STROEBEL [very embarrassed]. But that is exactly what I wanted to
explain to you. But how shall I do it? You scarcely remember any
more than that you were in my office this morning. It is
incredible how misfortune has been persecuting me since noon.
BEERMANN [greatly relieved]. Well, calm yourself, Herr Assessor.
It will come out right in the end.
STROEBEL [downcast]. No, it can never come out right.
BEERMANN [soothingly]. Sit down nicely in this chair--so! I'll sit
next to you here--so! ... And now let us see about it. [They seat
themselves on the left, upstage.] Do you know, I am beginning to
feel much better already. So the diary is in your desk.
STROEBEL. For my part, let it be buried a thousand feet deep. For
God's sake, don't talk of it any more. It takes us away from my
subject.
BEERMANN. That's right. We shan't talk of it any more. Now let me
see, I called on you about the Hauteville case. ...
STROEBEL. And on this occasion you demanded that the police
suppress the matter.
BEERMANN. Quite true, I did that.
STROEBEL. There you are! And that's why I thought you were mostly
interested in avoiding scandal. BEERMANN. In what way?
STROEBEL. Not personally, but from a wholly humanitarian or civic
standpoint. You even told me that just because of your position as
President of the Society for the Suppression of Vice, you regarded
it as your duty to keep this matter out of the courts.
Pages:
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107