Much later.
FRAU BOLLAND. I'll have to read your novel all over again, now
that I know it is all autobiographical.
FRAU BEERMANN [to Dr. Wasner]. You were going to sing, Herr
Professor?
DR. WASNER. I promised ...
FRAU BEERMANN. Yes, do, Effie will accompany you.
DR. WASNER. If Fraulein will be so kind ... but I don't know how
my voice is to-day ...
FRAU BOLLAND. You sing so beauti-ful-ly.
DR. WASNER. So much campaign work. Politics corrupts even the
voice.
FRAULEIN KOCH-PINNEBERG. Do oblige us.
[Frau Bolland, Frau Beermann, Dr. Wasner, Fraulein Koch, Effie go
out into the music room.]
BEERMANN. It's a pity that the professor is going to sing. We
could have started a game of skat. Have some more cognac?
DR. HAUSER. No, thanks.
DOBLER. Thanks. No more for me.
[Bolland seats himself on sofa; Dr. Hauser and Dobler sit in
chairs; Beermann lights a fresh cigar. The butler goes into the
music room and as he opens the door, the sound of the piano is
heard.]
BOLLAND. As I said before Herr Dobler, your story reminded me very
much of my late father.
DR. HAUSER. Of the well known Kommerzienrat Bolland?
BOLLAND [sinks deep into chair; crosses legs]. Never mind he was
not always a wealthy Kommerzienrat. [Turning to Dobler.] Picture
to yourself a winter landscape--it's bitter cold--a gray sky--it
is snowing and everything is wrapped in snow.
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