The Lawyers, A Drama in Five Acts Part 22

_Reiss._ (wipes his forehead.) I am glad of it.

_Well._ You wipe your forehead?

_Reiss._ Hem! you have put me in such a heat.

_Well._ Thank G.o.d! I wish you would examine your conscience fully, and then wipe your eyes too; then I would, in the joy of my heart, empty my gla.s.s at once.

_Reiss._ I thank you. Now to a prosperous futurity! (Holds up the gla.s.s.)

_Well._ In heaven,--yes! (going to drink;) but (puts the gla.s.s down) then every thing ought to be in a good state upon earth. Drink no more, it will heat you; and, to do good, the soul ought to be sober.

_Reiss._ Well then--

_Well._ In your proposition there may still be an acceptable compromise for the children. But--

_Reiss._ I should think so. Then accept it, give me your hand, and empty your gla.s.s.

_Well._ Ay, if it concerned only the children, I would accept it. But it concerns your soul, which cannot go out of this world in peace, if your conscience is not at peace. Therefore I do not accede to the proposition.

_Reiss._ What?

_Well._ I cannot accept it for the sake of your immortal soul, till you quite clear yourself, and give up the whole.

_Reiss._ Is that your last determination?

_Well._ It is.

_Reiss._ Then I will give up nothing at all.

_Well._ Then G.o.d have mercy upon you! I have done my duty.

_Reiss._ Does not the will itself secure me against every claim?

_Well._ Not quite so.

_Reiss._ I beg your pardon; does not Article V. say--

_Well._ If you avail yourself of that plea, and the good spirit has forsaken you, what must be the awful result! Think in time; what, to barter everlasting happiness for a few pieces of yellow dirt! Now I have done. (Rises.)

_Reiss._ The fifth article says, "that if ever"--Stop a little; I have the will at hand. (Goes into the closet.)

_Well._ I see there is nothing to be done here.

G.o.d have mercy upon this obstinate man!--Has he not even tried to tempt me with his wine, that I might do what is evil? But heaven be praised, he did not succeed; and how easily might he have succeeded, though my nerves are worn out with age and infirmities! Besides, it is a very strong wine; (takes the gla.s.s, and smells to it.) Very strong! (looks at it;) rather feculent. (Puts the gla.s.s down, walks a few steps, and seems to muse.) Hem! (examines Reissman's gla.s.s.) This one is fine; (looks again at his own gla.s.s;) this is not so. (Puts it down.) This gla.s.s came out of the second bottle. He has not drank of that, I think.

No, he has not, I now recollect. Perhaps,--but that is very wicked,-- perhaps not content with intoxication, he thought to get me to do the evil that is in his soul? Such men are not to be trusted; their notions are abominable. Perhaps he mixed some intoxicating ingredient in this wine? He is capable of such an action; for, otherwise, why should he press me to drink? Then my soul would have perished at the same time with my philosophy!--I must know that; I will have it examined; and, if so, I will thank G.o.d for my deliverance, and withdraw my hand for ever from the obdurate sinner. (Takes both bottles, and goes away with them.

When he has left the room, Reissman comes out of the closet with the will.)

_Reiss._ Look you here; here it expressly says.--Where is he? (Looks out of the door, comes back, claps his hands together; pours the wine that is in the two gla.s.ses out of the window; puts them in his pocket; goes once more to the door, at which the Lawyer went out. He is in a violent agitation; wipes the table very carefully with his handkerchief; carries it into the closet, out of which he returns with his hat and cane, and is going out by the door towards the street. When he is at the door he returns, carefully examines the chair on which the Lawyer has been seated, pa.s.ses his handkerchief over it, carries both chairs into the closet, examines the floor where the chairs stood, and precipitately exit.)

SCENE V.

Master Clarenbach's house.

MASTER CLARENBACH, SOPHIA.

_Clar._ Step in here, child! here you are, if not rich, at least safe.

You have now done your duty as a daughter. Now recommend the perverse man to heaven, and let things take their course.

_Soph._ Can I be easy with that? It is lamentable, that I have no other means left.

_Clar._ My son has acted as a man of honour ought. He would not leave me till I had given him my word, neither to act nor to speak against your father.

_Soph._ You have given it.

_Clar._ And will keep it.

_Soph._ I will acknowledge it with filial affection, with the same care and attention as if I were your own daughter.

_Clar._ Jack has obtained you by n.o.ble means, dear daughter; that is a good and laudable commencement of the marriage-state.

SCENE VI.

Enter GERNAU.

_Gern._ Dear old man, I have forgotten all the wrongs the Privy Counsellor ever did me. They now vanish like a dream. He has more than compensated for all.

_Soph._ With respect to you?

_Gern._ That is out of his power now. But he has acted with such discretion, with such abundance of good nature, and rendered so much justice to every body else, that I must be devoid of all feeling, if I could consider my accounts with him as unsettled.

_Clar._ Pray speak more of that. I have been unwilling this long while to enquire into the actions of my son; but to-day I am so pleased with him, that I could talk of him for ever without interruption.

_Gern._ He desired me to go home with him. Away with every penny, said he, which I have not acquired fairly, or of which the least doubt remains. Then he counted money, sealed it up, and called out to me repair to the next trading town. I will give you the directions into whose hands this cash is to go. I will wrong no man, a.s.sist me to discharge my duty, name not who sent it! I will set off this very day.--He is this moment gone to pay two people, that had been overcharged in their contributions towards the construction of the bridge. He intends to discharge that debt personally, because they are good people on whom he can rely, who will not take advantage of his frankness.

_Clar._ Your work, dear daughter! a clear conscience, joy, and honour!

what a valuable portion you bring into my family! When at evenings we shall meet, and every one of us shall sum up the honest earnings of the day, with what affection and grat.i.tude shall we then calculate and pay you the interest of your capital!

SCENE VII.

Enter FREDERICA.

_Fred._ Your father has been here this minute to enquire after Lawyer Wellenberg.

_Soph._ (quick.) Is he gone yet?

_Fred._ He seemed in doubt some time, whether to go or stay, but then he went without saying any thing.