How can he sleep, if the movement of our armies is but the movement of parts of his brains! And what is the use of sleep in general? I sleep very little myself, and I advise you, gentlemen, not to indulge in foolish sleep. RITZAU But our human organism requires sleep. BLUMENFELD Nonsense! Organism--that is something invented by the doctors who are looking for practice among the fools. I know of no organism. I know only my desires and my will, which says: "Gerhardt, do this! Gerhardt, go there! Gerhardt, take this!" And I take it! RITZAU Great! SCHAUSS Will you permit me to take down your words in my notebook? BLUMENFELD Please, Schauss. What is it you want, Zigler? _The telegraphist has entered._ ZIGLER I really don't know, but something strange has happened. It seems that we are being interfered with, I can't understand anything. BLUMENFELD What is it? What is the matter? ZIGLER We can make out one word, "Water"--but after that all is incomprehensible. And then again, "Water"-- BLUMENFELD What water? You are intoxicated, Zigler. That must be wine, not water. Is the engineer there? ZIGLER He is also surprised and cannot understand. BLUMENFELD You are a donkey, Zigler! We'll have to call out-- _The Commander comes out. He is a tall, erect old man. His face is pale. His voice is dry and unimpassioned._ COMMANDER Blumenfeld! _All jump up, straighten themselves, as if petrified._ What is this? BLUMENFELD I have not yet investigated it, your Highness. Zigler is reporting-- COMMANDER What is it, Zigler? ZIGLER Your Highness, we are being interfered with. I don't know what it is, but I can't understand anything. We have been able to make out only one word--"Water." Then again--"Water." COMMANDER _Turning around._ See what it is, Blumenfeld, and report to me-- _Engineer runs in._ ENGINEER Where is Blumenfeld? I beg your pardon, your Highness! COMMANDER _Pausing._ What has happened there, Kloetz? ENGINEER They don't respond to our calls, your Highness. They are silent like the dead. Something has happened there. COMMANDER You think something serious has happened? ENGINEER I dare not think so, your Highness, but I am alarmed. Silence is the only answer to our most energetic calls. But Greitzer wishes to say something. ... Well? What is it, Greitzer? _The second telegraphist has entered quietly._ GREITZER They are silent, your Highness. _Brief pause._ COMMANDER _Again turning to the door._ Please investigate this, Lieutenant. _He advances a step to the door, then stops. There is a commotion behind the windows--a noise and the sound of voices. The word "water" is repeated frequently. The noise keeps growing, turning at times into a loud roar._ What is that? _All turn to the window. An officer, bareheaded, rushes in excitedly, his hair disheveled, his face pale._ OFFICER I want to see his Highness. I want to see his Highness! BLUMENFELD _Hissing._ You are insane! COMMANDER