I am prepared for anything. I am surprised at nothing any more. If some one should go straight off and spend a capital of a hundred millions in painting negroes white with oil-colors, or in making Africa four-cornered, I should not let it astonish me. If I wake up tomorrow as an owl with two tufts of feathers for ears and a mouse in my beak, I will say, "All right," and remember that worse things have happened. ADELAIDE. What is the matter with you, Conrad? Are you displeased with me? BOLZ. With you? You have been generous as ever; only too generous. And it would all have been fine, if only this whole scene had been impossible. That fellow Senden! ADELAIDE. We have seen the last of him! Conrad, I'm one of the party! BOLZ. Hallelujah! I hear countless angels blowing on their trumpets! I'll stay with the _Union_! ADELAIDE. About that I am no longer the one to decide. For I have still a confession to make to you. I, too, am not the real owner of the newspaper. BOLZ. You are not? Now, by all the gods, I am at my wit's end. I'm beginning not to care who this owner is. Be he man, will-of-the-wisp, or the devil Beelzebub in person, I bid him defiance. ADELAIDE. He is a kind of a will-of-the-wisp, a little something of a devil, and from top to toe a great rogue. For, Conrad, my friend, beloved of my youth, it is you yourself. [_Hands him the deed_.] BOLZ (_stupefied for a moment, reads_). "Ceded to Conrad Bolz"--correct! So that would be a sort of gift. Can't be accepted, much too little! [_Throws the paper aside_.] Prudence be gone! [_Falls on his knees before_ ADELAIDE.] Here I kneel, Adelaide! What I am saying I don't know in my joy, for the whole room is dancing round with me. If you will take me for your husband, you will do me the greatest favor in the world. If you don't want me, box my ears and send me off! ADELAIDE (_bending down to him_). I do want you! (_Kissing him_.) This was the cheek! BOLZ. And these are the lips. [_Kisses her; they remain in an embrace; short pause_.] _Enter_ COLONEL, IDA, OLDENDORF. COLONEL (_in amazement, at the door_). What is this? BOLZ. Colonel, it takes place under editorial sanction. COLONEL. Adelaide, what do I see? ADELAIDE (_stretching out her hand to the_ COLONEL). Dear friend, I'm betrothed to a journalist! [_As_ IDA _and_ OLDENDORF _from either side hasten to the pair, the curtain falls_] * * * * * [Footnote 1: Permission S. Hirzel, Leipzig.] * * * * * DOCTOR LUTHER (1859) By GUSTAV FREYTAG TRANSLATED BY E.H. BABBITT, A.B. Assistant Professor of German, Tufts College.