Books: Moral

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STROEBEL. Yes, Commissioner. Your orders will be carried out.

COMMISSIONER. Orders? I never give orders. You have your duties to
perform. I don't care to tell you what to do. ... But there must
be no further raids until I have seen the diary.

STROEBEL. Certainly, Commissioner.

COMMISSIONER. At the same time, don't neglect your duty.

STROEBEL. I will do everything necessary for the promotion of
public decency.

COMMISSIONER [who has been pacing the room, turns suddenly.]
Public decency? Very well, very well. ... [Short pause.] We occupy
a most peculiar position Do we not, Herr Stroebel? [Stroebel
bows.] We know fully the existing difference between official ...
and let me say ... personal sensitiveness, do we not? [Stroebel
bows in accord.] I mention this merely because you spoke of public
decency. There is a decency about which you and I privately might
have most interesting discussions. As far as I am concerned, such
decency can be without limits. But there is another--the public
decency--which it is our business to police. This has its very
precise limits. For example, a scandal. Scandal of any
description. Am I right, Herr Assessor?

STROEBEL [clicks his heels together]. Certainly, Commissioner.

COMMISSIONER. That brings me to another matter. For the past few
weeks, there has been in the city, a so-called Society for the
Suppression of Vice. Have you any sympathy with these people?

STROEBEL. I know of their aims ...

COMMISSIONER. Their aims do not interest me a bit. I mean, do you
personally cooperate with them?

STROEBEL. Not ... yet.

COMMISSIONER. Not yet? ... Hem! ... This Society is likely to
interest itself in this case. If someone comes to see me, Herr
Stroebel, I will refer him to you. [Stroebel bows.] Kindly bear
this one thing in mind. These men have political ambition, and are
playing to the press. On the whole the thing shows conservative
tendencies.

STROEBEL. Certainly, Commissioner.

COMMISSIONER. Welcome them with open arms. Agree gratefully to
every suggestion for the betterment of the people, et cetera.
Listen with respectful appreciation but do nothing further.

STROEBEL [uncertain]. Nothing further? ...

COMMISSIONER. No ... nothing further.

STROEBEL. Yes, Commissioner.

COMMISSIONER. These people must remain assured that they wield a
great influence. As a matter of fact, they have none at all and
it's a good thing they haven't.

STROEBEL. So, I may ...

COMMISSIONER. ... Do everything you can be responsible for. As a
matter of principle, I do not like to give orders. You will submit
that report then [consulting his watch] at ten to-morrow? Good
morning! [Goes toward the door left, remains standing a moment,
then turns around.] You have been rather zealous in your work, I
must say. [Stroebel bows slightly.] To arrest a woman on the
strength of an anonymous letter shows excessive zeal. [Stroebel
bows slightly.] I like to see my men energetic but [clears his
throat] bear in mind what I just said. Careful of a scandal! Good
morning! [Exit.]

(Stroebel sits down and stares at ceiling. He swings his chair
around, then whistles. Reisacher comes in through middle door and
seats himself at his desk. He coughs.)

STROEBEL [half turning]. Reisacher.

REISACHER [does likewise]. Yes, Herr Assessor.

STROEBEL. How long have you been in the police department?

REISACHER. It will be eighteen years this fall.

STROEBEL. You have seen many a change, no doubt?

REISACHER. Surely.

STROEBEL. Tell me, how long has our Commissioner been in office?

REISACHER. The Commissioner? Oh ... it's seven. No, let me see,
it's eight years. ...

STROEBEL. Hem ... do you really suppose he wants us to keep our
eyes wide open all the time?

REISACHER [eagerly]. Certainly. That's what he wants.

STROEBEL. Does he? ... [Short pause.] I had an idea he didn't want
us to be too strict for fear of notoriety.

REISACHER [eagerly]. No, no. He certainly would not like that.

STROEBEL [turns around completely]. Listen, Reisacher, you
contradict yourself all the time.

REISACHER [turns around likewise]. I beg your pardon, Herr
Stroebel. May I suggest ...

STROEBEL. But you are always contradicting yourself. First you say
yes, and then you say no.

