FRAU LUND. How quickly things change! And of all the people ...
you!
BEERMANN. What's so startling in that?
FRAU LUND. You told me that you never even read the newspapers.
BOLLAND. We all are cordially grateful to Beermann that in an hour
of need he made this sacrifice.
FRAU LUND. The way you talk about the "hour of need" and
"sacrifice" Herr Kommerzienrat, it seems to me that you would have
been the better candidate.
BOLLAND. Oh, I am too pronouncedly Liberal.
HAUSER. And that's an incurable disease!
BOLLAND. At any rate it makes my nomination impossible. A man was
needed who was not known as a party-man.
FRAU LUND. It would seem then that our friend Beermann has become
a politician because he ... is no politician?
HAUSER. That's what is known as "fusion."
BEERMANN. Allow me to ask a question. Why should I not become a
Reichstag deputy?
HAUSER. Quite right! Frau Lund--tell him--why shouldn't he?
BEERMANN. Because I am a novice in politics? We all have to make a
start.
HAUSER. It's the only calling where one can start any day, Frau
Lund, without being called upon to produce qualifications.
BOLLAND. There you can tell the lawyer. You'd like to establish a
civil service examination for members of the Reichstag?
HAUSER. You are not afraid that it might hurt them?
BEERMANN [with importance].
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