BOLZ (_aside to_ KÄMPE). Which one is it? KÄMPE. The one with his back to us, the broad-shouldered one. BOLZ. And what kind of a business does he carry on? KÄMPE. Chiefly red wines. BOLZ. Good! (_Aloud._) Waiter, a table and two chairs here! A bottle of red wine! [_Waiter brings what has been ordered to the front, on the left._] MRS. PIEPENBRINK. What are those people doing here? PIEPENBRINK. That is the trouble with such promiscuous assemblies, that one never can be alone. KLEINMICHEL. They seem respectable gentlemen; I think I have seen one of them before. PIEPENBRINK (_decisively_). Respectable or not, they are in our way. KLEINMICHEL. Yes, to be sure, so they are. BOLZ (_seating himself with_ KÄMPE). Here, my friend, we can sit quietly before a bottle of red wine. I hardly dare to pour it out, for the wine at such restaurants is nearly always abominable. What sort of stuff do you suppose this will be? PIEPENBRINK (_irritated_). Indeed? Just listen to that! KÄMPE. Let's try it. [_Pours out; in a low voice._] There is a double P. on the seal; that might mean Piepenbrink. PIEPENBRINK. Well, I am curious to know what these greenhorns will have to say against the wine. MRS. PIEPENBRINK. Be quiet, Philip, they can hear you over there. BOLZ (_in a low tone_). I'm sure you are right. The restaurant takes its wine from him. That's his very reason for coming. PIEPENBRINK. They don't seem to be thirsty; they are not drinking. BOLZ (_tastes it; aloud_). Not bad! PIEPENBRINK (_ironically_). Indeed? BOLZ (_takes another sip_). A good, pure wine. PIEPENBRINK (_relieved_). The fellow's judgment is not so bad. BOLZ. But it does not compare with a similar wine that I recently drank at a friend's house. PIEPENBRINK. Indeed? BOLZ. I learned then that there is only one man in town from whom a sensible wine-drinker should take his red wine. KÄMPE. And that is? PIEPENBRINK (_ironically_). I really should like to know. BOLZ. It's a certain Piepenbrink. PIEPENBRINK (_nodding his head contentedly_). Good! KÄMPE. Yes, it is well known to be a very reliable firm. PIEPENBRINK. They don't know that their own wine, too, is from my cellars. Ha! Ha! Ha! BOLZ (_turning to him_). Are you laughing at us, Sir? PIEPENBRINK. Ha! Ha! Ha! No offense. I merely heard you talking about the wine. So you like Piepenbrink's wine better than this here? Ha! Ha! Ha! BOLZ (_slightly indignant_). Sir, I must request you to find my expressions less comical. I do not know Mr. Piepenbrink, but I have the pleasure of knowing his wine; and so I repeat the assertion that Piepenbrink has better wine in his cellar than this here. What do you find to laugh at in that? You do not know Piepenbrink's wines and have no right to judge of them.