I mean the woman at whose delightful dinner-table the fate of more than one important bill has been decided. Now that Kellinghausen has retired into private life, do you mean to keep up the little political dinners we've always been so much afraid of? Beata. I hope so, your Excellency. And if you care to beard the lion in his den, I shall be charmed to send you an invitation. You haven't dined with us in an age. I've always fancied that the estrangement between your brother and yourself might be the cause of our seeing so little of you. Baron Ludwig. My dear Countess, those eyes of yours see through everything; and I read in them all the answers I might make to that question. Ah, well--Richard had the good luck, the unspeakable good luck, to win your friendship, and under your influence, to develop into the man he is! Beata. I know how to listen when clever men are talking. That is the secret of what you call my influence. Baron Ludwig. You think so?--Well--there was Richard, dabbling in poetry and politics, in archaeology and explorations, like the typical noble amateur. He had a fortune from his mother, while I was poor. But in one respect I was richer than he; for he married a fool who dragged him down to the level of her own silly snobbishness. But then you came--and lifted him up again. Then all his dormant powers awoke--he discovered his gift as a speaker, he became the mouthpiece of the party, he got into the Reichstag, and---- Beata. And dropped out again. Baron Ludwig. Exactly. And the estrangement between us dates from that time. It was reported that government had left him in the lurch, and I was thought to be more or less responsible. Beata. At all events, his career was cut short. And he failed again at the next election. Baron Ludwig. And now your friendship has helped him to success. Beata. My husband's friendship, you mean. Baron Ludwig. In my loveless household I know too little of the power of woman to pronounce definitely on that point. Beata. You do well to suspend your judgment. Baron Ludwig. Ah, now you are displeased with me. I am sorry. I might be of use to you. Beata. If you wish to be of use to me you can do so by becoming your brother's friend. It was to ask you this that I sent for you. Baron Ludwig. Countess, I wonder at your faith in human nature! Beata. Human nature has never deceived me. Baron Ludwig. One would adore you for saying that if one hadn't so many other reasons for doing so!