Everybody began to look at Majkowska and Pepa, but both were silent.
Majkowska's face wore a scornful expression while Pepa, unable to conceal the anger that raged within her, tore distractedly at the lace on her sleeves.
"No doubt she is now blessing that intrigue that caused her to leave us, for it helped instead of harming her," said someone.
"Or else it was her talent that helped her!" intentionally added
Kotlicki.
"Talent?" cried Cabinska, "Nicolette and talent! Ha! ha! ha! Why she could not even play a chambermaid on our stage!"
"Nevertheless in the Warsaw Theater she will play the second-best roles," interposed Kotlicki.
"The Warsaw Theater! The Warsaw Theater! That is a still poorer show than ours!" added Glas.
"Ho! ho! what do the Warsaw Theater and its actors amount to! . . . Nothing great, to be sure!" shouted Krzykiewicz, all flushed with drinking as he filled the landlady's glass with wine.
"Only pay us such salaries as their actors get, and you will see who we are!" called Piesh.
"That's true! Piesh is right. Who can think only of art when his rent is in arrears?"