Wawrzecki, with his role in his hand paced up and down the dressing-room rehearsing in an undertone.
The stage-director ran about more swiftly than usual and in the ladies' dressing-room livelier quarrels were going on. Everyone was more nervous to-day. The prompter supervised the stage arrangements and watched the public that was beginning to fill the hall. The chorus girls, who were to act as supers, were already dressed in their peasant costumes and straggled all about the stage.
"Dobek!" called Majkowska. "My dear fellow, only support me well! . . . I know my part, but in the second act slip me the words of that monologue a little louder."
Dobek nodded his head and had not yet returned to his post when Glas accosted him.
"Dobek! Will you have a drink of whisky, eh? Perhaps you'd like a sandwich?" he asked the prompter in a solicitous tone.
"To the sandwich add a beer," answered Dobek, smiling blissfully.
"My good fellow, don't fail me! I really know my part to-day, but
I'm likely to get stuck here and there . . ."
"Well, well! only don't lie down yourself and you can be sure I won't let you perish."
And in this way, every other minute some actor or actress would approach Dobek, who solemnly promised to "uphold" them all.
"Dobek! I need only the first words of each line . . . remember!" reminded Topolski at the very last.