Rummel: Only every other candle, Jacob. It must not look as if it
were arranged for the occasion--it has to come as a surprise, you
know. And all these flowers--? Oh, well, let them be; it will
probably look as if they stood there everyday. (BERNICK comes
out of his room.)

Bernick (stopping at the door): What does this mean?

Rummel: Oh dear, is it you? (To the servants.) Yes, you might
leave us for the present. (The servants go out.)

Bernick: But, Rummel, what is the meaning of this?

Rummel: It means that the proudest moment of your life has come.
A procession of his fellow citizens is coming to do honour to the
first man of the town.

Bernick: What!

Rummel: In procession--with banners and a band! We ought to have
had torches too; but we did not like to risk that in this stormy
weather. There will be illuminations--and that always sounds well
in the newspapers.

Bernick: Listen, Rummel--I won't have anything to do with this.

Rummel: But it is too late now; they will be here in half-an-
hour.