REISACHER. I beg your pardon, Herr Assessor Stroebel. I wanted to
say that in the Police Department it is like this: Everything you
do is all right, if it turns out all right.

STROEBEL [turns back to his desk]. You will never learn to
formulate a thought precisely.

REISACHER [also turns]. All right, Herr Stroebel.

(Short pause. Stroebel reads. Reisacher writes. A commotion is
heard through the middle door, which, is thrown open and Ninon De
Hauteville enters. Behind her a policeman, who holds her tightly
by the arm. She tries to free herself.)

HAUTEVILLE. [she wears a large picture hat, and is highly
perfumed]. Keep your hands off me. I haven't killed anyone.
Please, let me go.

STROEBEL [he has risen]. What's the matter?

POLICE OFFICER. [releasing her, stands at attention]. Have the
honor sir, to report this disreputable woman--the Hochstetter
person.

HAUTEVILLE. Please, help me, sir. I am being handled like the
commonest criminal.

STROEBEL. Why do you keep that hat on? You are not paying us a
visit?

HAUTEVILLE. Indeed not! I am not paying a visit. If I lived to be
a hundred, it would never occur to me to pay you a visit.

STROEBEL. Don't talk so much. Do you understand? [To Reisacher.]
Get your report book ready.

HAUTEVILLE. Is this the complaint office? I demand to know at
least why I was arrested.

STROEBEL. Oh, here you'll find that out soon enough. [To the
officer.] You can go now. [Officer exit through middle door.]

HAUTEVILLE. Oh, Monsieur, what shameful treatment. I was locked up
in a cell with two ordinary street walkers. You will help me,
won't you?

STROEBEL [who has crossed over to Reisacher]. Please don't be so
familiar.

HAUTEVILLE. I am so helpless. No one will listen to me. No one
answers me. An awful looking woman brought me a cup of yellow
broth and a rusty spoon--[indicating with her hand] so big. "Eat!"
she said, and threw it down and left. You will see to it, sir,
that my friends are notified, won't you?

STROEBEL [glancing over Reisacher's shoulder]. Your friends cannot
help you here. [To Reisacher.] Don't make the margin so wide. You
are wasting good paper. [To Hauteville.] Your friends can do
nothing at all for you.

HAUTEVILLE. You think so, do you? One single word and I'll be set
free.

STROEBEL [contemptuously]. Indeed!

HAUTEVILLE. Before the day is over everyone of you will have to
apologize to me. Yes, before this day is over.

STROEBEL. Certainly. [To Reisacher.] The word "Assessor" has two
"s" in all cases.

HAUTEVILLE. If you people had the least idea whom you disturbed.
If you knew whom you compelled to hide in the wardrobe.

STROEBEL [turning quickly to Hauteville]. In the wardrobe? So! [To
Reisacher.] Make a note of that, Reisacher. [With emphasis.] So
someone escaped us by hiding in the wardrobe.

HAUTEVILLE. Yes, someone escaped you by hiding in the wardrobe.

STROEBEL [suddenly very friendly.] Upon my word, Madame, I believe
that we understand each other fully. You are a clever woman. You
will not try to deny the facts.

HAUTEVILLE. Not one solitary thing. I am most anxious that you
should try to find out all.

STROEBEL. Bravo! I came near saying that I respect you for that.
[Benevolently.] You know, Hochstetter, every man is liable to make
a fool of himself now and then.

HAUTEVILLE. Indeed they are! I know best what fools men do make of
themselves.

STROEBEL. Now and then people violate the law. But they ought not
to deny it afterwards. That's the sad part of it, because we
always find out the truth in the end.

HAUTEVILLE. I wish you had it now.

STROEBEL. We have a clue. But you are a woman of character, I
admit. I take off my hat to you.

HAUTEVILLE. Indeed!

STROEBEL. I certainly do.

HAUTEVILLE. I was afraid I had lost all refinement after spending
the last two nights in such company.

STROEBEL [benevolently]. No doubt, it was a trifle hard.

HAUTEVILLE. It was terrible. They really do make me pay for
discreetness.

STROEBEL. Your patrons are the very men who make it so hard for
you. They get you into trouble and then expect you to protect
them. Isn't it so?

