We have just a few minutes to stay.
Well, if we has such a fine visit paid us so early in the mornin', we're sure to have a lucky day this day. [Kneeling down by the child.] Ain't it so, my boy? You'll bring us good luck, won't you?
[Excitedly.] I went to ze zological darden; I saw ze storks zere, an' zey bit each ozzer wis zeir dolden bills.
Well now, you don't mean to say so! You're tellin' me a little fib, ain't you? [Hugging and kissing the child.] Lord, child, I could just eat you up, eat you right up. Mr. Fleischer, I'm goin' to keep this boy. This is my boy. You're my boy, ain't you? An' how's your mother, eh?
She's well an' she sends her redards an' you'll please tome in ze morning to wash.
Well now, just listen to that. A little feller like that an' he can give all that message already! [To FLEISCHER.] Won't you sit down, just a bit?
The boy bothers me about boating. Is it possible to go?
Oh, sure. The Spree is open. My girl there c'n row you out a way.
The boy won't stop about it! He's just taken that into his head.
[Showing herself in the door that leads to the next room, beckons to PHILIP.] Come, Philip, I'll show you somethin' real fine!
PHILIP gives a stubborn screech.
Now, Philip, you musn't be naughty!
Just look at that fine orange!
PHILIP'S face is wreathed in smiles. He takes a few steps in ADELAIDE's direction.
Go ahead, but don't beg!
Come on! Come on! We'll eat this orange together now.
[She walks in the child's direction, takes him by the hand, holds up the orange temptingly, and both go, now quite at one, into the next room.
[Following the child with her eyes.] No, that boy, I could just sit an' look at him. I don't know, when I see a boy like that … [She takes up a corner of her apron and wipes her eyes.] … I feel as if I had to howl right out.
Did you have a boy like that once?
That I had. But what's the use o' all that. You can't make people come back to life. You see—things like that—that's life….
A pause.
One can't be careful enough with children,
You can go an' be as careful as you want to be. What is to be, will be. [A pause.—Shaking her head.] What trouble did you have with Mr. Motes?
I? None at all! What trouble should I have had with him?
Oh, I was just thinkin'.
How old is your daughter anyhow?
She'll be out o' school this Easter. Why? Would you like to have her? I wouldn't mind her goin' into service if it's with you.
I don't see why not. That wouldn't be half bad.
She's grown up to be a strong kind o' body. Even if she is a bit young, she c'n work most as well as any one, I tell you. An' I tell you another thing. She's a scamp now an' then; she don't always do right. But she ain't no fool. That girl's got genius.
That's quite possible, no doubt.
You just let her go an' recite a single piece for you—just once—a pome, or somethin'. An' I tell you, Doctor, you ain't goin' to be able to get through shiverin'. You c'n possibly call her in some day when you got visitors from Berlin. All kinds o' writers comes to your house, I believe. An' she ain't backward; she'll sail right in. Oh, she does say piecesthatbeautiful.—[With a sudden change of manner.] Now I want to give you a bit o' advice; only you musn't be offended.
I'm never offended by good advice.
First thing, then: Don't give away so much. Nobody ain't goin' to thank you for it. You don't get nothin' but ingratitude.
Why, I don't give away very much, Mrs. Wolff.
That's all right, I know. An' the more you talk, the more scared people gets. First thing they says: that's a demercrat. Yon can't be too careful talkin'.
In what way am I to take all that, Mrs. Wolff?
Yon c'n go an' you c'n think what you please. But you gotta be careful when it comes to talkin', or you sit in gaol before you know it.
[Turns pale.] Well, now, look here, but that's nonsense, Mrs. Wolff.
No, no. I tell you that's serious. An' be careful o' that feller, whatever you do!
Whom do you mean by that?
The same man we was talkin' about a while ago.
Motes, you mean?
I ain't namin' no names. You must ha' had some kind o' trouble with that feller.
I don't even associate with him any longer.
Well, you see, that's just what I've been think-in'.
Nobody could possibly blame me for that, Mrs. Wolff.
