Miss Runeck, under your editorship I’ll go to the ends of the world!

ADELAIDE (smiling and politely).

Ah, no, merely into that room.

[Points to the door on the right.]

I
need half an hour to collect my thoughts for my new activities.

BELLMAUS (while departing).

That’s the best thing I ever heard!

[BELLMAUS, KAeMPE, KOeRNER leave.]

ADELAIDE.

Professor, you resigned the management of the paper with a readiness which delights me. (Pointedly.) I wish to edit the Union in my own fashion.

[Seizes his hand and leads him to the COLONEL.]

Colonel, he is no longer editor; we have outwitted him; you have your satisfaction.

COLONEL (holding out his arms to him).

Come, Oldendorf!  For what happened I have been sorry since the moment we parted.

OLDENDORF.

My honored friend!

ADELAIDE (pointing to the door on the left).

There is some one else in there who wants to take part in the reconciliation.  It might be Mr. Gabriel Henning.

IDA appears at the side door.

IDA.

Edward!

[OLDENDORF hurries to the door, IDA meets him, he embraces her.  Both leave on the left.  The COLONEL follows.]

ADELAIDE (sweetly).

Before asking you, Mr. von Senden, to interest yourself in the editing of the newspaper, I beg you to read through this correspondence which I received as a contribution to my columns.

SENDEN (takes a glance at them).

Miss Runeck, I don’t know whose indiscretion—­

ADELAIDE.

Fear none on my part.  I am a newspaper proprietor, and (with, marked emphasis) shall keep editorial secrets.

[SENDEN bows.]

May I ask for the deed, Judge?  And will you gentlemen be kind enough to ease the mind of the vendor as to the outcome of the transaction?

[Mutual bows.  SENDEN and SCHWARZ leave.]

ADELAIDE (after a short pause).

Now, Mr. Bolz, what am I going to do about you?

BOLZ.

I am prepared for anything.  I am surprised at nothing any more.  If some one should go straight off and spend a capital of a hundred millions in painting negroes white with oil-colors, or in making Africa four-cornered, I should not let it astonish me.  If I wake up tomorrow as an owl with two tufts of feathers for ears and a mouse in my beak, I will say, “All right,” and remember that worse things have happened.

ADELAIDE.

What is the matter with you, Conrad?  Are you displeased with me?

BOLZ.

With you?  You have been generous as ever; only too generous.  And it would all have been fine, if only this whole scene had been impossible.  That fellow Senden!