I never submitted that diary to you. You could not
have gotten it from me voluntarily, but it quite suits me that the
officer found it in my desk.
STROEBEL. Why?
HAUTEVILLE. Because he might have searched for it in the wardrobe.
STROEBEL. Now my patience is at an end. [Presses the button on his
desk.] I will have no consideration for anyone.
HAUTEVILLE. After all, perhaps you will. For yourself.
[Police officer enters.]
STROEBEL. Take this woman downstairs, [The officer leaves with
Hauteville. Stroebel sits down, pushes the chair angrily to the
desk, then gets up and throws the diary and several other books on
the desk, saying to himself:] Never heard anything like it! Such
impudence!
[Reisacher looks at him with amusement. A knock at the door.]
STROEBEL [formally]. Come in!
BEERMANN [enters hastily from the left. He breathes heavily. He
has a handkerchief in his hand, with which he frequently mops his
brow]. Is this the proper department at last? I am being sent all
around the building. [Breathing heavily.] I hope I am finally in
the proper bureau.
STROEBEL. What do you want?
BEERMANN. Pardon me for a moment while I catch my breath. I
climbed twice to the third floor and again down to the ground
floor. The Commissioner sent me to room 147 and there they told me
to go to room 174.
STROEBEL. Who sent you?
BEERMANN [taking a deep breath].
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