Kellinghausen. Ha! ha! A nice lot they are! Well, the gentleman has given us his measure by sending copies of this paper to the wives of the men he attacks. Holtzmann. If he has done that, sir, can you guess his reasons? Kellinghausen. No. Can you? Holtzmann. Perhaps---- Kellinghausen. Well----? Holtzmann. I'm sorry, sir--but I can't say anything more just now. Kellinghausen (_rising_). Good-day, then, Herr Holtzmann. Holtzmann. My respects to you, sir. (_Goes out_.) Kellinghausen (_giving way to his rage_). Hounds! Brigands! Damn them! All tarred with the same brush---- Beata _enters_. Beata (_quietly_). Flying into a passion won't mend matters, Michael. Kellinghausen. And I can't make you out, either. Here they are, throwing mud at us--calling you I won't say what--and you stand there like--like--Haven't you got any blood in your veins? Don't you realise what it all means? Beata. I haven't much strength to spare, and I have to economise my emotions. Kellinghausen. Good God--how white you are! Don't mind me--I'll pull myself together. We won't talk of the damned thing any more. Beata. It will be the first time in twenty years that we haven't talked over what you had on your mind. Kellinghausen. I wish to heaven I'd never told you of it. The devil take Leonie! She can't hold her cursed meddling tongue; Richard ought to muzzle her. By the way, it's strange he hasn't shown himself to-day. Beata. I have had a note from him. He asked me to tell you that he is deep in his speech. He is coming as soon as he has a moment to spare. Kellinghausen. There you are again! Just when the man needs a clear head for the great work that's before him, he finds himself involved in this filthy-- Ah, well, I'll have the dogs by the throat yet! I'll have them howling for mercy! Beata. Do calm yourself, Michael. Look--your face is all on fire. You know it's bad for you to excite yourself. Kellinghausen. There, there--I'm quiet again. Don't I always do what you tell me? Ah, if I hadn't had _you_ all these years, the Lord knows what would have become of me! Beata. Then, on the whole, I've been--satisfactory? Kellinghausen (_laughing_). That sounds as if you were asking for a reference. Beata. Perhaps I am. I want to have one to show in case of need.