ISRAEL. Then I must ask permission to remain silent.
KING. Are you my friend?
ISRAEL. Yes, up to a certain point. But you must not trust me too far, as I am not my own master and have no right to give away what is not mine.
KING. Fie on such astuteness!
ISRAEL. You should get some of it yourself!
KING. I'll try.—First of all you must give me a final receipt for the country's paid-up debt.
ISRAEL. I don't carry such documents with me, and the receipt has to be signed by the Council in regular session.
KING. [Smiting the table with the hammer] Herman!
ISRAEL. Please put that thing away!
KING. I can see that you wish to lead me where I don't want to go. You have some purpose in mind that I can't make out. Speak out, old man, or you'll have me in a rage! You want to coax me into signing some kind of paper. What is it?