The Joy Of Living (Es Lebe Das Leben) Part 14

Prince (_smiling_).

Well, frankly, I should say Volkerlingk----

Brachtmann.

You don't mean----

Prince (_still smiling_).

I don't mean anything.

von Berkelwitz.

Gentlemen, I'm only a plain country squire, but I should like to suggest that the morals of our hostess are hardly a subject for discussion.

Prince.

Morals? Morals? What do morals signify? They were only invented for the preservation of the race.

von Berkelwitz.

That's over my head, your Highness.

Prince.

It's simple enough. Mankind is bound to go on reproducing itself--that's its fundamental instinct. Morality was invented to keep the strain pure. If it ceases to accomplish that purpose, it had better abdicate in favour of immorality. That's all.

von Berkelwitz.

I'll be hanged if I understand a single word.

Prince.

We all know the old families wouldn't have survived till now if the stock hadn't been renewed--surrept.i.tiously, so to speak--by----

Brachtmann.

Really, Prince--really----

Prince.

My dear Brachtmann, it's all very well for you to look shocked. Your family hasn't had to resort to such expedients: your patent of n.o.bility isn't more than two hundred years old. But my people have been misbehaving since the time of Lewis the Pious. Look at the result--look at _me_. Jaw prognathous--frontal bone asymmetrical--ears abnormal--all the symptoms of a decaying race. Thanks to several centuries of inbreeding, I must go through life a degenerate, and I a.s.sure you I haven't any talent for it. If only I could marry a healthy dairy-maid!

Under such circ.u.mstances, do you wonder one loses one's respect for morality? What if two people in this house have followed the dictates of their temperament?

Brachtmann.

Prince, von Berkelwitz is right. As long as we're in the house ourselves, we'll postpone any discussion of its inmates.

Prince.

As you please. (Richard Volkerlingk _is seen approaching. The_ Prince _glances toward him_.) Which won't prevent my feeling the sincerest sympathy for our friend there. His phenomenal self-possession is enough to confirm my suspicions.

_Enter_ Richard.

Richard.

I've been looking for you every where, Brachtmann. I want to shake hands and tell you how glad I am to be under your orders again.

Brachtmann.

We won't talk of being under my orders, my dear Volkerlingk. You know how badly we need you, and how anxious we are to have you take the lead in the coming debate. (Richard _bows_.) I suppose we may count on your speaking on the Divorce Bill next Friday?

Richard (_hesitating_).

Why--I had hardly expected----

Brachtmann.

It's the very thing we want of you. According to the Socialists, a man and his wife are no more bound to each other than a pair of cuckoos. We need a speaker of your eloquence and your convictions to proclaim the sanct.i.ty of the marriage-bond.

Richard.

But I hardly know if I should have time to get my facts together. And besides-- (_He draws_ Brachtmann _aside and continues in a low tone_.) An hour or two ago I received a copy of a speech that a fellow called Meixner has been making against me. The man is a former secretary of mine, turned Socialist----

Brachtmann.

Ah--Meixner was your secretary?

Richard.

You knew of this?

Brachtmann.

My dear Volkerlingk, don't you see that after such an attack it's doubly important that you should speak on this very question? As for the party, I think I may say in its name that our asking you to do so is equivalent to a vote of confidence.

Richard.

Thanks, Brachtmann. I believe you're right. My refusal might be misinterpreted.

Brachtmann (_turning toward the others_).

We were speaking of this when you joined us. We have all received copies of the paper.

Richard (_to the group_).

Then I must apologise for not having mentioned the matter; but I was waiting to bring it before you in committee. It seems to be a question of personal spite, for my son has received the paper too.

Brachtmann.