]
SCHMOCK.
I suppose because Bellmaus told me you were a clever person who would
choose a good way of telling the Colonel to be on his guard against
Senden and against my editor; and the Colonel is a kind man; the other
day he ordered a glass of sweet wine and a salmon sandwich as a lunch
for me.
COLONEL (_visible at the door, clasping his hands sympathetically_).
Merciful heavens!
SCHMOCK.
Why should I let him be duped by these people!
ADELAIDE.
Since you did not dislike the lunch, we will see that you get another
one.
SCHMOCK.
Oh please, don't trouble yourself on my account.
ADELAIDE.
Can we help you with anything else?
SCHMOCK.
What should you be able to help me with? [_Examining his boots and
clothes_.] I have everything in order now. My trouble is only that I
have got into the wrong occupation. I must try to get out of
literature.
ADELAIDE (_sympathetically_.)
It is very hard, I suppose, to feel at home in literature?
SCHMOCK.
That depends. My editor is an unfair man. He cuts out too much and
pays too little. "Attend to your style first of all," says he; "a good
style is the chief thing." "Write impressively, Schmock," says he;
"write profoundly; it is required of a newspaper today that it be
profound." Good! I write profoundly, I make my style logical! But when
I bring him what I have done he hurls it away from him and shrieks:
"What is that? That is heavy, that is pedantic!" says he. "You must
write dashingly; it's brilliant you must be, Schmock.
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