(An office at Police Headquarters. To rear on the left stands the Assessor's desk. To the right against the wall, the desk of Reisacher, the police clerk. Left front is a sofa with two chairs. On the right wall is a telephone. Side entrance left. Another entrance in the middle. Stroebel and Reisacher are seated with their backs to one another. Stroebel is reading a newspaper; Reisacher is writing. Short pause.) STROEBEL [half turning]. Reisacher! REISACHER [also turning]. Yes, Herr Assessor.[Footnote: An assessor is a petty police official.] STROEBEL. Are you familiar with the expression "those higher up"? REISACHER. Yes, Herr Assessor. STROEBEL. What do you understand by it? REISACHER. Those are the folks who are something and have money somewhere. STROEBEL. Is it used to express contempt or class hatred? REISACHER [eagerly]. Well ... well! "The higher ups" are respected. STROEBEL. Are you certain? REISACHER. Absolutely. [They both turn around to their former positions; Stroebel continues to read, and Reisacher to write. Short pause.] STROEBEL [half turning]. Reisacher! REISACHER [does likewise]. Yes, Herr Assessor. STROEBEL. After all, it means class hatred. REISACHER. No, no. STROEBEL. Pay attention. Here it says [he reads]: "Of course, for those higher up there are no laws." That means, I take it, that the rich are beyond the control of the law. By "control of the law," I wish you to understand I am attacking the humiliating and anarchistic notion that the law does not apply equally to rich and poor. Also I want to besmirch the rich, by designating them by a slang expression. REISACHER. Yes, Herr Assessor. STROEBEL. Then how can you say it does not express class hatred and contempt? REISACHER. Because, then again, you see, people who have money are respected anyway. STROEBEL. You will never learn to think precisely, Reisacher. REISACHER. Yes, Herr Assessor. [Both resume their former positions. Short pause. Police Commissioner, Freiherr van Simbach, enters left. Stroebel lays aside his paper, rises and salutes. Reisacher writes hurriedly.] COMMISSIONER [Footnote: President of Police, in original.] 'Morning, Herr Assessor. [To Reisacher.] Take your work outside, Reisacher, until I have finished. [Reisacher exit through middle door.] I want to ask you a few questions, Herr Stroebel. [Stroebel bows. The Commissioner during the conversation takes center of stage and speaks nonchalantly and somewhat drawingly.] I read your report. Day before yesterday, that was on Saturday, you ordered the arrest of a certain woman. STROEBEL. Yes, Commissioner. COMMISSIONER. Well, what about her? STROEBEL. According to the report of Lieutenant Schmuttermaier, we have in our hands a very dangerous person. COMMISSIONER. Is that so! STROEBEL. Within a short time she has almost demoralized our city. COMMISSIONER. She has been in the city about three or four years.... STROEBEL. She has, according to the report.