Herman.  That boy is damnable. (Gets up unassisted.) Isn’t some one knocking?

Henrich.  Yes. (Goes to the door.) Whom do you want?

Citizen (off stage).  I am the alderman of the hatters’ guild, and I have a complaint to make to the burgomaster.

Henrich.  Here’s the alderman of the hatters with some grievances.

Herman.  Oh, I can’t keep more than one thing in my head at a time. 
Ask him what it is. (Henrich asks what he wants.)

Citizen.  It’s too long.  I must speak to the burgomaster in person.  It can be attended to in an hour, for my complaint consists of only twenty points.

Henrich.  He says he must talk to the burgomaster in person, for his point consists of only twenty complaints.

Herman.  Oh, God help me, poor man, I am all jumbled up in my head already.  Let him in.

ACT FIFTH

SCENE 5

(Enter the Citizen.)

Citizen.  Ah, honored Burgomaster, poor man that I am, I have suffered great injustice, which the burgomaster will at once understand when he has heard about it.

Herman.  You must put it in writing.

Citizen.  Here it is, all written out, in four sheets.

Herman.  Henrich!  Some one is knocking again.

Henrich.  Whom do you want to talk to?

Another citizen (off stage).  I have a complaint to lodge before the burgomaster against the alderman of the hatters’ guild.

Herman.  Who is that, Henrich?

Henrich.  It is this man’s adversary.

Herman.  Make him hand you his memorial.  Both you good men wait in the anteroom meanwhile.

[Exit the Citizen.

SCENE 6

Herman.  Henrich!

Henrich.  Yes, sir!

Herman.  Can’t you help me put this to rights?  I don’t know what to do first.  Read aloud that hatter’s statement.

Henrich (falteringly reads).  “Noble, learned, stern, and steadfast Burgomaster.  As the first-fruits of the worthy company of lawful citizens of this glorious city, I the undersigned, N. N., present myself, unworthy Alderman of the worthy Hatters’ Guild; and after having extended congratulations both respectful and hearty on a man so worthy and highly raised on high to so height, in deepest humility submit for your consideration one of the greatest, most dangerous, and abominable abuses which wicked times and still more wicked men have brought into practice in this city, in hope that your Magnificence will afford a remedy.  This, then, is the case:  The hucksters here in the city, utterly without fear or shame, openly sell and offer for sale whole pieces of a sort of cloth