An' I ain't blamin' you for it.
It would be a fine thing, wouldn't it—to associate with a swindler, a notorious swindler.
That man is a swindler; you're right there.
Now he moved over to Dreier's. That poor woman will have a hard time getting her rent. And whatever she has, she'll get rid of it. Why, a fellow like that—he's a regular gaol-bird.
Sometimes, you know, he'll say things …
Is that so? About me? Well, Iamcurious.
I believe you was heard to say somethin' bad about some high person, or somethin' like that.
H-m. You don't know anything definite, I dare say?
He's mighty thick with Wehrhahn, that's certain. But I tell you what. You go over to old mother Dreier. That old witch is beginnin' to smell a rat. First they was as nice as can be to her; now they're eatin' her outta house and home!
Oh, pshaw! The whole thing is nonsense.
You c'n go to the Dreier woman. That don't do no harm. She c'n tell you a story … He wanted to get her into givin' false witness…. That shows the kind o' man you gotta deal with.
Of course, I might go there. It can do no harm. But, in the end, the whole matter is indifferent to me. It would be the deuce of a world, if a fellow like that…. You just let him come!—Here, Philip, Philip! Where are you? We've got to go.
Oh, we're lookin' at such pretty pictures.
What do you think of that other business, anyhow?
What business?
Haven't you heard anything yet?
MRS. WOLFF [Restlessly.] Well, what was I sayin'?… [Impatiently.]Hurry, Julius, an' go, so's you c'n get back in time for dinner. [ToFLEISCHER.] We killed' a rabbit for dinner to-day. Ain't you ready yet,Julius?
Well, give me a chanst to find my cap.
I can't stand seein' anybody just foolin' round that way, as if it didn't make no difference about to-day or to-morrow, I like to see things move along.
Why, last night, at Krueger's, they …
Do me a favour, Doctor, an' don't talk to me about that there man. I'm that angry at him! That man hurt my feelin's too bad. The way we was—him an' me, for so long—an' then he goes and tries to blacken my character with all them people. [To JULIUS.] Are you goin' or not?
I'm goin' all right; don't get so huffy. Good mornin' to you, Mr.Fleischer.
Good morning, Mr. Wolff.
[JULIUS exit.
Well, as I was sayin' …
That time when his wood was stolen, I suppose he quarreled with you. But he's repented of that long since.
That man and repent!
You may believe me all the same, Mrs. Wolff. And especially after this last affair. He has a very high opinion of you indeed. The best thing would be if you were to be reconciled.
We might ha' talked together like sensible people, but for him to go an' run straight to the police—no, no!
Well, the poor little old couple is having bad luck: only a week ago their wood, and now the fur coat….
Are you comin' to your great news now? Out with it!
Well, it's a clear case of burglary.
Some more stealin'? Don't make fun o' me!
Yes, and this time it's a perfectly new fur coat.
Well now, you know, pretty soon I'll move away from here. That's a crowd round here! Why, a person ain't sare o' their lives. Tst! Tst! Such folks! It ain't hardly to be believed!
You can form an idea of the noise they're making.
Well, you can't hardly blame the people.
And really, it was, a very expensive garment—of mink, I believe.
Ain't that somethin' like beaver, Mr. Fleischer?
Perhaps it was beaver, for all I know. Anyhow, they were real proud of it.—I admit, I laughed to myself over the business. When something like that is discovered it always has a comic effect.
You're a cruel man, really, Doctor. I can't go an' laugh about things like that.
You mustn't think that I'm not sorry for the man, for all that.
Them must be pretty strange people. I don't know. There ain't no way o' understandin' that. Just to go an' rob other people o' what's theirs—no, then it's better to work till you drop.
You might perhaps make a point of keeping your ears open. I believe the coat is supposed to be in the village.
Has they got any suspicion o' anybody?
Oh, there was a washerwoman working at the Krueger's….
By the name o' Miller?
And she has a very large family…?
The woman's got a large family, that's so, but to steal that way … no!She might take some little thing, yes.
