PIEPENBRINK (striking the table).  That was a good one!

SENDEN (hotly).  You thrust yourself in here!

BOLZ (indignantly).  Thrust myself in?

PIEPENBRINK.  Thrust himself in?  Old man, you have an entrance ticket,
I suppose?

BOLZ (frankly).  Here is my ticket!  It is not you I am showing it to, but this honorable man from whom you are trying to estrange me by your attack.  Kaempe, give your ticket to Mr. Piepenbrink.  He is the man to judge of all the tickets in the world!

PIEPENBRINK.  Here are two tickets just exactly as valid as my own.  Why, you scattered them right and left like sour grape juice.  Oho!  I see quite well how things stand!  I’m not one of your crowd, either, but you want to get me.  That’s why you came to my house again and again—­because you expected to capture me.  Because I am a voter, that’s why you’re after me.  But because this honorable man is not a voter he does not count for you at all.  We know those smooth tricks!

SENDEN.  But, Mr. Piepenbrink!

PIEPENBRINK (interrupting him, more angrily).  Is that any reason for insulting a peaceful guest?  Is it a reason for closing my wife’s mouth?  It is an injustice to this man, and he shall stay here as long as I do.  And he shall stay here by my side.  And whoever attempts to attack him will have to deal with me!

BOLZ.  Your fist, good sir!  You’re a faithful comrade!  And so hand-in-hand with you Philip, I defy the Capulet and his entire clan!

PIEPENBRINK.  Philip!  Right you are, Conrad, my boy!  Come here!  They shall swell with anger till they burst!  Here’s to Philip and Conrad! [They drink brotherhood.]

BOLZ.  Long live Piepenbrink!

PIEPENBRINK.  So, old chum!  Shall I tell you what!  Since we are having so good a time I think we’ll leave all these people to their own devices, and all of you come home with me.  I’ll brew a punch and we’ll sit together as merrily as jackdaws.  I’ll escort you, Conrad, and the rest of you go ahead.

SENDEN (and guests).  But do listen, revered Mr. Piepenbrink!

PIEPENBRINK.  I’ll listen to nothing.  I’m done with you!

Enter BELLMAUS and other guests.

BELLMAUS (hurrying through the crowd).  Here I am!

BOLZ.  My nephew!  Gracious Madam, I put him under your protection!  Nephew, you escort Madam Piepenbrink. (MRS. PIEPENBRINK takes a firm grip on BELLMAUS’S arm and holds him securely.  Polka behind the scene.) Farewell, gentlemen, it’s beyond your power to spoil our good humor.  There, the music is striking up!  We march off in a jolly procession, and again I cry in conclusion, Long live Piepenbrink!

THE DEPARTING ONES.  Long live Piepenbrink! [They march off in triumph.  FRITZ KLEINMICHEL and his fiancee, KAeMPE with KLEINMICHEL, MRS. PIEPENBRINK with BELLMAUS, finally BOLZ with PIEPENBRINK.]