SCENE VI.
The same Servant.
Servant.—Tea is served.
George.—I must bid you good-bye.
Stella.—Why, why are you going so early to-night?
Doctor (aside).—My old schoolmate is at home here.
George.—You must excuse me. I am very happy with you, but to-night I must be going home. I will leave Drahomir—he will replace me.
Stella.—To be angry with you would be to make you conceited. But you must tell me why you are going.
George.—The people who have lost their homes by fire are in my house.
I must give some orders and provide for their necessities.
Czeska (aside).—He is sacrificing pleasure to duty. (Aloud.) Stella!
Stella.—What is it?
Czeska.—To-morrow we must make some collections for them, and provide them with clothing.
Doctor.—I will go with you, ladies. It will be the first case in which misery did not search for the doctor, but the doctor searched for misery.
Czeska.—Very clever.
Prince (rapping with the stick).—Pretwic!
George.—Your Highness, what do you order?
Prince.—You say that this rabble is very poor?
George.—Very poor, indeed.
Prince.—You say that they have nothing to eat?
George.—Almost nothing, my prince.
Prince.—God punishes them for voting for such a man (he points to
Jozwowicz) as that one.
Doctor (bows).—They have not elected me yet.
Stella.—Papa.
Prince.—What did I want to say? Aha! Pretwic!
George.—I listen to you, my prince.
Prince.—You said that they were starving?
George.—I said—almost.
Prince.—Very well, then. Go to my cashier, Horkiewicz, and tell him to give that rabble a thousand florins. (He raps with the stick.) They must know that I will not permit any one to be hungry.
Stella—Dear father!
Drahomir.—I knew it would end that way.
Prince.—Yes, Mr. Jozwowicz! Noblesse oblige! Do you understand, your Excellency, Mr. Jozwowicz?
Doctor.—I understand, Your Highness.
Prince (giving his arm to Mrs. Czeska).—And now let us take some tea.
(George takes leave and goes out.)
Doctor.—I must also be going. I am tired and I have some letters to write.
Prince.—Upon my honor, one might think that he was already a minister. But come to see us—I cannot sleep without you.
Doctor.—I will be at the service of Your Highness.
Prince (muttering).—As soon as this Robespièrre arrived, I immediately felt better.
Stella.—Doctor, wait a moment. I do not take any tea. I will only put papa in his place, and then I will be back immediately. I must have a talk with you.