taste, and he
wishes to assert in opposition to my opinion, that at least the
audience in _Puss in Boots_ is well drawn.

FISCHER.

The audience? Why no audience appears in the play.

JACKPUD.

That's even better! So, then, no audience is presented in it
at all?

MUeLLER.

Why not a bit of it, unless he means the several kinds of
fools that appear.

JACKPUD.

Now, do you see, scholar! What these gentlemen down there are
saying must certainly be true.

LEANDER.

I am getting confused, but still I won't yield the victory to
you.

[_Enter_ HINZE.]

JACKPUD.

Sir Hunter, a word! (HINZE _approaches, they whisper._)

HINZE.
If it's nothing more than that. (_He takes off his boots,
climbs up the pole, then takes the hat, jumps down, then puts his
boots on again._)

JACKPUD.

Victory! Victory!

KING.

The deuce! How clever the hunter is!

LEANDER.

I only regret that I have been vanquished by a fool, that
learning must acknowledge foolishness as its superior.

KING.

Keep still; you wanted the hat, he wanted the hat; so again I
see no difference. But what have you brought, hunter?

HINZE.

The Count of Carabas commends himself most respectfully to your
majesty and sends you these two partridges.

KING.

Too much! too much! I am sinking under the burden of gratitude!
Long since should I have done my duty and visited him; today I will
delay no longer. Have my royal carriage prepared at once--eight horses
in front--I want to go driving with my daughter. You, Hunter, are to
show us the way to the castle of the count.

[_Exit with retinue._]

HINZE. JACKPUDDING

HINZE.

What was your disputation about, anyhow?

JACKPUD.

I asserted that a certain play, which, moreover, I am not
acquainted with at all, _Puss in Boots_, is a wretched play.

HINZE.

So?

JACKPUD.

Adieu, Sir Hunter.

[_Exit._]

HINZE (_alone_).

I'm all in the dumps. I, myself, helped the fool win
a victory against a play in which I myself am taking the leading part.
Fate! Fate! Into what complications do you so often lead us mortals?
But be that as it may. If I only succeed in putting my beloved
Gottlieb on the throne, I will gladly forget all my other troubles.
The king wishes to visit the count? Now that is another bad situation
which I must clear up; now the great, important day has ar