[They sit down.]

Now we alternate!  Waiter!

[Waiter comes to him.]

Two bottles of this!

PIEPENBRINK.  Hold on!  You won’t find that wine here.  I brought my own kind.  You’re to drink with me.

BOLZ.  But Mr. Piepenbrink——­

PIEPENBRINK.  No remonstrances!  You drink with me.  And when I ask any one to drink with me, Sir, I don’t mean to sip, as women do, but to drink out and fill up.  You must make up your mind to that.

BOLZ.  Well, I am content.  We as gratefully accept your hospitality as it is heartily offered.  But you must then let me have my revenge.  Next Sunday you are all to be my guests, will you?  Say yes, my kind host!  Punctually at seven, informal supper.  I am single, so it will be in a quiet, respectable hotel.  Give your consent, my dear Madam.  Shake hands on it, Mr. Piepenbrink.—­You, too, Mr. Kleinmichel and Mr. Fritz!

[Holds out his hand to each of them.]

PIEPENBRINK.  If my wife is satisfied it will suit me all right.

BOLZ.  Done!  Agreed!  And now the first toast.  To the good spirit who brought us together today, long may he live!—­[Questioning those about him.] What’s the spirit’s name?

FRITZ KLEINMICHEL.  Chance.

BOLZ.  No, he has a yellow cap.

PIEPENBRINK.  Yellow-seal is his name.

BOLZ.  Correct!  Here’s his health!  We hope the gentleman may last a long time, as the cat said to the bird when she bit its head off.

KLEINMICHEL.  We wish him long life just as we are putting an end to him.

BOLZ.  Well said!  Long life!

PIEPENBRINK.  Long life!

[They touch glasses.  PIEPENBRINK to his wife.]

It is going to turn out well today, after all.

MRS. PIEPENBRINK.  They are very modest nice men.

BOLZ.  You can’t imagine how glad I am that our good fortune brought us into such pleasant company.  For although in there everything is very prettily arranged—­

PIEPENBRINK.  It really is all very creditable.

BOLZ.  Very creditable!  But yet this political society is not to my taste.

PIEPENBRINK.  Ah, indeed!  You don’t belong to the party, I suppose, and on that account do not like it.

BOLZ.  It’s not that!  But when I reflect that all these people have been invited, not really to heartily enjoy themselves, but in order that they shall presently give their votes to this or that gentleman, it cools my ardor.

PIEPENBRINK.  Oh, it can hardly be meant just that way.  Something could be said on the other side—­don’t you think so, comrade?

KLEINMICHEL.  I trust no one will be asked to sign any agreement here.

BOLZ.  Perhaps not.  I have no vote to cast and I am proud to be in a company where nothing else is thought of but enjoying oneself with one’s neighbor and paying attention to the queens of society—­to charming women!  Touch glasses, gentlemen, to the health of the ladies, of the two who adorn our circle. [All touch glasses.]