COLONEL (without harshness).

Why do you not say that to the professor, to the man that you have chosen?

PIEPENBRINK.

He shall first deserve it in Parliament before the town thanks him. 
But you have deserved it of us, and therefore we come to you.

COLONEL (heartily).

I thank you, sir, for your kind words.  They are very comforting to me just now.  May I ask your name?

PIEPENBRINK.

My name is Piepenbrink.

COLONEL (morely coldly, but not impolitely).

Ah, indeed, that is your name! (With dignity.) I thank you, gentlemen, for the friendly sentiment you have expressed, whether it be that you render the true opinion of the town, or speak according to the desire of individuals.  I thank you, and shall go on doing what I think is right.

[Bows, so does the deputation; exit latter.]

This, then, is that Piepenbrink, the close friend of his friend!  But the man’s words were sensible and his whole demeanor honorable; it cannot possibly be all rascality.  Who knows!  They are clever intriguers; send into my house newspaper articles, letters, and these good-natured people, to make me soft-hearted; act in public as my friends, to make me confide again in their falseness!  Yes, that is it.  It is a preconcerted plan!  They will find they have miscalculated!

Enter CARL.

CARL.

Dr. Bolz!

COLONEL.

I am at home to no one any longer!

CARL.

So I told the gentleman; but he insisted on speaking to you, saying that he came in on an affair of honor.

COLONEL.

What?  But Oldendorf won’t be so insane—­show him in here!

Enter BOLZ.

BOLZ (with dignity).

Colonel, I come to make you an announcement which the honor of a third person necessitates.

COLONEL.

I am prepared for it, and beg you not to prolong it unduly.

BOLZ.

No more than is requisite.  The article in this evening’s Union which deals with your personality was written by me and inserted by me in the paper without Oldendorf’s knowledge.

COLONEL.

It can interest me little to know who wrote the article.

BOLZ (courteously).

But I consider it important to tell you that it is not by Oldendorf and that Oldendorf knew nothing about it.  My friend was so taken up these last weeks with his own sad and painful experiences that he left the management of the paper entirely to me.  For all that has lately appeared in it I alone am responsible.

COLONEL.

And why do you impart this information?

BOLZ.

You have sufficient penetration to realize, Colonel, that, after the scene which took place today between you and my friend, Oldendorf as a man of honor could neither write such an article nor allow it to appear in his paper.