The group of Interpreters threescore and ten;[1]
Of late it has grown by a hundred and sixty
[Shouts to the Keepers.
Mikkel, Schlingelberg, Schafmann, Fuchs,— Into the cages with you at once! The Keepers. We! Begriffenfeldt. Who else, pray? Get in, get in! When the world twirls around, we must twirl with it too. [Forces them into a cage. He's arrived this morning, the mighty Peer;— The rest you can guess,—I need say no more.
[Locks the cage door, and throws the key into a well.
Peer.
But, my dear Herr Doctor and Director, pray?
Begriffenfeldt.
Neither one nor the other! I was before
Herr Peer, are you secret? I must ease my heart
Peer.
[With increasing uneasiness.]
What is it?
Begriffenfeldt.
Promise you will not tremble.
Peer.
I will do my best, but
- ↑ This is understood to refer to the authors of the Greek
version of the Old Testament, known as the Septuagint. We
are unable to account for the hundred and sixty recruits to their
company.