HAUTEVILLE. What an experience for me! To have my apartment raided
at night and be simply dragged away myself.

STROEBEL. That is too much.

HAUTEVILLE. I was not even allowed to take along a change of
underwear. Then I am locked up with women who have every known
variety of vermin.

STROEBEL. And with all that they expect you to remain silent!

HAUTEVILLE. When I want to comb my hair, the matron gives me a
comb which these women have been using a whole week.

STROEBEL. That simply can't go on,

HAUTEVILLE. And the air! I never knew that such odors existed on
this earth.

STROEBEL. Still you are to shield the others! After all, you know,
I think that discreetness is just talk.

HAUTEVILLE. Talk?

STROEBEL. I mean if anybody ever had a moral right to give things
away, fully and freely, you are that person; ... after all you
have suffered.

HAUTEVILLE. That's right. I am that person.

STROEBEL. Well then; did somebody escape into that wardrobe?

HAUTEVILLE. Yes, somebody did escape into that wardrobe.

STROEBEL [eagerly]. Who? [Short pause.]

HAUTEVILLE. [laughs curtly]. Who?

STROEBEL [more sharply]. Who on Saturday night at 10 o'clock
escaped the search of the police by hiding in the wardrobe?

HAUTEVILLE. [laughs curtly]. It is quite unnecessary for me to
tell you that.

STROEBEL [sharply]. Why?

HAUTEVILLE. You are certain to find it out ultimately.

STROEBEL. Ultimately?

HAUTEVILLE. Even if I wanted to I could not tell! Lord, when a
person gets strictly accustomed to never mentioning any name, it
is almost impossible to do it. I, believe that I would have to
learn how first.

STROEBEL [shouting]. And you will learn it; I promise you that.
You ...

HAUTEVILLE. Mais Monsieure!

STROEBEL [shouting]. No "Monsieur" about it. Here you'll talk good
plain English.

HAUTEVILLE. But why are you getting so excited?

STROEBEL [to Reisacher]. I am nice to this person. I reason with
her, and she says that she will first have to learn how to expose
her crowd. [Shouts.] Decency is what you'll have to learn and I'll
teach it to you.

HAUTEVILLE. Oh, not this very minute.

STROEBEL. I know you. I know your sort! You want to gain time so
that you can concoct the blackest lies.

HAUTEVILLE. [calmly]. That would be entirely superfluous. The
cleverest lie could not help me half as much as the simple truth.

STROEBEL. Out with it!

HAUTEVILLE. It's better if you find it out through someone else.

STROEBEL. That's your opinion.

HAUTEVILLE. You would only be embarrassed and I would be guilty of
a breach of confidence.

STROEBEL [with contempt]. As though people confided in such as
you.

HAUTEVILLE. I think that they rely upon the fact that our loyalty
is not "just talk."

STROEBEL [again calm]. Listen to me. I do not think that you
entirely understand your position. [Hauteville shrugs her
shoulders.] No, I don't think that you know at all what is
involved.

HAUTEVILLE. On the contrary it is far worse that you don't seem to
realize who is involved.

STROEBEL [quickly]. In what?

HAUTEVILLE. In the wardrobe.

STROEBEL. Have you lost your senses? You are a prisoner here. Do
you want to poke fun at us?

HAUTEVILLE. No.

STROEBEL. Then don't consider yourself so important with those
meaning insinuations.

HAUTEVILLE. If I did, I'd soon lose my importance after eating
that yellow broth from those rusty tin plates.

STROEBEL. And that will continue for some time.

HAUTEVILLE. [energetically]. No, it will not. I tell you right now
that I will not spend another night in that dirty hole. I will not
be mistreated any longer.

STROEBEL [with sarcasm]. Of course we are going to ask you for
your kind permission.

HAUTEVILLE. I will not remain here. If they think I will let them
ruin me, they're very much mistaken. This is an outrage and here
fair play stops.

STROEBEL. The likes of you and fair play!

HAUTEVILLE. [bitterly]. Yes, the likes of me. Every day we hear
the confessions of those very people who publicly show contempt
for us. We know how false are all virtuous words with which they
condemn us, but we remain silent.

