Who doth in need for aid apply
  To this brave knight sends word;
  For love is his bright panoply
  And mercy is his sword.

  We laud him now in poem and song
  Protector of the lowly throng. 
  The Colonel, the Colonel,
  The noble Colonel Berg!

COLONEL (rings after the first measure of the song.  CARL enters).

You are to let no one in if you wish to remain in my service.

CARL.

Colonel, they are already in the garden, a great company of them.  It is the glee club; the leaders are already at the steps.

BOLZ (who has opened the window).

Very well sung, Colonel—­from La Juive—­he is the best tenor in town and the accompaniment is exceedingly original.

COLONEL (aside).

It is enough to drive one mad. [Aloud.] Show the gentlemen in!

Exit CARL. At the end of the verse enter FRITZ KLEINMICHEL and two other gentlemen.

FRITZ KLEINMICHEL.

Colonel, the local glee club asks to be allowed to sing you some songs—­kindly listen to the little serenade as a feeble expression of the general veneration and love.

COLONEL.

Gentlemen, I regret exceedingly that a case of illness in my family makes it desirable for me to have you curtail your artistic performance.  I thank you for your intentions, and beg you will sing to Professor Oldendorf the songs you had designed for me.

FRITZ KLEINMICHEL.

We considered it our duty first to greet you before visiting your friend.  In order not to disturb invalids, we will, with your permission, place ourselves further away from the house, in the garden.

COLONEL.

Do as you please.

[FRITZ KLEINMICHEL and the two others leave.]

Is this act, too, an invention of yours?

BOLZ (with a bow).

Partially at least.  But you are too kind, Colonel, if you look upon me as the sole originator of all these demonstrations.  My share in it is really a small one.  I have done nothing but edit public opinion a little; all these different people are not dolls, which a skilful puppet-man can move around by pulling wires.  These are all voices of capable and honorable persons, and what they have said to you is actually the general opinion of the town—­that is to say, the conviction of the better and more sensible elements in the town.  Were that not the case I should have labored quite in vain with these good people to bring a single one of them into your house.

COLONEL.

He is right again, and I am always in the wrong!

BOLZ (very courteously).

Permit me to explain further, that I consider these tender expressions of general regard out of place now, and that I deeply regret my share in them.  Today at least, no friend of Oldendorf has any occasion to praise your chivalrous sentiments or your self-effacement.