Of course Krueger put her out.
Aw, that's bound to come out. My goodness, the devil hisself'd have to be back o' that if it don't. I wish I was justice here. But the man is that stoopid!—well! I c'n see better'n the dark than he can by day with his glass eye.
I almost believe you could.
I c'n tell you, if I had to, I could steal the chair from under that man's behind.
[Has arisen and calls, laughingly, into the adjoining room.] Come, Philip, come! We've got to go! Good-bye, Mrs. Wolff.
You get dressed, Adelaide. You c'n go an' row Mr. Fleischer a ways.
[Enters, buttoning the last buttons at her throat and leading PHILIP by the hand.] I'm all ready. [To PHILIP.] You come right here; I'll take you on my arm.
[Anxiously helping the boy on with his coat.] He's got to be wrapped up well; he's so delicate, and no doubt it's windy out on the river.
I better go ahead an' get the boat ready.
Is your health better these days?
Much better since I'm living out here.
[Calls back in from the door.] Mama, Mr. Krueger.
Who's comin'?
Mr. Krueger.
It ain't possible!
He meant to come to you during the forenoon.
[Exit.
[Throws a swift glance at the heap of fire wood and vigorously sets about clearing it away.] Come on, now, help me get this wood out o' sight.
Why, mama? Oh, on account o' Mr. Krueger.
Well, what for d'you suppose? Is this a proper way for a place to look, the way this one is look-in'? Is that decent an' on Sunday mornin', too? What is Mr. Krueger goin' to think of us? [KRUEGER appears, exhausted by his walk. MRS. WOLFF calls out to him.] Mr. Krueger, please don't look 'round. This place is in a terrible state!
[Impetuously.] Good morning! Good morning! Don't worry about that at all! You go to work every week and your house can't be expected to be perfect on Sunday. You are an excellent woman, Mrs. Wolff, and a very honest one. And I think we might do very well to forget whatever has happened between us.
[Is moved, and dries her eyes from time to time with a corner of her apron.] I never had nothin' against you in the world. I always liked to work for you. But you went an' got so rough like, you know, that a person's temper couldn't hardly help gettin' away with 'em. Lord, a person is sorry for that kind o' thing soon enough.
You just come back and wash for us. Where is your daughter Leontine?
She went to take some cabbage to the postmaster.
You just let us have that girl again. She can have thirty crowns wages instead of twenty. We were always quite satisfied with her in other respects. Let's forgive and forget the whole affair.
[He holds out his hand to MRS. WOLFF, who takes it heartily.
All that hadn't no need to happen. The girl, you see, is still foolish like a child. We old people always did get along together.
Well, then, the matter is settled. [Gradually regaining his breath.]—Well, then, my mind is at rest about that, anyhow.—But now, do tell me! This thing that's happened to me! What do you say to that?
Oh, well, you know—whatcana person say about such things?
And there we got that Mr. von Wehrhahn! He's very well when it comes to annoying honest citizens and thinking out all sorts of chicanery and persecution, but—That man, what doesn't he stick his inquisitive nose into!
Into everything exceptin' what he ought to.
I'm going to him now to give formal notice. I won't rest! This thing has got to be discovered.
You oughtn't by no means to let a thing o' that kind go.
And if I've got to turn everything upside down—I'll get back my coat,Mrs. Wolff.
What this place needs is a good cleanin' out. We won't get no rest in the village till then. They'll end up by stealin' the roof from over a person's head.
I ask you to consider, for heaven's sake—two robberies in the course of two weeks! Two loads of wood, just like the wood you have there. [He takes up a piece that is lying on the floor.] Such good and expensive wood, Mrs. Wolff.
It's enough to make a person get blue in the face with rage. The kind o' crowd we gotta live with here! Aw, things like that! No, you know! Just leave me alone with it!
[Irately gesticulating with the piece of wood.] And if it costs me a thousand crowns, I'll see to it that those thieves are hunted down. They won't escape the penitentiary this time.
An' that'd be a blessin' too, as sure's we're alive!
