COLONEL.
Attack on what articles?
BLUMENBERG.
On yours, Colonel. I must have the paper somewhere about
me.
[_Searches, and gives him a copy of the Union._]
COLONEL.
Oldendorf's paper attacks my articles! [_Reads._] "We regret
such lack of knowledge--"
BLUMENBERG.
And here--
COLONEL.
"It is an unpardonable piece of presumption"--What! I am
presumptuous?
BLUMENBERG.
And here--
COLONEL.
"One may be in doubt as to whether the naivete of the
contributor is comical or tragical, but at all events he has no right
to join in the discussion"--[_Throwing down the paper._] Oh, that is
contemptible! It is a low trick!
_Enter_ IDA _and_ OLDENDORF _from the garden._
SENDEN (_aside_).
Now comes the cloud-burst!
COLONEL.
Professor, your newspaper is making progress. To bad principles is now
added something else--baseness.
IDA (_frightened_).
Father!
OLDENDORF (_coming forward_).
Colonel, how can you justify this insulting expression?
COLONEL (_holding out the paper to him_).
Look here! That stands in your paper! In your paper, Oldendorf!
OLDENDORF.
The tone of the attack is not quite as calm as I could have wished--
COLONEL.
Not quite so calm? Not really?
OLDENDORF.
In substance the attack is justified.
COLONEL.
Sir! You dare say that to me!
IDA.
Father!
OLDENDORF.
Colonel, I do not comprehend this attitude, and I beg you to consider
that we are speaking before witnesses.
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