CURTAIN




ACT II


(An office at Police Headquarters. To rear on the left stands the
Assessor's desk. To the right against the wall, the desk of
Reisacher, the police clerk. Left front is a sofa with two chairs.
On the right wall is a telephone. Side entrance left. Another
entrance in the middle. Stroebel and Reisacher are seated with
their backs to one another. Stroebel is reading a newspaper;
Reisacher is writing. Short pause.)

STROEBEL [half turning]. Reisacher!

REISACHER [also turning]. Yes, Herr Assessor.[Footnote: An
assessor is a petty police official.]

STROEBEL. Are you familiar with the expression "those higher up"?

REISACHER. Yes, Herr Assessor.

STROEBEL. What do you understand by it?

REISACHER. Those are the folks who are something and have money
somewhere.