The court room. GLASENAPP is sitting at his table. MRS. WOLFF and ADELAIDE are waiting for the justice. ADELAIDE holds on her lap a small package wrapped in linen.
He's takin' his time again to-day.
[Writing.] Patience! Patience!
Well, if he's goin' to be so late again to-day, he won't have no more time for us.
Goodness! You an' your trifles! We got different kinds o' things to deal with here.
Aw, I guess they're fine things you got to do.
That's no way to talk. That ain't proper here!
Aw, act a little more grand, will you? Krueger hisself sent my girl here!
The same old story about the coat, I suppose.
An' why not!
Now the old fellow's got somethin' for sure. Now he can go stirrin' things up—the knock-kneed old nuisance.
You c'n use your tongue. You better see about findin' out somethin'.
[Appears in the doorway.] You're to come right over, Glasenapp. His honour wants to ax you somethin'.
Has I got to interrupt myself again?
[He throws down his pen and goes out.
Good mornin', Mitteldorf.
Good mornin'.
What's keepin' the justice all this while?
He's writin' pages an' pages! An' them must be important things, I c'n tell you that. [Confidentially.] An' lemme tell you: there's somethin' in the air.—I ain't sayin' I know exactly what. But there's somethin'—I know that as sure 's … You just look out, that's all, and you'll live to see it. It's goin' to come down—somethin'—and when it do—look out. That's all I say. No, I don't pretend to understand them things. It's all new doin's to me. That's what they calls modern. An' I don't know nothin' about that. But somethin's got to happen. Things can't go on this way. The whole place is got to be cleaned out. I can't say 's I gets the hang of it. I'm too old. But talk about the justice what died. Why, he wan't nothin' but a dam' fool to this one. I could go an' tell you all kinds o' things, but I ain't got no time. The baron'll be missin' me. [He goes but, having arrived at the door, he turns back.] The lightenin' is goin' to strike, Mrs. Wolff. Take my word for that!
I guess a screw's come loose somewhere with him.
[Pause.
What's that I gotta say? I forgot.
What did you say to Mr. Krueger?
Why, I said that I found this here package.
Well, you don't need to say nothin' but that here neither. Only say it right out strong an' sure. You ain't such a mouse other times.
[Comes in.] I wish you a good morning.
[Stares at WULKOW. She is speechless for a moment. Then:] No, Wulkow, I guess you lostyourmind! What are you doin' here?
Well, my wife, she has a baby …
What's that she's got?
A little girl. So I gotta go to the public registry an' make the announcement.
I thought you'd be out on the canal by this time.
An' I wouldn't mind it one little bit if I was! An' so Iwouldbe, if it depended on me. Didn't I go an' starts out the very minute? But when I come to the locks there wasn't no gettin' farther. I waited an' waited for the Spree to open up. Two days an' nights I lay there till this thing with my wife came along. There wasn't no use howlin' then. I had to come back.
So your boat is down by the bridge again?
That's where it is. I ain't got no other place, has I?
Well, don't come to me, if …
I hope they ain't caught on to nothin', at least.
Go to the shop an' get three cents' worth o' thread.
I'll go for that when we get home.
Do's I tell you an' don't answer back.
Aw, I ain't no baby no more.
[Exit.
[Eagerly.] An' so you lay there by the locks?
Two whole days, as I been tellin' you.
Well, you ain't much good for this kind o' thing. You're a fine feller to go an' put on that coat in bright daylight!
Put it on? Me?
Yes, you put it on, an' in bright daylight, so's the whole place c'n know straight off what a fine fur coat you got.
Aw, that was 'way out in the middle o' the—
It was a quarter of a hour from our house. My girl saw you sittin' there. She had to go an' row Dr. Fleischer out an' he went an' had his suspicion that minute.
I don't know nothin' about that. That ain't none o' my business.
[Some one is heard approaching.
Sh! You want to be on the lookout now, that's all.
[Enters hurriedly with an attempt to imitate the manner of the justice. He asks WULKOW condescendingly:] What business have you?
