]
[Hauser, Frau Lund, Frau Beermann remain sitting at right.]
FRAU LUND. At last the Fatherland is saved.
FRAU BEERMANN. It's the only occupation for which nature intended
them. They should not tinker with national problems.
HAUSER. Have patience. Political ambition dies out after the first
defeat.
FRAU BEERMANN. ... which I hope will happen.
HAUSER. That's as certain as fate. Else he never would have been
nominated.
BEERMANN [calling from the card table]. I have pretty sharp
hearing!
HAUSER. A very fine acquisition, Beermann, when you grow old.
BOLLAND [throwing a card on the table]. Fifty-nine and four make
sixty-three! The rest you can take.
(They throw down their cards; Bolland collects them and shuffles.)
WASNER [half turning to Hauser], And then there is the celebrated
passage, "Ergo septa pudicitia agunt, nullis ... spectaculorum
illecebris corruptae."
BEERMANN. I have six cards.
BOLLAND. The bottom one belongs to the Professor.
WASNER [as before, continuing]. So the wife lived surrounded by
tenderness and care ... and so forth, "Literarum secreta. ..."
Secret communications were not tolerated by either husband or
wife.
BEERMANN. Please drop that Tacitus. It's your chance to lead. ...
WASNER. I pass. ...
HOLLAND. So do I.
BOLLAND [loudly and enthusiastically]. That's the way to get at
them! Trumps! And trumps again.
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