COLONEL.
I am prepared for it, and beg you not to prolong it unduly.
BOLZ.
No more than is requisite. The article in this evening's _Union_
which deals with your personality was written by me and inserted by me
in the paper without Oldendorf's knowledge.
COLONEL.
It can interest me little to know who wrote the article.
BOLZ (_courteously_).
But I consider it important to tell you that it is not by Oldendorf
and that Oldendorf knew nothing about it. My friend was so taken up
these last weeks with his own sad and painful experiences that he left
the management of the paper entirely to me. For all that has lately
appeared in it I alone am responsible.
COLONEL.
And why do you impart this information?
BOLZ.
You have sufficient penetration to realize, Colonel, that, after the
scene which took place today between you and my friend, Oldendorf as a
man of honor could neither write such an article nor allow it to
appear in his paper.
COLONEL.
How so, sir? In the article itself I saw nothing unsuitable.
BOLZ.
The article exposes my friend in your eyes to the suspicion of having
tried to regain your good-will by unworthy flattery. Nothing is
further from his thoughts than such a method. You, Colonel, are too
honorable a man yourself to consider a mean action natural to your
friend.
COLONEL.
You are right. (_Aside_.) This defiance is unbearable! (_Aloud_.) Is
your explanation at an end?
BOLZ.
It is. I must add still another: that I myself regret very much having
written this article.
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