_First Ger. Stu._ (_with a laugh_). I know what I am about! And now, my friends, I give you a toast--The Liberty of the Fatherland! _Chorus of Students_. The Liberty of the Fatherland! [_They all drink._ _Em. of the Emp._ (_apart_). Ha! [_He makes an entry in his note-book._ _First Ger. Stu._ And now fill another glass. Fill, my comrades--I pray you, fill! Kellner! glasses round--for myself and friends. _Kellner_ (_as before--supplying their wants and warning them_). Oh, my gracious Lord, be careful! Your third glass--mind now, your third glass; you know the risk you are running! But one false drop and you are lost! _First Ger. Stu._ (_as before_). Well, my good friend, be sure you supply us with no drop that is not good! Ha, ha, ha! Eh, KARL! eh, CONRAD! eh, HANS! Did you hear my merry jest? [_They all laugh._ _Em. of the Emp._ (_as before_). Ha! (_making an entry in his note-book_). And they laugh at a witless joke! Good! Very good! _First Ger. Stu._ (_joyously_). And now, my comrades, yet another toast--The Prosperity of the People! _Chorus of Ger. Stu._ (_raising their glasses_). The People! [_They all drink._ _Em. of the Emp._ (_apart_) Ha! [_He makes an entry in his note-book._ _First Ger. Stu_. And now, a final flagon! Kellner! _Kellner_ (_as before_). Oh, high-born customer, beware! This is your fourth glass! You know the law! _First Ger. Stu._ (_as before_). That indeed I do! And I also know that my daily allowance is--or rather was--twelve quarts _per diem_! And now, comrades, our last toast--The Freedom of the Press! _Chorus of Ger. Stu._ (_raising their glasses_). The Freedom of the Press! [_They all drink._ _Em. of the Emp._ (_apart_). This is too much! (_He rises, and approaches the Students_.) Your pardon, Gentlemen! But do you really believe in the toasts you have just drunk? _Chorus of Stu._ Why, certainly! _Em. of the Emp._ What, in the Liberty of the Fatherland? _Chorus of Stu._ To be sure--why not? _Em. of the Emp._ And the Prosperity of the People--mind you, only the People? _Chorus of Stu._ Exactly--don't you? _Em. of the Emp._ And further. You wish well to the Freedom of the Press? _Chorus of Stu._ That was our toast! What next? _Em. of the Emp._ (_producing staff of authority_). That, in the name of His Majesty, I arrest you! _Chorus of Stu._ (_astounded_). Arrest us! Why? _Em. of the Emp._ Because, if you believe in the Liberty of the Fatherland, ask for the Prosperity of the People, and admire the Freedom of the Press, you must be drunk!--very drunk! In virtue of the new law (which punishes the crime of intoxication), away with them! [_The_ Students _are loaded with chains, and imprisoned, for an indefinite period, in the lowest dungeon beneath the castle's moat. Curtain._ * * * * *