The housemaid brought in the burning lamp and hung it over the table.
"But the papers," said Herr Rosner, "have no announcement at all so far of your resigning your seat, Doctor Stauber."
"That would be premature," answered Berthold. "My colleagues and the party know my intention all right, but the thing isn't official yet."
"The news is bound to create a great sensation in the circles affected by it," said Herr Rosner—"particularly after the lively debate the other day in which you showed such spirit and determination. I suppose you've read about it, Baron?" He turned to George.
"I must confess," answered George, "that I don't follow the parliamentary reports as regularly as I really ought to."
"Ought to," repeated Berthold meditatively. "There's no question of 'ought' about it really, although the session has not been uninteresting during the last few days—at any rate as a proof of how low a level a public body can sink to."
"The debate was very heated," said Herr Rosner.
"Heated?... Well, yes, what we call heated here in Austria. People were inwardly indifferent and outwardly offensive."
"What was it all about then?" inquired George.
"It was the debate arising out of the questions on the Golowski case.... Therese Golowski."