[Still without.] What do you want, girl? You're looking for me? Come in, then. [WEHRHAHN permits ADELAIDE to precede him and then enters.] I have very little time to-day. Ah, yes, aren't you Mrs. Wolff's little girl? Well, then, sit down. What have you there?
I got a package …
Wait a moment first … [To WULKOW.] What do you want?
I'd like to report the birth of …
Matter of the public registry. The books, Glasenapp. That is to say, I'll attend to the other affair first. [To MRS. WOLFF.] What's the trouble about your daughter? Did Mr. Krueger box her ears again?
Well, he didn't go that far no time.
What's the trouble, then?
It's about this here package …
[To GLASENAPP.] Hasn't Motes been here yet?
Not up to this time.
That's incomprehensible. Well, girl, what do you want?
It's in the matter of the stolen fur coat, your honour.
Is that so? Can't possibly attend to that today. No one can do everything at once. [To MRS. WOLFF.] She may come in to-morrow.
She's tried to talk to you a couple o' times already.
Then let her try for a third time to-morrow.
But Mr. Krueger don't give her no peace no more.
What has Mr. Krueger to do with it?
The girl went to him with the package.
What kind of a rag is that? Let me see it.
It's all connected with the business of the fur coat. Leastways that's what Mr. Krueger thinks.
What's wrapped up in those rags, eh?
There's a green waist-coat what belongs to Mr. Krueger.
And you found that?
I found it, your honour.
Where did you find it?
That was when I was goin' to the train with mama. I was walkin' along this way and there …
Never mind about that now. [To MRS. WOLFF.] Make your deposition some time soon. We can come back to this matter to-morrow.
Oh,I'mwillin' enough …
Well, who isn't then?
Mr. Krueger is so very anxious about it.
Mr. Krueger, Mr. Krueger—I care very little about him. The man just simply annoys me. Things like this cannot be adjusted in a day. He has offered a reward and the matter has been published in the official paper.
You can't never do enough for him, though.
What does that mean: we can't do enough for him? We have recorded the facts in the case. His suspicions fell upon his washerwoman and we have searched her house. What more does he want? The man ought to keep quiet. But, as I said, to-morrow I'm at the service of this affair again.
It's all the same to us. We c'n come back.
Very well, then. To-morrow morning.
Good mornin'.
[Dropping a courtsey.] Good mornin'.
MRS. WOLFF and ADELAIDE exeunt.
[Turning over some documents. To GLASENAPP.] I'm curious to see what the result of all this will be. Mr. Motes has finally agreed to offer witnesses. He says the Dreier woman, that old witch of a pastry cook, once stood within earshot when Fleischer expressed himself disrespectfully. How old is the woman, anyhow?
Somewhere around seventy, your honour.
A bit confused in her upper story, eh?
Depends on how you look at it. She's fairly sensible yet.
I can assure you, Glasenapp, that it would be no end of a satisfaction to me to flutter these dove-cotes here pretty thoroughly. These people ought to be made to feel that they're dealing with somebody, after all. Who absented himself from the festivities on the emperor's birthday? Fleischer, of course. The man is simply capable of anything. He can put on all the innocent expressions he pleases. We know these wolves in sheep's clothing. They're too sweet-tempered to harm a fly, but if they think the occasion has come, the hounds can blow up a whole place. Well, here, at least, it will be made too hot for them!
[Comes in.] Your servant.
Well, how are things going?
Mrs. Dreier said that she would be here around eleven.
This matter will attract quite a little notice. It will, is fact, make a good deal of noise. I know what will be said: "That man Wehrhahn pokes his nose into everything." Well, thank heaven, I'm prepared for that. I'm not standing in this place for my private amusement. I haven't been put here for jest. People think—a justice, why he's nothing but a superior kind of gaoler. In that case they can put some one else here. The gentlemen, to be sure, who appointed me know very well with whom they are dealing. They know to the full the seriousness with which I conceive of my duties. I consider my office in the light of a sacred calling. [Pause.] I have reduced my report to the public prosecutor to writing. If I send it off at noon to-day, the command of arrest can reach us by day after to-morrow.
