BOLZ (aside).
Matter for our next article! (Aloud.) "The slightest shade of difference of opinion between us." Just what I think! We must have that in our paper! (Entreating). Look! A nice little virtuous article: "An admonition to our voters—Respect our opponents, for they are, after all, our brothers!" (Urging him more and more.) Oldendorf, that would be something for you—there is virtue and humanity in the theme; writing will divert you, and you owe the paper an article because you forbade the feud. Please do me the favor! Go into the back room there and write. No one shall disturb you.
OLDENDORF (smiling).
You are just a vulgar intriguer!
BOLZ (forcing him from his chair).
Please, you'll find ink and paper there. Come, deary, come! [He accompanies him to the door on the left. Exit OLDENDORF. BOLZ calling after him.] Will you have a cigar? An old Henry Clay? [Draws a cigar-case from his pocket.] No? Don't make it too short; it is to be the principal article! [He shuts the door, calls through the door on the right.] The professor is writing the article himself. See that nobody disturbs him! [Coming to the front.] So that is settled.—Adelaide here in town! I'll go straight to her! Stop, keep cool, keep cool! Old Bolz, you are no longer the brown lad from the parsonage. And even if you were, she has long since changed. Grass has grown over the grave of a certain childish inclination. Why are you suddenly thumping so, my dear soul? Here in town she is just as far off from you as on her estates. [Seating himself and playing with a pencil.] "Nothing like keeping cool," murmured the salamander as he sat in the stove fire.
Enter KORB.
KORB.
Is Mr. Bolz in?
BOLZ (jumping up).