Reiss. (calm and friendly.) What is your pleasure, dear Mr.----?
Grob. Benniger has obtained the monopoly.
Reiss. You do not say so, do you? Grab. The Privy Counsellor is to procure it for 2300 dollars, which sum is to be paid this afternoon.
Reiss. Impossible!
Grob. It is but too true. The money is to be paid to Counsellor Selling.
Reiss. (confidentially.) I must tell you that Selling has already mentioned something to me about it. The young man's conscience is alarmed. He does not like to lend a hand in those sort of things. But I would not believe it.
Grob. It is but too certain.
Reiss. O Lord! who could think any thing like it of such a man? that is mean, that is--that must not be permitted. Ay, ay! and the minister prefers such a man, reposes confidence in him, because men, like me, take him by the hand. They think, because such a man is of a low extraction, he must have the interest of the lower class at heart. And then he will betray and sell the state!
Grob. As an inhabitant, I ought to have the preference to a stranger.
Reiss. Most undoubtedly.