Now everybody will be coming down on me.
You know I have an uncle who is a chamberlain. I'll talk to him about you. Confound it all! There comes Fleischer! What does that fellow want? Does he smell a rat by any chance? [A knocking is heard and WEHRHAHN shouts:] Come in!
[Enters, pale and excited.] Good morning! [He receives no answer.] I should like to lodge information which has reference to the robbery recently committed here.
[With his most penetrating official glance.] You are Dr. Joseph Fleischer?
Quite right. My name is Joseph Fleischer.
And you come to give me some information.
If you will permit me, that is what I should like to do. I have made an observation which may, quite possibly, help the authorities to track down the thief in question.
[Drums on the table with his fingers. He looks around at the others with an expression of affected surprise which tempts them to laughter.] What is this important observation which you have made?
Of course, if you have previously made up your mind to attach no importance to my evidence, I should prefer …
[Quickly and arrogantly.] What would you prefer?
To hold my peace.
[Turns to MOTES with a look expressive of inability to understand FLEISCHER'S motives. Then, in a changed tone, with very superficial interest.] My time is rather fully occupied. I would request you to be as brief as possible.
My time is no less preëmpted. Nevertheless I considered it my duty …
[Interrupting.] You considered it your duty. Very well. Now tell us what you know.
[Conquering himself.] I went boating yesterday. I had taken Mrs. Wolff's boat and her daughter was rowing.
Are these details necessarily pertinent to the business in hand?
They certainly are—in my opinion.
[Drumming impatiently on the table.] Very well! Very well! Let's get on!
We rowed to the neighbourhood of the locks. A lighter lay at anchor there. The ice, we were able to observe, was piled up there. The lighter had probably not been able to proceed.
H-m. Is that so? That interests us rather less. What is the kernel of this whole story?
[Keeping his temper by main force.] I must confess that this method of … I have come here quite voluntarily to offer a voluntary service to the authorities.
[Impudently.] His honour is pressed for time. You are to talk less and state what you have to say briefly and compactly.
[Vehemently.] Let's get to business at once. What is it you want?
[Still mastering himself.] I am concerned that the matter be cleared up. And in the interest of old Mr. Krueger, I will …
[Yawning and bored.] The light dazzles me; do pull down the shades.
On the lighter was an old boatman—probably the owner of the vessel.
[Yawning as before.] Yes, most probably.
This man sat on his deck in a fur coat which, at a distance, I considered a beaver coat.
[Bored.] I might have taken it to be marten.
I pulled as close up to him as possible and thus gained a very good view. The man was a poverty-stricken, slovenly boatman and the fur coat seemed by no means appropriate. It was, in addition, a perfectly new coat …
[Apparently recollecting himself.] I am listening, I am listening! Well? What else?
What else? Nothing.
[Waking up thoroughly.] I thought you wanted to lodge some information. You mentioned something important.
I have said all that I had to say.
You have told us an anecdote about a boatman who wears a fur coat. Well, boatmen do, no doubt, now and then wear such coats. There is nothing new or interesting about that.
You may think about that as you please. In such circumstances I have no more to say.
[Exit.
Well now, did you ever see anything like that? Moreover, the fellow is a thorough fool. A boatman had on a fur coat! Why, has the man gone mad? I possess a beaver coat myself. Surely that doesn't make me a thief.—Confound it all! What's that again? I suppose I am to get no rest to-day at all! [To MITTELDORF, who is standing by the door.] Don't let anyone else in now! Mr. Motes, do me the favour of going over to my apartment. We can have our discussion there without interruptions. There's Krueger for the hundred and first time. He acts as though he'd been stung by a tarantula. If that old ass continues to plague me, I'll kick him straight out of this room some day.
In the open door KRUEGER becomes visible, together with FLEISCHER and MRS. WOLFF.
[To KRUEGER.] His honour can't be seen, Mr. Krueger.
Nonsense! Not to be seen! I don't care for such talk at all. [To the others.] Go right on, right on! I'd like to see!
