FRAU GABOR.

House of Correction!

HERR GABOR.

He will find there, in the first place, that which has been wrongfully withheld from him at home, parental discipline, principles, and a moral constraint to which he must submit under all circ.u.mstances.----Moreover, the House of Correction is not a place of terror, as you think it. The greatest weight is laid in the establishment upon the development of Christian thought and sensibility. The lad will learn at last to follow good in place of desire and not to follow his natural instincts, but to observe the letter of the law.----A half hour ago I received a telegram from my brother that confirms the woman's statement. Melchior has confided in him and begged him for 200 marks in order to fly to England----

FRAU GABOR.

(_Covering her face._)

Merciful heavens!

SCENE FOURTH.

_The House of Correction.--A corridor.--Diethelm, Rheinhold, Ruprecht, Helmuth, Gaston and Melchior._

DIETHELM.

Here is a twenty pfennig piece!

RHEINHOLD.

What shall we do with it?

DIETHELM.

I will lay it on the floor. Arrange yourselves about it. Who can get it can keep it.

RUPRECHT.

Won't you join us, Melchior?

MELCHIOR.

No, thank you.

HELMUTH.

The Joseph!

GASTON.

He can't do anything else. He is here for recreation.

MELCHIOR.

(_To himself._)

It is not wise for me to separate myself from them. They all have an eye on me. I must join them----or the creature goes to the devil----imprisonment drives it to suicide.----If I break my neck, all is well!----If I escape, that is good, too! I can only win.

Ruprecht would become my friend. He has acquaintances here.----I had better give him the chapter of Judas' daughter-in-law, Thamar, of Moab, of Lot and his kindred, of Queen Vashti and of Abis.h.a.g the Shunammite.----He has the unhappiest physiognomy of the lot of them.

RUPRECHT.

I have it!

HELMUTH.

I'll get it yet!

GASTON.

The day after to-morrow, perhaps.

HELMUTH.

Right away!----Now!----O G.o.d! O G.o.d!----

ALL.

Summa----Summa c.u.m laude!!

RUPRECHT.

(_Taking the money._)

Many thanks!

HELMUTH.

Here, you dog!

RUPRECHT.

You swine!

HELMUTH.

Gallows bird!

RUPRECHT.

(_Hits him in the face._)

There! (_Runs away._)

HELMUTH.