Stroebel.  Do receive this gentleman, please.

Beermann.  Now, while we are conferring?

Stroebel.  Yes, now, if you please.

Beermann [to the maid].  Ask the gentleman to come in. [Betty exit.]

Stroebel.  He is Adjutant to the young Prince.  I told him I was going to see you, and you can realize how upset he is.

Beermann.  If it affords you pleasure.

Stroebel.  It does.  The entire responsibility rests on me and I at least must show that I have left nothing undone. [Knock on the door.]

Beermann.  Come in. [Schmettau enters.]

Schmettau.  Good evening.

Stroebel [rising.  Beermann rises also].  May I introduce you gentlemen?  Herr Beermann, the banker—­Herr Baron Schmettau.

Schmettau.  We have already had a glimpse of each other today.

Beermann.  Yes, I remember.

Schmettau.  You are the President of the Local Morality Club.  Before we go further I must tell you that I do not at all agree with those views ...

Stroebel [interrupting with anxiety].  Herr Baron, may I call your attention to the fact that Herr Beermann, personally, is far above these narrow theories.

Schmettau.  I am glad to hear it.  Besides as theories they’re not so bad.

Beermann.  As theories!  That’s what I say.

Schmettau.  Well, there you are!

Stroebel.  Herr Beermann is also the candidate of the local
Conservative-Liberal Coalition.

Schmettau.  Then he is certainly no stickler for high-flown notions.  I should be right glad if we understood each other.  And how far are you, gentlemen?

Stroebel.  In principles we are agreed.

Beermann.  Absolutely.

Schmettau.  Then we shall have no difficulty in finding the right solution.

Stroebel.  I have taken Herr Beermann into our confidence.

Schmettau.  That was a very disagreeable mishap, was it not?  Very bad.  Whoever has any patriotism can realize it.

Beermann.  Herr Baron was also ...

Schmettau.  Locked in the closet.

Stroebel.  Permit me to revert to the facts.  I was just telling Herr Beermann that this Hauteville woman refuses to leave.  She boasts that she has not the bail and even if she had it, she would not pay it.

Schmettau.  Confound her!  She controls the situation.

Stroebel.  Now we come to the most difficult part of it.  She says that if she is compelled to leave the city and is deprived of her livelihood, she wants proper damages for it.  Of course I told the woman that this, to say the least, was an extortionate demand.  Well then, she says, we will have a trial in court.

Beermann.  The fox!  She knows well that’s out of the question.