And you are no longer vexed with us?

OLDENDORF.

Your intention was good, but it was a great indiscretion.

BOLZ.

Forget all about it! (Aloud.) Here, take your glass and sit down with us.  Don’t be proud, young statesman!  Today you are one of us.  Well, here sits the editorial staff!  Where is worthy Mr. Henning—­where tarries our owner, printer and publisher, Gabriel Henning?

KAeMPE.

I met him a little while ago on the stairs.  He crept by me as shyly as though he were some one who had been up to mischief.

BOLZ.

Probably he feels as Oldendorf does—­he is again not pleased with the attitude of the paper.

MILLER (thrusting in his head).

The papers and the mail!

BOLZ.

Over there! [MILLER enters, lays the papers on the work-table.]

MILLER.

Here is the Coriolanus.  There is something in it about our paper.  The errand-boy of the Coriolanus grinned at me scornfully, and recommended me to look over the article.

BOLZ.

Give it here!  Be quiet, Romans, Coriolanus speaks.—­All ye devils, what does that mean? [Reads.] “On the best of authority we have just been informed that a great change is imminent in the newspaper affairs of our province.  Our opponent, the Union, will cease to direct her wild attacks against all that is high and holy.”—­This high and holy means Blumenberg.—­“The ownership is said to have gone over into other hands, and there is a sure prospect that we shall be able from now on to greet as an ally this widely read sheet.”  How does that taste to you, gentlemen?

MILLER} Thunder!  KAeMPE.}_(All together_.) Nonsense!  BELLMAUS.} It’s a lie!

OLDENDORF.

It’s another of Blumenberg’s reckless inventions.

BOLZ.

There is something behind it all.  Go and get me Gabriel Henning. [Exit MILLER.] This owner has played the traitor; we have been poisoned. [Springing up.] And this is the feast of the Borgia!  Presently the misericordia will enter and sing our dirge.  Do me the favor at least to eat up the oysters before it be too late.

OLDENDORF (who has seized the newspaper.)

Evidently this news is only an uncertain rumor.  Henning will tell us there is no truth in it.  Stop seeing ghosts, and sit down with us.

BOLZ (seating himself).

I sit down, not because I put faith in your words, but because I don’t wish to do injustice to the lunch.  Get hold of Henning; he must give an account of himself.

OLDENDORF.

But, as you heard, he is not at home.

BOLZ (zealously eating).