Dr. Wasner. a tall German professor with full blond beard; deep voiced; wears pince-nez with black tortoise shell rim and broad black cord.

Hans Jacob Dobler. is a poet; he is dressed in a poor fitting cut-away coat; unkempt mustache and Van Dyke beard.

Fraulein Pinneberg, a feminist, wears a loose fitting gown.

Dr. Hauser. fifty; smooth shaven; wears gold rimmed spectacles,

Von Schmettau, sixty; remains stately looking with effort; military bearing.

Madame de Hauteville—­indefinitely twenty; her ultra-fashionable Parisian gowns invite the cloak and suit patrons.

“Moral”

ACT I

FURTHER APOLOGY

(Card room in Beermann’s house.  In the background a swinging door opens into the dining room.  To the right a smaller door leads to the music room.  On the left side another door opens into the entrance hall.  To left upstage in a corner a small card table with chairs.  To right upstage a large sofa and comfortable chairs.  Parallel to background down stage, tea table with coffee service thereon; near it to right, smaller table, on it a humidor.

A butler is engaged at the tea table, another man servant is holding swinging door open. [Business of getting up from table.] Many voices and rattle of chairs are heard from dining room.  Through swinging doors enters Bolland and Frau Beermann, Beermann with Frau Bolland, Dr. Hauser with Effie, Dr. Wasner with Fraulein Koch-Pinneberg, Dobler alone.)

General greeting of “Mahlzeit.”

Dr. Wasner is vigorously shaking hands—­going to Frau Beermann says, “Ich wunsche Gesegnete Mahlzeit.”

The servants pass around coffee—­Beermann conversing with Bolland comes down stage ...

Bolland.  You will receive two thousand votes more than the Socialists.  That’s certain.

Beermann [skeptical].  No,—­no.

Bolland.  If all the Liberals combine with the Conservatives, the result cannot be in doubt.

Beermann [taking coffee from the servant].  If ...

Bolland.  Fusion is here.  It’s the logical development.  I am an old politician.  The time for discussion is over.  Now it’s a straight fight to a finish.

Dr. Wasner [coming nearer].  The German fatherland is rallying to the support of the national flag.

Beermann.  But there are controversies everywhere.  I know best.  I always am told by campaign managers:  don’t say this and don’t say that.

Bolland.  In what way?

Beermann.  For instance, I’m to speak at the Liberal Club the day after to-morrow.  You would not expect me to say the same things I told the Conservatives last night ...?

Bolland.  Your details, of course, must differ.  But fundamentally it amounts to the same thing.