PIEPENBRINK.
You have no reason to feel obliged. It is the truth. You are a man of honor through and through, and it gives us pleasure to tell you so; you cannot object to hearing this from your fellow-citizens.
COLONEL.
I always did consider myself a man of honor, gentlemen.
PIEPENBRINK.
There you were quite right. And you have proved your good principles, too. On every occasion. In cases of poverty, of famine, of caring for orphans, also at our shooting-club meeting—always when we citizens enjoyed or needed a benevolent good man, you were among the first. Always simple and loyal without arrogance or supercilious manners. That's the reason why we universally love and honor you. (Colonel wipes his eyes.) Today many of us gave their votes to the professor. Some on account of politics, some because they know that he is your close friend and possibly even your future son-in-law. COLONEL (not harshly).
Sir—
PIEPENBRINK.
Nor did I myself vote for you.
COLONEL (somewhat more excitedly).