STROEBEL. Of course, you do all this out of pure sense of fair
play? [He imitates the motion of counting money.]

HAUTEVILLE. Money? ... My dear fellow, with money our patrons pay
well for that very thing which they later on call indecent. You
get as much decency from us for money as you get from other
people, but believe me, we could shatter many illusions.

STROEBEL. Well, make a beginning right here.

HAUTEVILLE. It ought to be impossible here. The police have as few
illusions as we. That is, provided they are properly instructed.

STROEBEL. That's right now, put us in the same class with
yourself.

HAUTEVILLE, Why not? We and the police could easily ruin the
credit of virtue, but neither of us do it. You--you because you
regard that credit as a good substitute for the principal, and
we,--Lord, because we need this credit as well.

STROEBEL. Both of us?

HAUTEVILLE. The very moment that public virtue loses its credit,
the secret vices will drop in market value.

STROEBEL. What are you talking about anyway?

HAUTEVILLE. I'm telling you why both of us must hush things up.

STROEBEL. Then you are not convinced that there is a real public
morality?

HAUTEVILLE. You mean that morality which you put on with your
street clothes? I know it well. Gentlemen take it off in my
apartment and hang it up in my wardrobe, and there I can inspect
it very thoroughly. It is truly remarkable how our respected
gentlemen still make formal social visits in costumes which have
so often been patched.

REISACHER [who up to this point apparently--without paying any
attention, has been sitting with his back toward them, turns half
way round]. Pardon me, Herr Assessor.

STROEBEL [impatiently]. Now what do you want?

REISACHER. Pardon me, Herr Assessor, shall I put all this talk
into the minutes?

STROEBEL. No, I will dictate to you later. [To Hauteville.] You
know that you are not here to amuse yourself.

HAUTEVILLE. I know that.

STROEBEL. Listen to me quietly. You hinted before that if we kept
you here another night you would confess everything. Well I tell
you here and now that we will not keep you here one, but a number
of nights. You can ease your conscience at once.

HAUTEVILLE. I would only make yours the heavier for it.

STROEBEL. My conscience?

HAUTEVILLE. Yes, if I tell you here, there will be no possibility
of a mistake, but everything must remain a mistake.

STROEBEL. I have patience with you, but I will not let you fool
me. Now get yourself together and consider every word. What must
remain a mistake?

HAUTEVILLE. Everything that has happened since Saturday night.

STROEBEL. All that must remain a mistake?

HAUTEVILLE. It simply must not have happened. No one broke into my
apartment. No one arrested me. No one compelled anyone to hide in
the wardrobe.

STROEBEL [shouts.] And no one ever saw such an insolent female.

HAUTEVILLE. This browbeating.

STROEBEL. It is meant for such as you.

HAUTEVILLE. [indignantly stopping her ears]. It reminds one so
much of the tin plates and the comb.

STROEBEL [angrily pacing the room]. I never heard anything like
it. Picture it! She makes insinuations as though we had something
to be afraid of. [He stops pacing and faces her.] You evidently
imagine that the whole government would run away from you.

HAUTEVILLE. No, but it ran away from your Lieutenant.

STROEBEL. Where?

HAUTEVILLE. Into the wardrobe.

STROEBEL [pacing up and down]. I will bring that fellow out of
your wardrobe. I will bring him to light. Into bright daylight!
[Remains standing in front of Hauteville.] What did you say?

HAUTEVILE. Non.

STROEBEL [resuming his pacing']. One of those fine fellows who
wallow in the mire and then expect us to make exceptions. [Stops
pacing, facing Hauteville.] What were you saying?

HAUTEVILLE. Nothing.

STROEBEL. Sad enough that now and again a halfway decent person
strays into your place.

HAUTEVILLE. He can only regret that he was disturbed.

STROEBEL [goes quickly to desk and unlocks a drawer]. Besides, do
not deceive yourself. We do not need your disclosures. [He takes
out a rather bulky paper, a school composition book, and holds it
triumphantly in the air.] There; do you recognize this?

HAUTEVILLE. [quietly, without a single trace of surprise]. It
looks like my diary.

STROEBEL. It is your book. It was found in your desk.

