didn't eat the haunch of venison Sunday! I've ordered some red wine for the General, too. I paid three marks; that's not too dear, is it?

SCHWARTZE.

Not if it's good. Is your sister coming to-day?

MRS. SCHWARTZE.

I think so.

SCHWARTZE.

She was asked to the Governor's yesterday, wasn't she?

MRS. SCHWARTZE.

[Sighing.] Yes.

SCHWARTZE.

And we were not. Poor thing! She must look out for me to-day if she boasts. [Aside] Old cat!

MARIE.

[Kneels before him, lighting his pipe.] Be good, father dear. What harm does it do you?

SCHWARTZE.

Yes, yes, darling. I'll be good. But my heart is sore. [Bell rings. Marie hurries out.]

MRS. SCHWARTZE.

Here they are.

Enter Major-general Von Klebs, Professor Beckmann, and Marie.

VON KLEBS.

My humblest respects to the ladies. Ah, my dear madam! [Kisses her hand.]

MRS. SCHWARTZE.

Make yourselves at home, gentlemen.

VON KLEBS.

Ha, my dear Colonel, hearty as ever? All ready for the fray, little one? Now we are all right. But we were almost too late. We were caught in the Music Festival crowd. Such a confusion! I was bringing the schoolmaster along, and just as we passed by the German House, there was a great crush of people, gaping as if there were a princess at the least. And what do you suppose it was? A singer! These are really what one may call goings-on. All this fuss about a singer! What do they call the person?

BECKMANN.

Ah, General, we seem to be in a strange land to-day.

VON KLEBS.

We are under a curse, my dear madam. We are bearing a penance. [They sit.]

BECKMANN.

But you must know dall' Orto, the great Italian Wagner singer. We are very fortunate in getting her for the festival. If she were not here--

VON KLEBS.

Well, well, what if she were not? Eh? I hoped that our strictly moral circle, at least, would hold itself aloof from all this. But since the Governor gives receptions in the lady's honor! And, best of all, to cap the climax, who do you think was standing to-day among the enthusiasts, craning his neck like the rest? You'll never guess. It's too inconceivable. The pastor!

SCHWARTZE.

The pastor?

VON KLEBS.

Yes, our pastor.

SCHWARTZE.

How extraordinary!

VON KLEBS.

Now, I ask you, what did he want there? And what did the others want there? And what good is the whole festival?

BECKMANN.

I should think that the cultivation of the faculty of the ideal among the people was an object--

VON KLEBS.

The way to cultivate the faculty of the ideal is to found a Soldiers' Union.

SCHWARTZE.

But, General, every one isn't so lucky as to be a soldier.

VON KLEBS.

[Sorting his cards.] Well, we have been, Colonel. I know no one, I wish to know no one, who has not been a soldier. And all this so-called Art,--what good does it do?

BECKMANN.

Art raises the moral tone of the people.

VON KLEBS.

There we have it, madam!--We're beaten, beaten by the hero of Königgrätz.--I tell you Art is a mere invention of those who are afraid to be soldiers to gain an important position for themselves. I pass.

SCHWARTZE.

I pass.

BECKMANN.

And will you maintain that Art-- I have the nine of spades.

[Bell rings. Exit Marie. Von Klebs makes an impatient movement. Schwartze quiets him. They begin to play.]

Enter Franziska, followed by the Pastor.

VON KLEBS.

Ah, Miss Franziska! [Aside] That is the end of us!

SCHWARTZE.

No, no, we'll send her into the garden.

FRANZISKA.

[Throwing herself into a chair.] Oh, I am so hot! I must get my breath. Pray don't put yourself out, General.

BECKMANN.

Nine of spades!

VON KLEBS.

Hello, here's the pastor too!

HEFFTERDINGT.

Good-day to you! [He shakes hands with each.]

VON KLEBS.

How long have you been running after the singers. Pastor?

HEFFTERDINGT.

What? Oh, yes. Yes, I am running after singers. That's my occupation now.

SCHWARTZE.

You can play with our card party though, can't you?

HEFFTERDINGT.

Unfortunately, no. I must, on the contrary, ask for a few serious words with you, my dear sir.

VON KLEBS.

Ah, but you'll put it off, won't you, Pastor?

FRANZISKA.

Oh, for Heaven's sake! It's so important. There must be no delay.

SCHWARTZE.

Is my sister-in-law in it too?

FRANZISKA.

Very much so.

VON KLEBS.

Oh, well, we can go away again.

MRS. SCHWARTZE.

Oh, we shouldn't like that at all.

SCHWARTZE.

If it were not you, dear pastor, who separated us!

MRS. SCHWARTZE.

But perhaps, Marie, the gentlemen would be willing to take a turn with you in the garden.

VON KLEBS.

Certainly! That's good! That's famous! That's what we'll do! Miss Marie, be so good as to lead the way.

BECKMANN.

Shall we leave the cards as they lie?

VON KLEBS.

Yes, you have the nine of spades. Come on.

[Exit Von Klebs, Beckmann, and Marie.