LASKOWSKI. On my honor, Doc.! Expect me to fib to you. Of course I talked him out of it, and told him not to bother about it. First of all that it wasn't up to him yet, and if it was, _I_ was still in the ring. PAUL. Very kind of you. LASKOWSKI. With all my heart! You and me, Doc., h'm? We understand each other! We'll come to terms all right. Old chap! Old crony! How tickled I am to see you right here before me again! How often I have said if Paul was only here now. Didn't I, dearie! ANTOINETTE (gesture of impatience). Yes, yes. LASKOWSKI. Well, what have you been doing all this time, Doc.? PAUL. All kinds of things. LASKOWSKI. Regular old Socrates. It makes a fellow's wheels buzz to think of what he's got in his head all the time! Do you remember, old chap, how you used to help me out when we were juniors? PAUL. Sophomores, dear Laskowski! You failed to make junior standing. LASKOWSKI (strikes his fist on the table, in great glee). Damn it all! Did you remember that? I see, old chap, that a fellow has to be on his guard with you. PAUL (with a determined look). If you think ... [Illustration: MOTHER EARTH] LASKOWSKI. These fellows from Berlin. They are up to snuff! That's the place! If they ever come out into the country, look out, boys. They'll not leave a shirt on your back! Guess you made a good deal of spondulics in Berlin, didn't you, Doc.? (He goes through with the gesture of counting money.) PAUL (cutting). Why? LASKOWSKI. Goodness, a fellow will ask about that. You don't need it, of course. Ellernhof is worth sixty, seventy thousand dollars any day, and a fellow can live off of that. If you can only find a buyer ... PAUL. I haven't the least desire, dear Laskowski. LASKOWSKI. It's a hard thing too, now-a-days. Buyers are scarce and times are hard for the farmer. [AUNT CLARA comes from the right, carrying a tray with a bottle of wine and glasses.] ANTOINETTE. You have gone to all this trouble, after all, Miss Clara. AUNT CLARA. Not at all worth mentioning! (Sets the things on the table.) LASKOWSKI (examines the wine-bottle). Why, what have you brought here, Miss? PAUL. You drink port, don't you, madam? LASKOWSKI (affectionately). If you don't care for it, dearie, I drink for you. ANTOINETTE. You _may_ pour me one glass. (She holds out her glass, which PAUL fills.) LASKOWSKI You're sure it won't hurt you, dearie? ANTOINETTE. Why should it? I drink on other occasions. LASKOWSKI. Because you are always getting a headache. ANTOINETTE (looks at him). I? LASKOWSKI. Now don't get mad right off! Can't a fellow crack a joke? Don't you see that it's a joke? Drink ahead, dearie! I'm drinking too. And then I must be going too. PAUL (who has filled all the glasses). Must you; where? LASKOWSKI (raises his glass and empties it). Of a forenoon, there's nothing up to a glass of port. PAUL. Why don't you drink, Aunt Clara! (He also drinks.)