HAUTEVILLE. [very calm]. The desk was locked,

STROEBEL. It was broken open. Well? What about your loyalty now?

HAUTEVILLE. [shrugs her shoulders]. I kept it. I haven't a fire-
proof safe.

STROEBEL [contemptuously]. Would you by chance like to show me the
name?

HAUTEVILLE. What name?

STROEBEL. Of the gentleman in the wardrobe.

HAUTEVILLE. [laughs]. His name really is not in it.

STROEBEL. Do not evade but show me.

HAUTEVILLE. Oh, there are parties whose names are not in the Hotel
Register. They travel incognito.

STROEBEL [persuadingly]. Hochstetter, I have an impression that
you are not such a stupid girl, and I believe that you would like
to [pointing to the diary] take good care of your--patrons. If you
do not immediately reveal the name of that man, I will summon the
whole bunch.

HAUTEVILLE. [shrugs her shoulders]. That's something I cannot stop
you from doing.

STROEBEL. What then is your belief in fair play?

HAUTEVILLE. I never submitted that diary to you. You could not
have gotten it from me voluntarily, but it quite suits me that the
officer found it in my desk.

STROEBEL. Why?

HAUTEVILLE. Because he might have searched for it in the wardrobe.

STROEBEL. Now my patience is at an end. [Presses the button on his
desk.] I will have no consideration for anyone.

HAUTEVILLE. After all, perhaps you will. For yourself.

[Police officer enters.]

STROEBEL. Take this woman downstairs, [The officer leaves with
Hauteville. Stroebel sits down, pushes the chair angrily to the
desk, then gets up and throws the diary and several other books on
the desk, saying to himself:] Never heard anything like it! Such
impudence!

[Reisacher looks at him with amusement. A knock at the door.]

STROEBEL [formally]. Come in!

BEERMANN [enters hastily from the left. He breathes heavily. He
has a handkerchief in his hand, with which he frequently mops his
brow]. Is this the proper department at last? I am being sent all
around the building. [Breathing heavily.] I hope I am finally in
the proper bureau.

STROEBEL. What do you want?

BEERMANN. Pardon me for a moment while I catch my breath. I
climbed twice to the third floor and again down to the ground
floor. The Commissioner sent me to room 147 and there they told me
to go to room 174.

STROEBEL. Who sent you?

BEERMANN [taking a deep breath]. The Commissioner. I really wanted
to speak to him personally, but he told me I should go to the
gentleman who has "Morality." Are you the gentleman who has all
the morality?

STROEBEL. Certainly.

BEERMANN. At last. [Mopping his braze.] Good God? when a matter is
so urgent and so much depends on it they ought not to chase one
all over the building. I must rest a bit. All this excitement and
running up and down stairs. ... So you are the gentleman who has
the matter in hand.

STROEBEL. What matter?

BEERMANN. On Saturday night a lady was arrested. A Madam de
Hauteville, and certain papers were taken from her. Have you those
papers here?

STROEBEL. What business is that of yours?

BEERMANN. My name is Beermann; Fritz Beermann, the banker. I am
the Chairman of the Society for the Suppression of Vice.

STROEBEL [very politely]. Oh, indeed! Pardon me! I didn't recall
your name immediately, but I was expecting you.

BEERMANN [startled]. You--were expecting--me?

STROEBEL. The Commissioner said that you would undoubtedly call on
us.

BEERMANN. He said that I undoubtedly would call? But he never
mentioned a word to me about that, and I saw him just a moment
ago. Perhaps after all it will be better if I go down to see him
again?

STROEBEL. That is not necessary. I have full charge of the matter.

BEERMANN. Oh, yes, quite right; you have charge of the matter. And
you have those writings here too?

STROEBEL. The diary? [He indicates the desk.] Here it is.

BEERMANN [peeps anxiously over]. Then it is a regular diary?

STROEBEL. Quite correctly kept. Gives date and names. Even little
jesting remarks about the people concerned.

BEERMANN [shouts]. But that is an unheard of insolence!

STROEBEL. Yes.

BEERMANN. Why does she write such things? To what purpose? Can't
she herself realize how dangerous it is? Fancy, a woman whose
whole stock in trade is secrecy, keeping an address hook of her
patrons. Confound her!

