again. If I only had a team of coach-horses with me, I would insist that madame accept them in place of her maimed ones, but I have just a saddle-horse with me, just a rajtpferd. (He runs about the salon, picking up particles, examining pictures, without taking further notice of the doctor or Broz.)
Dr. Svoboda.—I thank you for my wife, Baron, but you are somewhat late.
Siegdorf.—Pardon, Neighbor. I wanted to be present for that farce which took place here, that comedy which the neighbors planned so neatly in your honor, but you see I was delayed. I was just about to start when there appeared that rogue, that district-usurer, Aron Lewi, with two servants of the Lord . . . and you can imagine the scene we had! (Laughing.) For a while, I merely humored them and laughed. Finally, they wearied me. So I had the footman show them out,—and Lewi I put out forcibly.
Dr. Svoboda.—But those people will surely seek revenge, Baron.
Siegdorf.—What kind of revenge? I pay only my legitimate debts, and money they cannot get! And if they dare lay a plot of some sort against me, I will beat them up at the first chance meeting on the street.
Dr. Svoboda.—But your estate?
Siegdorf.—Oh, the devil took possession of that, long ago! Not as much as a wing of it rightfully belongs to me now. Let them have it. If somebody should want it, I would put it up to an appraisor, possibly today.
Dr. Svoboda.—Today? . . . Before the election?
Siegdorf.—It makes no difference, either before election, or after. Who is going to stop for election?
Dr. Svoboda.—But you are alligned with our party! You cannot desert us just before election!
Siegdorf.—I shall stay with you as long as it may suit my convenience to do so. But if I can dispose of the estate at a good figure, certainly no one would expect me to wait out of consideration for a foolish political principle! Some opponent or other from the opposite side will sell your party another estate, so in the end, things will be held about even, Dr. Svoboda.
Dr. Svoboda.—Baron, you surely must be joking. At least, hold your estate until election is over. It would be greatly to your credit!
Siegdorf.—But how irrational you are, Neighbor! I am not