All enter, KRUEGER leading the way.
I must request that there be somewhat more quiet. As you see, I am having a conference at present.
Go right ahead with it. We can wait. Later you can then have a conference with us.
[To MOTES.] Over in my apartment, then, if you please. And if you see Mrs. Dreier, tell her I had rather question her there too. You see for yourself: it isn't possible here.
[Pointing to FLEISCHER.] This gentleman knows something about Mrs. Dreier too. He has some documentary evidence.
Your honour's servant. I take my leave.
[Exit.
That's a good thing forthatman to take.
You will kindly omit remarks of that nature.
I'll say that again. The man is a swindler.
[As though he had not heard, to WULKOW.] Well, what is it? I'll get rid of you first. The records, Glasenapp!—Wait, though! I'll relieve myself of this business first. [To KRUEGER.] I will first attend to your affair.
Yes, I must ask you very insistently to do so.
Suppose we leave that "insistently" quite out of consideration. What request have you to make?
None at all. I have no request to make. I am here in order to demand what is my right.
Your right? Ah, what is that, exactly?
My good right. I have been robbed and it is my right that the local authorities aid me in recovering my stolen possessions.
Have you been refused such assistance?
Certainly not. And that is not possible. Nevertheless, it is quite clear that nothing is being done. The whole affair is making no progress.
You imagine that things like that can be done in a day or two.
I don't imagine anything, your honour. I have very definite proofs. You are taking no interest in my affairs.
I could interrupt you at this very point. It lies entirely beyond the duties of my office to listen to imputations of that nature. For the present, however, you may continue.
You could not interrupt me at all. As a citizen of the Prussian state I have my rights. And even if you interrupt me here, there are other places where I could make my complaint. I repeat that you are not showing any interest in my affair.
[Apparently calm.] Suppose you prove that.
[Pointing to MRS. WOLFF and her daughter.] This woman here came to you. Her daughter made a find. She didn't shirk the way, your honour, although she is a poor woman. You turned her off once before and she came back to-day …
But his honour didn't have no time, you know.
Go on, please!
I will. I'm not through yet by any means. What did you say to the woman? You said to her quite simply that you had no time for the matter in question. You did not even question her daughter. You don't know the slightest circumstance: you don't know anything about the entire occurrence.
I will have to ask you to moderate yourself a little.
My expressions are moderate; they are extremely moderate. I am far too moderate, your honour. My entire character is far too full of moderation. If it were not, what do you think I would say? What kind of an investigation is this? This gentleman here, Dr. Fleischer, came to you to report an observation which he has made. A boatman wears a beaver coat …
[Raising his hand.] Just wait a moment. [To WULKOW.] You are a boatman, aren't you?
I been out on the river for thirty years.
Are you nervous? You seem to twitch.
I reely did have a little scare. That's a fac'.
Do the boatmen on the Spree frequently wear fur coats?
A good many of 'em has fur coats. That's right enough.
This gentleman saw a boatman who stood on his deck wearing a fur coat.
There ain't nothin' suspicious about that, your honour. There's many as has fine coats. I got one myself, in fac'.
You observe: the man himself owns a fur coat.
But then he hasn't exactly a beaver coat.
You were not in a position to discover that.
What? Has this man a beaver coat?
There's many of 'em, I c'n tell you, as has the finest beaver coats. An' why not? We makes enough.
[Filled with a sense of triumph but pretending indifference.] Exactly. [Lightly.] Now, please go on, Mr. Krueger. That was only a little side-play. I simply wanted to make clear to you the value of that so-called "observation."—You see now that this man himself owns a fur coat. [More violently.] Would it therefore occur to us in our wildest moments to assert that he has stolen the coat? That would simply be an absurdity.
Wha—? I don't understand a word.
Then I must talk somewhat louder still. And since I am talking to you now, there's something else I might as well say to you—not in my capacity as justice, but simply man to man, Mr. Krueger. A man who is after all an honourable citizen should be more chary of his confidence—he should not adduce the evidence of people …
Are you talking about my associates?Myassociates?
