His youth must be his excuse, Mr. Dreissiger. MRS. KITTELHAUS I can't understand it. The young man comes of such a good, respectable family. His father held a public appointment for forty years, without a breath on his reputation. His mother was overjoyed at his getting this good situation here. And now ... he himself shows so little appreciation of it. PFEIFER [_Suddenly opens the door leading from the hall and shouts in._] Mr. Dreissiger, Mr. Dreissiger! they've got him! Will you come, please? They've caught one of 'em. DREISSIGER [_Hastily._] Has some one gone for the police? PFEIFER The superintendent's on his way upstairs. DREISSIGER [_At the door._] Glad to see you, sir. We want you here. [_KITTELHAUS makes signs to the ladies that it will be better for them to retire. He, his wife, and MRS. DREISSIGER disappear into the drawing-room._ DREISSIGER [_Exasperated, to the POLICE SUPERINTENDENT, who has now entered._] I have at last had one of the ringleaders seized by my dyers. I could stand it no longer--their insolence was beyond all bounds--quite unbearable. I have visitors in my house, and these blackguards dare to.... They insult my wife whenever she shows herself; my boys' lives are not safe. My visitors run the risk of being jostled and cuffed. Is it possible that in a well-ordered community incessant public insult offered to unoffending people like myself and my family should pass unpunished? If so ... then ... then I must confess that I have other ideas of law and order. SUPERINTENDENT [_A man of fifty, middle height, corpulent, full-blooded. He wears cavalry uniform with a long sword and spurs._] No, no, Mr. Dreissiger ... certainly not! I am entirely at your disposal. Make your mind easy on the subject. Dispose of me as you will. What you have done is quite right. I am delighted that you have had one of the ringleaders arrested. I am very glad indeed that a day of reckoning has come. There are a few disturbers of the peace here whom I have long had my eye on. DREISSIGER Yes, one or two raw lads, lazy vagabonds, that shirk every kind of work, and lead a life of low dissipation, hanging about the public-houses until they've sent their last half-penny down their throats. But I'm determined to put a stop to the trade of these professional blackguards once and for all. It's in the public interest to do so, not only my private interest. SUPERINTENDENT Of course it is! Most undoubtedly, Mr. Dreissiger! No one can possibly blame you. And everything that lies in my power.... DREISSIGER The cat-o'-nine tails is what should be taken to the beggarly pack. SUPERINTENDENT You're right, quite right. We must institute an example. _KUTSCHE, the policeman, enters and salutes. The door is open, and the sound of heavy steps stumbling up the stair is heard._ KUTSCHE I have to inform you, sir, that we have arrested a man. DREISSIGER [_To SUPERINTENDENT._] Do you wish to see the fellow? SUPERINTENDENT