OS4
25. Bernhardi
20 PROFESSOR BERNHARDI: A PLAY
Filitz: Excuse me, I have no time. I ask
you once more—
Bernhardi: Tell your charming wife, dear
Filitz, that I consider her far too intelligent
to believe for one moment that her feelings
would be hurt, because the salon of a princely
goose is closed te her.
Filitz: That kind of an answer relieves me
at once. I have the honor, gentlemen—
(Exit Filitz.)
Cyprian: You should not say such things,
Bernhardi. The Princess is no fool, but a very
intelligent woman, and you'll see that the en¬
tire Board of Directors is going to resign.
Bernhardi: You are entirely mistaken.
Prince Constantin told me that the Bishop
sympathizes.
Cyprian: Did he tell you what the Bishop
said? His words were—“That man Bernhar¬
di pleases me, but he will have to pay for
this.“
Bernhardi: Who has given you all this in¬
Cyprian: Counselor Winkler whom I saw
just now, intimated to me that the entire board
might resign.
Bernhardi: And all this because I did my
duty as a physician.
Loewenstein: It’s monstrous! It’s a dis¬
grace! Well, let them resign, let the institu¬
tion go, and we'll build up another, without the
Ebenwalds, Filitzs and their clan. Ah, Bern¬
hardi, how I warned you not to trust those
people.
Cyprian: Let me say a word! Loewenstein,
box 31/8
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI: A PLAY 21
you do not give anyone a chance. So far, only
the Princess has resigned, and I think Bern¬
hardi can find a way to explain this unfortun¬
ate incident in a manner satisfactory to all.
Loewenstein: He shail not apologize!
Bernhardi: I really do not care to play the
hero, a tout prix, I have sufficiently proven
that I have the manhood to carry through any.
thing that I sincerely want.
Cyprian (slightly ironically): You will find
the way, I am sure. Your smile would be suf¬
ficient; one need only to bring that to the
Princess.
(Exit Cyprian. Bernhardi is left alone.
After walking up and down, he sits at his
desk, takes a sheet of paper, and with his
ironical smile playing about his lips, he writes.
A servant brings a card, and is directed to ad¬
mit the visitor. Ebenwald enters and shakes
hands.)
Ebenwald: I consider it my duty to inform
vou that there are things preparing against
you—against our institution.
Bernhardi: Oh! you mean the resignation
of the Board? That will be arranged.
Ebenwald: I have just come from Parlia¬
ment, where my cousin informed me that an
indictment is going to be prepared against
you. You will have to demonstrate that your
actions were not prompted by anti-Catholic
feelings.
Bernhardi: Is it necessary to tell that to
the people?
Ebenwald: Tell it to them? No; you will
prove it to them.
220
25. Bernhardi
20 PROFESSOR BERNHARDI: A PLAY
Filitz: Excuse me, I have no time. I ask
you once more—
Bernhardi: Tell your charming wife, dear
Filitz, that I consider her far too intelligent
to believe for one moment that her feelings
would be hurt, because the salon of a princely
goose is closed te her.
Filitz: That kind of an answer relieves me
at once. I have the honor, gentlemen—
(Exit Filitz.)
Cyprian: You should not say such things,
Bernhardi. The Princess is no fool, but a very
intelligent woman, and you'll see that the en¬
tire Board of Directors is going to resign.
Bernhardi: You are entirely mistaken.
Prince Constantin told me that the Bishop
sympathizes.
Cyprian: Did he tell you what the Bishop
said? His words were—“That man Bernhar¬
di pleases me, but he will have to pay for
this.“
Bernhardi: Who has given you all this in¬
Cyprian: Counselor Winkler whom I saw
just now, intimated to me that the entire board
might resign.
Bernhardi: And all this because I did my
duty as a physician.
Loewenstein: It’s monstrous! It’s a dis¬
grace! Well, let them resign, let the institu¬
tion go, and we'll build up another, without the
Ebenwalds, Filitzs and their clan. Ah, Bern¬
hardi, how I warned you not to trust those
people.
Cyprian: Let me say a word! Loewenstein,
box 31/8
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI: A PLAY 21
you do not give anyone a chance. So far, only
the Princess has resigned, and I think Bern¬
hardi can find a way to explain this unfortun¬
ate incident in a manner satisfactory to all.
Loewenstein: He shail not apologize!
Bernhardi: I really do not care to play the
hero, a tout prix, I have sufficiently proven
that I have the manhood to carry through any.
thing that I sincerely want.
Cyprian (slightly ironically): You will find
the way, I am sure. Your smile would be suf¬
ficient; one need only to bring that to the
Princess.
(Exit Cyprian. Bernhardi is left alone.
After walking up and down, he sits at his
desk, takes a sheet of paper, and with his
ironical smile playing about his lips, he writes.
A servant brings a card, and is directed to ad¬
mit the visitor. Ebenwald enters and shakes
hands.)
Ebenwald: I consider it my duty to inform
vou that there are things preparing against
you—against our institution.
Bernhardi: Oh! you mean the resignation
of the Board? That will be arranged.
Ebenwald: I have just come from Parlia¬
ment, where my cousin informed me that an
indictment is going to be prepared against
you. You will have to demonstrate that your
actions were not prompted by anti-Catholic
feelings.
Bernhardi: Is it necessary to tell that to
the people?
Ebenwald: Tell it to them? No; you will
prove it to them.
220