[Assessor Stroebel
enters on left and remains standing in the doorway.]
STROEBEL [very seriously.] Herr Beermann, I must speak to you
privately.
BEERMANN [confused]. You--with me? Well, since you must, I suppose
you must.
WASNER. Well, I am going. [Wasner exit left.] [Stroebel enters.
Wasner remains standing on the threshold.] The Executive Committee
will be called to the sick bed of our friend. We shall await our
chairman. [He goes. Stroebel and Beermann remain standing, silent,
facing each other.]
STROEBEL. You are surprised, I presume, that I come here at this
unusual hour.
BEERMANN. Why should I be surprised?
STROEBEL. You will have to pardon me. The matter which brings me
here is unusual and urgent.
BEERMANN. Oh, don't mention it. [A short pause. They both clear
their throats.]
STROEBEL. You were in my office this morning ...
BEERMANN. Was I?
STROEBEL. Why, of course you were in my office this morning.
BEERMANN. Oh, yes, yes. I remember we had a short conference. I
must ask you to excuse me, Herr Assessor. I am suffering with an
awful ringing in the ears. It makes me so forgetful.
STROEBEL. But I hope you still remember what we spoke about.
BEERMANN. Very dimly. If you would remind me of it perhaps it will
not be so difficult.
STROEBEL. You came on account of the Hauteville case.
BEERMANN.
Pages:
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105