II, Theaterstücke 25, Professor Bernhardi. Komödie in fünf Akten (Ärztestück, Junggesellenstück), Seite 942

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25. Professor Bernardi
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI: A PLAY
Hochroitzpointner: Yes. By the way, did
you make a report?
Sister: Of course, Doctor.
Hochroitzpointner: Well, we could not
prove it, but it was surely a case of malprac¬
tice. I tell you, Sister, there are all kinds of
things happening in the world. Ahl here are
the invitations to the ball under the patronage
of the Princess Stixenstein. Well, Sister, are
you going to the ball?
Sister: I guess not, Doctor.
Hochroitzpointner: Dancing forbidden?
Sister (smiling): No, Doctor we are not a
religious order. Nothing is forbidden us.
Hochroitzpointner (with a sly look): Noth¬
ing?
(Doctor Oscar Bernhardi enters. Twenty¬
five years old, elegantly dressed, handsome,
pleasing appearance, but diffident manner.)
Oscar: Good morning! Father will be
here directly. (At the table.) Ohl here are
the invitations to the ball. Why do they send
them here?
Hochroitzpointner: The ball for the benefit
of the Elizabethinum promises to be the most
elegant affair of the season. The papers are
full of it. I hear that you have composed a
waltz for the occasion.
Oscar (deprecatory gesture and pointing to
sick-room.) Arything new in there?
The tender relations between Bernhardi and
his son Oscar, are a tribute to the affection that
existed between Professor Schnitzler and his son
Arthur.
box 31/8
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI: A PLAY 7
Hochroitzpointner: That septicaemia case
is near the end.
Oscar (regretfully): Oh, well! there was
nothing to be done.
Hochroitzpointner: I gave her a camphor
injection.
Oscar: Yes, the art of prolonging a doom¬
ed life is one secret that we have solved.
(Enter Professor Bernhardi. The type of a
man of the world, distinguished, gray hair,
fine eyes. He is accompanied by his assist¬
ant, Doctor Kurt Pflugfelder, twenty-seven
years old. They come from the dissecting
room.)
Kurt: I could not help it, Professor. Doc¬
tor Adler would have liked it much better if
Professor Ebenwald’s diagnosis had been cor¬
rect.
Bernhardi: But, my dear Doctor Pflugfel¬
der you suspect treason everywhere.
Hochroitzpointner: I just hear from Doc¬
tor Oscar that we were right.
Bernhardi: Yes, but at the same time, we
were wrong. Or don't you attend Professor
Ebenwald’s courses?
Oscar: Doctor Hochroitzpointner attends
nearly all the courses.
Bernhardi (laying his hand on Hochroitz¬
pointer’s shoulder, kindly): Well, anything
new?
Hochroitzpointner: That septicaemia case
is very bad.
Bernhardi: Peor girl! Still alive?
(Enter Professor Ebenwald.)
Ebenwald (Vice president, tall, slender,