Kämpe, can you come in a moment? (_To_ MILLER, _who is waiting at the door._) Take that proof straight to the press! [MILLER _takes the sheet from_ BELLMAUS _and hurries off._] _Enter_ KÄMPE. KÄMPE. But I can't write anything decent while you are making such a noise. BOLZ. You can't? What have you just written, then? At most, I imagine, a letter to a ballet-dancer or an order to your tailor. BELLMAUS. No, he writes tender letters. He is seriously in love, for he took me walking in the moonlight yesterday and scorned the idea of a drink. KÄMPE (_who has seated himself comfortably_). Gentlemen, it is unfair to call a man away from his work for the sake of making such poor jokes. BOLZ. Yes, yes, he evidently slanders you when he maintains that you love anything else but your new boots and to some small degree your own person. You yourself are a love-spurting nature, little Bellmaus. You glow like a fusee whenever you see a young lady. Spluttering and smoky you hover around her, and yet don't dare even to address her. But we must be lenient with him; his shyness is to blame. He blushes in woman's presence, and is still capable of lovely emotions, for he started out to be a lyric poet. BELLMAUS. I don't care to be continually reproached with my poems. Did I ever read them to you? BOLZ. No, thank Heaven, that audacity you never had. (_Seriously._) But, now, gentlemen, to business. Today's number is ready. Oldendorf is not yet here, but meanwhile, let us hold a confidential session. Oldendorf _must_ be chosen deputy from this town to the next Parliament; our party and the _Union must_ put that through. How does our stock stand today? KÄMPE. Remarkably high. Our opponents agree that no other candidate would be so dangerous for them, and our friends everywhere are most hopeful. But you know how little that may signify. Here is the list of the voters. Our election committee sends word to you that our calculations were correct. Of the hundred voters from our town, forty surely ours. About an equal number are pledged to the other party; the remnant of some twenty votes are undecided. It is clear that the election will be determined by a very small majority. BOLZ. Of course we shall have that majority--a majority of from eight to ten votes. Just say that, everywhere, with the greatest assuredness. Many a one who is still undecided will come over to us on hearing that we are the stronger. Where is the list of our uncertain voters? [_Looks it over._] KÄMPE. I have placed a mark wherever our friends think some influence might be exerted. BOLZ. I see two crosses opposite one name; what do they signify? KÄMPE. That is Piepenbrink, the wine-dealer Piepenbrink. He has a large following in his district, is a well-to-do man, and, they say, can command five or six votes among his adherents. BOLZ. Him we must have. What sort of a man is he? KÄMPE. He is very blunt, they say, and no politician at all. BELLMAUS.