Gentlemen, it is unfair to call a man away from his work for the sake
of making such poor jokes.

BOLZ.

Yes, yes, he evidently slanders you when he maintains that you love
anything else but your new boots and to some small degree your own
person. You yourself are a love-spurting nature, little Bellmaus. You
glow like a fusee whenever you see a young lady. Spluttering and smoky
you hover around her, and yet don't dare even to address her. But we
must be lenient with him; his shyness is to blame. He blushes in
woman's presence, and is still capable of lovely emotions, for he
started out to be a lyric poet.

BELLMAUS.

I don't care to be continually reproached with my poems. Did I ever
read them to you?

BOLZ.

No, thank Heaven, that audacity you never had. (_Seriously._) But,
now, gentlemen, to business. Today's number is ready. Oldendorf is not
yet here, but meanwhile, let us hold a confidential session. Oldendorf
_must_ be chosen deputy from this town to the next Parliament; our
party and the _Union must_ put that through. How does our stock stand
today?

KÄMPE.