Frau Bolland.  Adolph!

Bolland.  Yes—­wifey?

Frau Bolland.  Thursday the circus comes to town, don’t forget to reserve seats.

Bolland.  All right!

Frau Bolland [while going out].  I’m still a child when the circus comes.

[Frau Lund seats herself on sofa.  Next to her on the right Frau Beermann; Beermann and Bolland sit opposite in large leather chairs.  Hauser is standing behind the sofa leaning against it.]

Frau Lund [to Hauser].  Tell me Judge, where have you been keeping yourself all this time?

Hauser.  In my office, Frau Lund, only in my office.  But I hear that you were on the Riviera.

Frau Lund.  Four weeks in Monte Carlo.  Children, I gambled like an old viveur.

Beermann.  What luck?

Frau Lund.  I lost, of course—­I’m too old to set the world on fire.  But, Beermann, I hear all sorts of surprises about you.  You are a candidate for the Reichstag?

Beermann.  Yes, they nominated me.

Frau Lund.  Who are “they”?

Beermann.  The combined Liberals and Conservatives ...

Hauser.  And the Conservatives and Liberals combined.

Frau Lund.  Formerly these were distinct parties.

Hauser.  Formerly,—­formerly.

Beermann.  Now there is fusion.

Frau Lund [to Frau Beermann].  You never told me that your husband was in politics.

Frau Beermann.  He never was—­up to two weeks ago.

Frau Lund.  How quickly things change!  And of all the people ... you!

Beermann.  What’s so startling in that?

Frau Lund.  You told me that you never even read the newspapers.

Bolland.  We all are cordially grateful to Beermann that in an hour of need he made this sacrifice.

Frau Lund.  The way you talk about the “hour of need” and “sacrifice” Herr Kommerzienrat, it seems to me that you would have been the better candidate.

Bolland.  Oh, I am too pronouncedly Liberal.

Hauser.  And that’s an incurable disease!

Bolland.  At any rate it makes my nomination impossible.  A man was needed who was not known as a party-man.

Frau Lund.  It would seem then that our friend Beermann has become a politician because he ... is no politician?

Hauser.  That’s what is known as “fusion.”

Beermann.  Allow me to ask a question.  Why should I not become a
Reichstag deputy?

Hauser.  Quite right!  Frau Lund—­tell him—­why shouldn’t he?

Beermann.  Because I am a novice in politics?  We all have to make a start.