for humanity's good. We talk with the same phrases. You say,
"Two wishes make a will"--so do I. We read the same books, are fed at
the same springs. Our souls blend together; great thoughts are children,
born of married minds----

HELENE. My carriage is at the door--I surely must go!

LASSALLE. I'll order your coachman to go home; we will walk.

[Strides to the door, and gives the order and in an instant
returns, picks up Helene's wraps and proceeds affectionately to
help her on with overshoes, cloak and hat.]

LASSALLE. The fact is that life lies in mutual service--any other course
is merely existence. Those who do most for others enjoy most. Well,
good-night, dear Karl Marx, [_Shakes hands_] and you, Doctor
Haenle--what would life be to me without you! Good-night, Herr Holthoff
and dear Frau Holthoff!

[Kisses the Frau's hand. Helene helps him on with overcoat and
hands him his hat. They disappear through the right entrance, arm
in arm, faces turned toward each other, talking earnestly. As they
go through the door, Lassalle lifts his hat to the company and
says, "Good-night, everybody." Those on the stage turn and stare at
one another in amazement. Doctor Haenle breaks the silence with a
laugh.]

DOCTOR HAENLE. Well, well, well!

HERR HOLTHOFF. She is carried off on the back of a centaur.

KARL MARX. A whirlwind wooing!

FRAU HOLTHOFF. Affinities!

* * * * *

ACT TWO

_Scene:_ Hotel veranda in the Swiss Mountains.

[Present: Herr Holthoff, Frau Holthoff, Doctor Haenle, Lassalle and
Helene, seated or walking about and talking leisurely. Surroundings
beautiful and an air of peace pervades the place.]

DOCTOR HAENLE. These early Fall days are the finest of the year in the
mountains.

HELENE. Yes: for then the guests have mostly gone.

LASSALLE. Just as the church is never quite so sacred as when the priest
is not there!

FRAU HOLTHOFF. You mean the priest and congregation?

LASSALLE. Certainly, they go together. A priest apart from his people is
simply a man.

HELENE. Ferdinand loves the Church!

LASSALLE. You should say a church, my lady fair!

HELENE. Yes, a church--this is the fourth time we have met. Two of the
other times were in a church.

LASSALLE. [_Ecstatically_] Yes, in the dim, cool, religious light of a
church, vacant save for us two--I should say for us one!

HELENE. We just sat an