You may speak before my brother. I have no secrets from him. Holtzmann. There is a man waiting in my room who wishes to speak to you. His name is Meixner. (_The two brothers look at each other_.) Richard. Thanks. Please tell Herr Meixner that I will see him in a moment. (Holtzmann _goes out_.) Baron Ludwig. Well, this ends my mission. Good-bye, Richard. Your luck frightens me. Richard (_laughing bitterly_). My luck! Baron Ludwig (_pressing his hands_). Don't hang back now, my dear fellow. The way is open to you. Richard. Thank you. Good-bye. (Baron Ludwig _goes out_. Richard _rings_.) _Enter_ George. Richard. I will see the gentleman who is waiting. You will remain in the ante-room. Don't let in any one else. (George _goes out. After a short pause_ Meixner _enters_.) Richard. Herr Meixner, after what has happened, doesn't it strike you as rather a liberty that you should enter my house? Meixner. (_Speaking in a hoarse voice, with an occasional cough_.) May I take my muffler off? My lungs have gone wrong--makes it very hard for me to talk down my adversary in one of those crowded smoky halls.--But what's to be done about it? Richard. May I ask what you want of me? Meixner. Really, Baron, from the way you look at me I might almost ask what you want of _me_. But I suppose it's my turn first.--I haven't come out of malice. You can safely offer me a chair. Richard. If you haven't come out of malice you probably won't stay long enough to need one. Meixner. Ah--thanks. Well, I'll take the hint and be brief. It was down at Lengenfeld, you know. Herr Holtzmann and I sat up a whole night arguing over the elections. Why not--two honourable antagonists, eh? Herr Holtzmann, as a good theologian, was all for the sanctity of the social order. I laughed at him--he's at the age when the disciple looks up to his master, and he brought you up as an example. I laughed at him again.--"If Baron Voelkerlingk is not what I believe him to be," said he, "nothing is what I believe it to be, and I'll go over to your side." "Shake hands on that," said I; and we did. The next day, in my speech, I made that allusion--you know what I mean--and as no one took it up, and I began to be afraid it might hang fire, I sent about a few copies of the paper. That helped. I got my nomination the next day. Richard. Not in my district. Meixner.