Beermann.  I merely mentioned it because you understand life and I must speak to someone who judges more liberally than our narrow minded bourgeois.

Hauser.  More liberally than you judged last night?

Beermann.  I was overzealous, but don’t let us talk about it.  I want to ask you for advice. [Short pause.] You lawyers are bound to respect professional secrets?

Hauser.  We must respect them.

Beermann.  What I am about to tell you, you will probably find most astounding, but it is to be considered absolutely confidential.  Even though your client confesses a crime, you are not permitted to divulge the information?

Hauser.  What a careful criminal you are!

Beermann.  It is possible that you will find this information most unpleasant.

Hauser [Bends and talks in a low voice].  Now don’t worry about me, Beermann.  I will know how to protect your interests.  The law gives me the right to remain silent in any event.

Beermann.  Well then ... [nervously runs his fingers through his hair] I really have to begin a little way back.  The last few days I have been thinking a great deal about monogamy.  I am surely the last person to doubt the high moral value of the marriage vow, but there is something to be said on the other side.  It is indeed a very ticklish theme to discuss.

Hauser.  Suppose then that we skip the prologue and the few opening chapters and start at once with the affair of Madame Hauteville.

Beermann.  How do you know ...?

Hauser.  I suspected.  You probably are not the first one who has come to confess to me.  Since last night many consciences have been jolted.  So you, too, belong to that crowd?

Beermann.  You ask yourself how such things are possible?

Hauser.  No, sir, I never ask myself such stupid questions.

Beermann.  You have always believed that an undisturbed happiness prevailed in my family.

Hauser [quickly].  Beermann, I resent that!  Do not try to make yourself interesting.

Beermann.  Don’t take it the wrong way.  I am not blaming anybody.  I just want to ...

Hauser.  You even want to find moral justification for your immorality.

Beermann.  I know well enough that it is unjustifiable.  I have been saying that to myself a hundred thousand times.  Do not think that I overcame my principles so easily.

Hauser.  All you had to overcome was your timidity.

Beermann [sighing deeply].  If you only knew.

Hauser.  Of course you did not land on the primrose path with both feet, but you climbed carefully over the fence—­just as befits a man of your embonpoint.

Beermann.  I expected something better from you than mere mocking.