Richard.
May I ask what you want of me?
Meixner.
Really, Baron, from the way you look at me I might almost ask what you want of me. But I suppose it's my turn first.--I haven't come out of malice. You can safely offer me a chair.
Richard.
If you haven't come out of malice you probably won't stay long enough to need one.
Meixner.
Ah--thanks. Well, I'll take the hint and be brief. It was down at Lengenfeld, you know. Herr Holtzmann and I sat up a whole night arguing over the elections. Why not--two honourable antagonists, eh? Herr Holtzmann, as a good theologian, was all for the sanctity of the social order. I laughed at him--he's at the age when the disciple looks up to his master, and he brought you up as an example. I laughed at him again.--"If Baron Völkerlingk is not what I believe him to be," said he, "nothing is what I believe it to be, and I'll go over to your side." "Shake hands on that," said I; and we did. The next day, in my speech, I made that allusion--you know what I mean--and as no one took it up, and I began to be afraid it might hang fire, I sent about a few copies of the paper. That helped. I got my nomination the next day.
Richard.
Not in my district.