"Thank you, Herr Inspector, he is quite remarkable, he made a speech to the laborers this morning, as one might say, extempore."
"What!" exclaimed Kurz, "does he make speeches too?"
"What had he to speak about?" asked Bräsig.
"What did he make?" asked Jochen.
"A speech," said Triddelsitz.
"I thought he was going to be a farmer," said Jochen.
"Why, yes," said Triddelsitz; "but cannot a farmer make a speech?"
That was too much for Jochen; a farmer make a speech? such a thing had never occurred to him before; he did not say another word during the whole evening, until, just before he fell asleep, he uttered his ultimate conclusion: "That must be a confounded smart fellow!"
Bräsig did not give up so easily. "What had he to speak about?" said he again. "If there was anything to be done about the laborers, there is Habermann!"
"Herr Inspector," said the rector, falling in, "a good speech is always in place. Cicero----"