[Frau Lund seats herself on sofa. Next to her on the right Frau
Beermann; Beermann and Bolland sit opposite in large leather
chairs. Hauser is standing behind the sofa leaning against it.]

FRAU LUND [to Hauser]. Tell me Judge, where have you been keeping
yourself all this time?

HAUSER. In my office, Frau Lund, only in my office. But I hear
that you were on the Riviera.

FRAU LUND. Four weeks in Monte Carlo. Children, I gambled like an
old viveur.

BEERMANN. What luck?

FRAU LUND. I lost, of course--I'm too old to set the world on
fire. But, Beermann, I hear all sorts of surprises about you. You
are a candidate for the Reichstag?

BEERMANN. Yes, they nominated me.

FRAU LUND. Who are "they"?

BEERMANN. The combined Liberals and Conservatives ...

HAUSER. And the Conservatives and Liberals combined.

FRAU LUND. Formerly these were distinct parties.