The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries Volume Xii Part 34

I am at home to no one any longer!

CARL.

So I told the gentleman; but he insisted on speaking to you, saying that he came in on an affair of honor.

COLONEL.

What? But Oldendorf won't be so insane--show him in here!

_Enter_ BOLZ.

BOLZ (_with dignity_).

Colonel, I come to make you an announcement which the honor of a third person necessitates.

COLONEL.

I am prepared for it, and beg you not to prolong it unduly.

BOLZ.

No more than is requisite. The article in this evening's _Union_ which deals with your personality was written by me and inserted by me in the paper without Oldendorf's knowledge.

COLONEL.

It can interest me little to know who wrote the article.

BOLZ (_courteously_).

But I consider it important to tell you that it is not by Oldendorf and that Oldendorf knew nothing about it. My friend was so taken up these last weeks with his own sad and painful experiences that he left the management of the paper entirely to me. For all that has lately appeared in it I alone am responsible.

COLONEL.

And why do you impart this information?

BOLZ.

You have sufficient penetration to realize, Colonel, that, after the scene which took place today between you and my friend, Oldendorf as a man of honor could neither write such an article nor allow it to appear in his paper.

COLONEL.

How so, sir? In the article itself I saw nothing unsuitable.

BOLZ.

The article exposes my friend in your eyes to the suspicion of having tried to regain your good-will by unworthy flattery. Nothing is further from his thoughts than such a method. You, Colonel, are too honorable a man yourself to consider a mean action natural to your friend.

COLONEL.

You are right. (_Aside_.) This defiance is unbearable! (_Aloud_.) Is your explanation at an end?

BOLZ.

It is. I must add still another: that I myself regret very much having written this article.

COLONEL.

I imagine I do not wrong you in a.s.suming that you have already written others that were still more to be regretted.

BOLZ (_continuing_).

I had the article printed before hearing of your last interview with Oldendorf. (_Very courteously_.) My reason for regretting it is, that it is not quite true. I was too hasty in describing your personality to the public. Today, at least, it is no longer a true portrait; it is flattering.

COLONEL (_bursting out_).

Well, by the devil, that is rude!

BOLZ.

Your pardon--it is only true. I wish to convince you that a journalist can regret having written falsehoods.

COLONEL.

Sir! (_Aside_.) I must restrain myself, or he will always get the better of me.--Dr. Bolz, I see that you are a clever man and know your trade. Since, in addition, you seem inclined today to speak only the truth, I must beg you to tell me further if you, too, organized the demonstrations which purport to represent to me public sentiment.

BOLZ (_bowing_).

I have, as a matter of fact, not been inactive in the matter.

COLONEL (_holding out the letter to him, angrily_).

Did you prompt these, too?

BOLZ.

In part, Colonel. This poem is the heart-outpouring of an honest youth who reveres in you the paternal friend of Oldendorf and the ideal of a chivalrous hero. I inspired him with the courage to send you the poem.

It was well-meant, at any rate. The poet will have to seek another ideal. The address comes from women and girls who const.i.tute the a.s.sociation for the Education of Orphans. The a.s.sociation includes among its members Miss Ida Berg. I myself composed this address for the ladies; it was written down by the daughter of the wine-merchant Piepenbrink.

COLONEL.

That was just about my opinion concerning these letters. It is needless to ask if you too are the contriver who sent me the citizens?

BOLZ.

At all events I did not discourage them. [_From without a male chorus of many voices_.]

Hail! Hail! Hail!