_Reiss._ The Privy Counsellor! I will silence him with a single look; ask me within a fortnight what the Privy Counsellor says,--ask me then what he is. God! could I ever have dreamt of any such thing, when I was raising and supporting that upstart! _Sell._ Everyone is astonished at your condescension and kindness. _Reiss._ All disinterestedness! all good-nature! Was I not going to give him my child? but God forbid!--he does not deserve her. _Sell._ Every one knows that you are in the highest favour with the Ministry-- _Reiss._ These many years.-- _Sell._ That, properly speaking, you govern both the Privy Councilor and the whole country. _Reiss._ I know the country and the people. _Sell._ To please you, I attached myself to the Privy Counsellor; but his vanity is such that I cannot hold out with him any longer. He has this very day told me that I learned nothing. _Reiss._ There we have it.-- _Sell._ That I did not know my own language; that I made a motion in court so ridiculous the other day, that every one laughed at me; nay, he told me to my face that I attempted to assume an air of importance that I was not entitled to. _Reiss._ I am shocked at it, do you know? Your dear father, who is now no more, was a man who-- _Sell._ Was Privy Counsellor! But that is nothing in his eyes. Such an upstart will press forward, and people of our consequence must render homage not only to him, but even to the carpenter's family. _Reiss._ Pray, were not you to marry his sister? _Sell._ No, no! yet, in the state of subjection he kept me, he might at last have brought me to it. He would, as he calls it, correct my writings, and then he would, by way of making it up, sometimes nod his head by way of approbation. _Reiss._ As I see that the fellow does not deserve what I have done for him, all shall be altered in future: attach yourself to me. _Sell._ Good God! I will with both my hands. _Reiss._ I will make out the draft for the declaration, in which you are to charge him with having taken a bribe, and also for having constantly forced you to vote as he pleased in the court. I will carry my point; the Prime Minister shall be informed of the whole. Go hence, and I will send you every thing. _Sell._ I shall be very glad to get rid of him; but you will assist me occasionally to propose a law too? will you not? _Reiss._ By way of practising? oh yes! _Sell._ No, a real law, according to which the people are to act, be it ever so trifling,--only that the world may know, that I can frame a law as well as another. I only want it for the sake of the world, and the consequence it will give me. [Exit. _Reiss._ A shallow, shallow, ignorant boy!--but then he may be of use to me. SCENE V. Enter Privy Counsellor CLARENBACH. _P. Coun._ I have to explain to you, Sir. _Reiss._ Just as you like, Sir.