You will be able to do so at once when I tell you that the indictment declared that I had called our club, "Vancouver Island," into being purely for purposes of party agitation. In addition I was said to have collected funds for party purposes. Now you know very well that we were thoroughly in earnest in regard to our ambitions of founding a colony. And, as far as collecting money goes--you have said yourself that we were all empty-handed together. The indictment was a misrepresentation from beginning to end, and, as a former member, you ought to.... HOFFMANN Hold on, now. I wasn't really a member. As to the rest, of course, I believe you. Judges are, after all, only human. You must consider that. In any event, to proceed quite practically, you should have avoided the very _appearance_ of that sort of thing. Take it all in all: I have wondered at you often enough since then--editor of the _Workingmen's Tribune_, the obscurest of hole and corner sheets--parliamentary candidate of the dear mob! And what did you get out of it all? Don't misunderstand me! I am the last man to be lacking in sympathy with the common people. But _if_ something is to be effected, it must be effected from above. In fact that's the only way in which anything can be done. The people never know what they really need. It's this trying to lift things from beneath that I call--running your head through a stone wall. LOTH I'm afraid I don't get a very clear notion of your drift. HOFFMANN What I mean? Well now, look at me! My hands are free: I am in a position to do something for an ideal end.--I think I can say that the practical part of my programme has been pretty well carried out. And all you fellows, always with empty hands--what can you do? LOTH True. From what one hears you are in a fair way to become a Rothschild. HOFFMANN [_Flattered._] You do me too much honour--at least, for the present. Who said that, anyhow? A man sticks to a good thing, and that, naturally, brings its reward. But who was it said that? LOTH It was over there in Jauer. Two gentlemen were conversing at the next table. HOFFMANN Aha! H-m. I have enemies. And what did they have to say? LOTH Nothing of importance. But I heard from them that you had retired for the present to the estate of your parents-in-law. HOFFMANN People have a way of finding things out; haven't they? My dear friend, you'd never believe how a man in my position is spied on at every step. That's another one of the evils of wealth ... But it is this way, you see: I'm expecting the confinement of my wife in the quiet and the healthy air here. LOTH What do you do for a physician? Surely in such cases a good physician is of the highest importance. And here, in this village.... HOFFMANN Ah, but that's just it! The physician here is an unusually capable one. And, do you know, I've found this out: in a doctor, conscientiousness counts for more than genius. LOTH