PIEPENBRINK.
You have no reason to feel obliged. It is the truth. You are a man of
honor through and through, and it gives us pleasure to tell you so;
you cannot object to hearing this from your fellow-citizens.
COLONEL.
I always did consider myself a man of honor, gentlemen.
PIEPENBRINK.
There you were quite right. And you have proved your good principles,
too. On every occasion. In cases of poverty, of famine, of caring for
orphans, also at our shooting-club meeting--always when we citizens
enjoyed or needed a benevolent good man, you were among the first.
Always simple and loyal without arrogance or supercilious manners.
That's the reason why we universally love and honor you. (_Colonel
wipes his eyes_.) Today many of us gave their votes to the professor.
Some on account of politics, some because they know that he is your
close friend and possibly even your future son-in-law. COLONEL (_not
harshly_).
Sir--
PIEPENBRINK.
Nor did I myself vote for you.
COLONEL (_somewhat more excitedly_).
Sir--
PIEPENBRINK.
But for that very reason I come to you with the rest, and that is why
we tell you what the citizens think of you. And we hope that for long
years to come you will preserve to us your manly principles and
friendly heart as an honored, most respected gentleman and
fellow-citizen.
COLONEL (_without harshness_).
Why do you not say that to the professor, to the man that you have
chosen?
PIEPENBRINK.
He shall first deserve it in Parliament before the town thanks him.
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