Herman.  Messieurs, you are both right, each one in his own way.

Second lawyer.  How can we both be right?  I maintain that if I am right, my antagonist is wrong.  The law of Justinian is expressly in my favor.

Herman.  Excuse me, I must be off to the City Hall immediately.

First lawyer (seizing hold of him).  I have certainly proved that Justinian’s opinion is on my side.

Herman.  Yes, that is so.  Justinian is for both of you.  Why the devil, then, don’t you compromise?  You don’t know Justinian as well as I do; when he wears the mantle on both shoulders, it is as much as to say:  Get out, you scurvy-necks, and compromise!

Second lawyer.  Your Honor, in order to grasp the jurist’s meaning correctly, one must compare one article with another.  Is it not written in the very next paragraph:  Quodsi vis fluminis de tuo praedio—?

Herman.  Here, let me go, you pettifoggers!  Don’t you hear me say I must go to the City Hall?

First lawyer.  Oh, your Honor!  A moment!  Let us now hear what Hugo Grotius says.

Herman.  To the devil with both you and Hugo Grotius!  What have I to do with Hugo Grotius?  He was an Arminian.  What in the devil have laws to do with us that people make way off in Armenia?  Henrich, put them straight out the door. [Exeunt Lawyers.

SCENE 3

(Henrich remains in the entry squabbling with some one, then shoots in headfirst, followed by a man dressed up as a woman.)

Woman (taking the Burgomaster by the lapels of his and screaming).  Oh, what kind of a government is this that passes such damnable laws that a man may have two wives?  Do you think that the judgment of God isn’t on you?

Herman.  Are you mad, woman?  Who the devil ever thought of such a thing?

Woman.  Hey, hey, hey!  I shall not go away until I have your heart’s blood!

Herman.  A—­ah, help!  Henrich!  Peiter!

(Enter Peiter.  He drags the woman off.  Henrich, who has been hiding, finally comes on and helps him out.  Exeunt struggling.)

SCENE 4

Herman.  Henrich, there will be trouble for you if you let in any more women or lawyers after this, for both of them kill me in their own way.  If any others come and want to talk to me, you must tell them to be careful not to talk Latin, as I have given it up for a special reason.

Henrich.  I have given it up, too, for just the same reason.

Herman.  You can say that I talk only Greek.

(Another knock.  Henrich goes to the door and returns with a huge bundle of papers.)

Henrich.  Here is a heap of papers from the syndics, which the burgomaster must look over and give his opinion on.