STROEBEL. But to us as evidence it is priceless.

BEERMANN. I ask you--why does she record such things?

STROEBEL. We can only be glad of it, Herr Beermann.

BEERMANN. We?

STROEBEL. She'd lie. I tell you she'd deny everything, and that
puts an end to the case. [Holding the diary in the air.] But here
we have the whole bunch.

BEERMANN. As though she wanted to turn State's evidence ...

STROEBEL. Let her just come to court with her confounded fine
talk. [Imitating Hauteville's manners.] "It simply must not have
happened." I will drive her to the wall with what happened. We
will simply bring up those fellows, one after the other.

BEERMANN [dismayed]. To court!

STROEBEL. Certainly, and that means; hand on the Bible and swear.
Then we shall see if "no one compelled anyone to hide in the
wardrobe."

BEERMANN. How?

STROEBEL. They will not commit perjury.

BEERMANN. That's utterly impossible!

STROEBEL. I will make it quite warm for that man, in any event.

BEERMANN. But, Counselor!

STROEBEL [clinking heels]. Assessor Stroebel.

BEERMANN. But, Assessor, that is simply impossible. You do not
want to ruin the family life of the entire city, do you?

STROEBEL. In what way?

BEERMANN. Do you expect a respectable gentleman to appear in court
and in the presence of all people to say, yes; it is true that I
... and so forth?

STROEBEL. Why not?

BEERMANN [shouting]. But they are all respectable fathers of
families!

STROEBEL. But, my dear Herr Beermann, what difference does that
make to me?

BEERMANN. It must make a difference. It makes a difference to
everybody at all times.

STROEBEL. I assure you that I am not a bit sentimental.

BEERMANN [glancing over to Reisacher]. Could we have a few words
together, alone?

STROEBEL. If you wish it. Reisacher, finish your police report in
the outer office.

REISACHER. Certainly, Herr Assessor.

(Takes several sheets of paper and goes out through the middle
door.)

STROEBEL. Do have a seat, Herr Beermann.

(Beermann sits down on the sofa. Stroebel does likewise.)

BEERMANN [mopping his brow]. A personal question, Herr Assessor,
are you married?

STROEBEL. No.

BEERMANN. I thought not. If you had a family you would not speak
in that fashion of sentimentality.

STROEBEL. If I had a family, I would not, to begin with, be
involved in this.

BEERMANN. But ...

STROEBEL. My name would not appear in the diary of Hauteville.

BEERMANN. You never can tell.

STROEBEL. Excuse me. What is there left of family life when such
things happen?

BEERMANN. What do you mean? If nobody finds it out?

STROEBEL. But such a man must live constantly under a deception.

BEERMANN. My dear Assessor. If the white lie ceases in married
life, the couple drifts apart.

STROEBEL. I cannot believe that!

BEERMANN [persuadingly]. Take my word for it. In every happy
marriage the parties lie to each other to keep their affection
from cooling.

STROEBEL. But both of them remain faithful.

BEERMANN. Not in the least.

STROEBEL. Don't say that!

BEERMANN. Not in the least; anyhow not to the very letter. A
husband is true to his wife even if he ... and so forth.

STROEBEL. Your views surprise me.

BEERMANN. This is what I mean. He is true in his own fashion. He
remains kind to his wife, takes a good care of his family, and
that is the principal thing. That other which you have in mind is
only an ideal.

STROEBEL. Ideals are lived up to.

BEERMANN. Well, yes. But if we don't live up to them, we at least
respect them.

STROEBEL. Herr Beermann, I am astounded. You are the President of
the Society for the Suppression of Vice?

BEERMANN. Can I help it that I was elected?

STROEBEL. But at least you represent the views of your Society. I
thought you came here for that reason.

BEERMANN. For what reason?

STROEBEL. To express your satisfaction at our discovery of the
business of this person.

BEERMANN. You thought I came here on that account?

STROEBEL. Didn't you?

BEERMANN [mopping his brow with his handkerchief]. You'll have to
pardon me, Herr Assessor; I am still affected by that running up
and down stairs.

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