“Are you so lost, sir, to all sense of propriety,” cried Franke, “as to believe that I, the president of the university, a professor of theology, and a doctor of philosophy, would enter your unholy, God-forsaken theatre?  No, sir, even in this degenerate age. we have not fallen so low that the men of God are to be found in such places.”

“These are very hard and unchristian words, your excellency, Professor and Doctor Franke, words which no Christian, no man of learning, no gentleman should employ.  But I, although a poor actor, bearing no distinguished title, will only remember what is becoming for a Christian, and will say, in the words of our Lord, ’Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.’”

“Those holy words become a blasphemy on your lips,” said Professor Heinrich, solemnly.

“And still I repeat them.  ’Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.’  Do you not know that in judging me, you condemn yourselves?  I came into your presence, hoping to reconcile the difficulties and misunderstanding which I heard had been occasioned by the theatre between the professors and the students; but you have treated me with scorn and declined my assistance, and nothing remains for me but to bid you farewell, most learned and worthy men.”

He bowed ceremoniously, and passed out, without again glancing at the indignant professors, and joined Joseph Fredersdorf, who awaited him below.

“Well, did they accept your invitation?”

“No, my friend, all happened as you predicted; they refused it with scorn and indignation.”

“Now you will agree with me that we can hope to do nothing in Halle.”

“Yes, you were right, I fear, Joseph; but let us dismiss so painful a subject.  We will now go to our rehearsal, and we must perform our tragedy with such care and in such a manner that the thunders of applause which we receive will reach the ears of our enemies.”

The three professors were still in the room of the president, in earnest consultation.

“So this miserable Eckhof is to have what he calls a benefit to-night?” said the president.

“Two hundred students will be present,” groaned Professor Heinrich.

“And our lecture halls will be empty.”

“We must exert our energies and put a stop to these proceedings; it is scandalous that our students have forsaken their studies to run after these actors.”

“Truly something must be done, for not only our fame but our purses are at stake.”

“This evil cannot continue; we must take prompt measures to root it out,” said the president.  “The General Directory decided that the actors should not be expelled from Halle, unless it could be proved that they had been the occasion of some public difficulty.  It is therefore necessary that such a difficulty should arise.  According to Eckhof’s account, there will be two hundred students at the theatre to-night.  There are still,