"But now and then a happy accident yields us an edifying glimpse of their private histories. And, if I might venture to speak openly, I could give you such a glimpse into the private life of the honourable member from Lengenfeld, and into his relations with the friend whose seat in the Reichstag he has taken--the confiding friend who, instead of keeping watch in his own house, has been travelling from place to place, canvassing for the honourable member. (Laughter. Prolonged cheering.)" Lengenfeld? Lengen--why, that is Voelkerlingk's district. (Brachtmann _nods affirmatively_.) von Berkelwitz. And the friend--the friend who----? (_He breaks off, and points vaguely to the room_. Brachtmann _nods again_.) The deuce! Brachtmann. On account of the party I suppose we shall have to take some notice of this. Prince. Kellinghausen evidently doesn't know of it yet. But Voelkerlingk does. I watched him. Brachtmann. The Countess is not well. Who is the proper person to take that paper away before she sees it? Prince (_smiling_). Well, frankly, I should say Voelkerlingk---- Brachtmann. You don't mean---- Prince (_still smiling_). I don't mean anything. von Berkelwitz. Gentlemen, I'm only a plain country squire, but I should like to suggest that the morals of our hostess are hardly a subject for discussion. Prince. Morals? Morals? What do morals signify? They were only invented for the preservation of the race. von Berkelwitz. That's over my head, your Highness. Prince. It's simple enough. Mankind is bound to go on reproducing itself--that's its fundamental instinct. Morality was invented to keep the strain pure. If it ceases to accomplish that purpose, it had better abdicate in favour of immorality. That's all. von Berkelwitz. I'll be hanged if I understand a single word. Prince. We all know the old families wouldn't have survived till now if the stock hadn't been renewed--surreptitiously, so to speak--by---- Brachtmann. Really, Prince--really---- Prince.