity of soul. I see myself double, like a melancholy
Highlander. In your presence my long happy childhood passes bodily
before my eyes. All the joy and pain it brought me I