Exactly that.
In that case you had better take care of yourself. People like Motes, with whom you associate, were kicked out of my house.
I was obliged to show the door to this person whom you receive in your private apartment!
He cheated me out of my rent.
There ain't many in this village that that man ain't cheated all ways—cheated out o' pennies an' shillin's, an' crowns an' gold pieces.
He has a regular system of exacting tribute.
[Pulling a document out of his pocket.] More than that, the fellow is ripe for the public prosecutor. [He places the document on the table.] I would request you to read this through.
Mrs. Dreier has signed that paper herself. Motes tried to inveigle her into committing perjury.
She was to give evidence against me.
[Putting his hand on FLEISCHER'S arm.] This gentleman is of unblemished conduct and that scoundrel wanted to get him into trouble. And you lend your assistance to such things!
**All speak at once.**
My patience is exhausted now. Whatever dealings you may have with Motes don't concern me and are entirely indifferent to me. [To FLEISCHER.] You'll be good enough to remove that rag!
[Alternately to MRS. WOLFF and to GLASENAPP.] That man is his honour's friend: that is his source of information. A fine situation. We might better call him a source of defamation!
[To MITTELDORF.] I'm not accountable to any one. It's my own business what I do; it's my own business with whom I associate; it's my own business what I choose to think and write!
Why you can't hear your own words in this place no more! Your honour, shall I go an' fetch a policeman? I can run right over and get one. Mitteldorf!…
**End all**
Quiet, please! [Quiet is restored. To FLEISCHER.] You will please remove that rag.
[Obeys.] That rag, as you call it, will be forwarded to the public prosecutor.
You may do about that exactly as you please. [He arises and takes from a case in the wall the package brought by MRS. WOLFF.] Let us finally dispose of this matter, then. [To MRS. WOLFF.] Where did you find this thing?
It ain't me that found it at all.
Well, who did find it?
My youngest daughter.
Well, why didn't you bring her with you then?
She was here, all right, your honour. An' then, I c'n go over an' fetch her in a minute.
That would only serve to delay the whole business again. Didn't the girl tell you anything about it?
You said it was found on the way to the railway station.
In that case the thief is probably in Berlin, That won't make our search any easier.
I don't believe that at all, your honour, Mr. Fleischer seems to me to have an entirely correct opinion. The whole business with the package is a trick meant to mislead us.
Well, well. That's mighty possible.
Now, Mrs. Wolff, you're not so stupid as a rule. Things that are stolen here go in to Berlin. That fur coat was sold in Berlin before we even knew that it was stolen.
No, your honour, I can't help it, but I ain't quite, not quite of the same opinion. If the thief is in Berlin, why, I ax, does he have to go an' lose a package like that?
Such things are not always lost intentionally.
Just look at that there package. It's all packed up so nice—the vest, the key, an' the bit o' paper …
I believe the thief to be in this very place.
[Confirming him.] Well, you see, Mr. Krueger.
I firmly believe it.
Sorry, but I do not incline to that opinion. My experience is far too long …
What? A long experience? H-m!
Certainly. And on the basis of that experience I know that the chance of the coat being here need scarcely be taken into account.
Well, well, we shouldn't go an' deny things that way, your honour.
[Referring to FLEISCHER.] And then he saw the boatman …
Don't bother me with that story. I'd have to go searching people's houses every day with twenty constables and policemen, I'd have to search every house in the village.
Then you better go an' start with my house, your honour.
Well, isn't that ridiculous? No, no, gentlemen: that's not the way. That method will lead us nowhither, now or later. You must give me entire freedom of action. I have my own suspicions and will continue to make my observations. There are a number of shady characters here on whom I have my eye. Early in the morning they ride in to Berlin with heavy baskets on their backs, and in the evening they bring home the same baskets empty.
I suppose you mean the vegetable hucksters. That's what they do.
Not only the vegetable hucksters, Mr. Krueger. And I have no doubt but that your coat travelled in the same way.