"Wolfgang?" queried Diederich. "I saw a lot of him in Berlin. He is living there with an actress."
The Pastor coughed disapprovingly. As they just reached the square on which the theatre stood he looked sternly across the building and said: "Little Berlin, it is true, is beside my church, but it is in a dark corner at least. This den of iniquity flaunts itself on the public square, and our sons and daughters rub sleeves with common prostitutes,"—he pointed to the stage door where some members of the company were standing.
With a grieved expression Diederich agreed that this was very sad, while Jadassohn waxed indignant against the "Netzig Journal," which had rejoiced because four illegitimate children had occurred in the plays of the last season, and had regarded this as sign of progress.
Meanwhile they had turned into Kaiser Wilhelmstrasse and were obliged to salute various gentlemen who were just going into the Masonic Hall. When they had passed and had put on again the hats which they had so respectfully removed, Jadassohn said: "We shall have to keep an eye on the people who take part in that Masonic humbug. His Majesty most decidedly disapproves of it."
"So far as my brother-in-law Heuteufel is concerned," declared the Pastor, "even the most dangerous sect would not surprise me."
"Well, and what about Herr Lauer?" Diederich inquired. "A man who does not hesitate to share his profits with his workmen, is capable of anything."
"The worst of all," declared Jadassohn, "is Landgerichtsrat Fritzsche, who dares to show himself in that company, one of His Majesty's judges, arm in arm with Cohn, the money-lender. Vat does dat mean, Cohn?" Jadassohn mimicked, turning up the palms of his hands.
Diederich continued: "Since he and Frau Lauer …" He
