d to you undressed?

PROFESSOR RUBEK.

That means nothing--nothing for us artists. [With a change of tone.]
And then--may I venture to ask--how was I to guess that she was in this
country?

MAIA.

Oh, you might have seen her name in a Visitor's List--in one of the
newspapers.

PROFESSOR RUBEK.

But I had no idea of the name she now goes by. I had never heard of any
Herr von Satow.

MAIA.

[Affecting weariness.] Oh well then, I suppose it must have been for
some other reason that you were so set upon this journey.

PROFESSOR RUBEK.

[Seriously.] Yes, Maia--it was for another reason. A quite different
reason. And that is what we must sooner or later have a clear
explanation about.

MAIA.

[In a fit of suppressed laughter.] Heavens, how solemn you look!

PROFESSOR RUBEK.

[Suspiciously scrutinising her.] Yes, perhaps a little more solemn than
necessary.

MAIA.

How so--?

PROFESSOR RUBEK.

And that is a very good thing for us both.

MAIA.

You begin to make me feel curious, Rubek.

PROFESSOR RUBEK.

Only curious? Not a little bit uneasy.

MAIA.

[Shaking her head.] Not in the least.

PROFESSOR RUBEK.

Good. Then listen.--You said that day down at the Baths that it seemed
to you I had become very nervous of late--

MAIA.

Yes, and you really have.

PROFESSOR RUBEK.

And what do you think can be the reason of that?

MAIA.

How can I tell--? [Quickly.] Perhaps you have grown weary of this
constant companionship with me.

PROFESSOR RUBEK.

Constant--? Why not say "everlasting"?

MAIA.

Daily companionship, then. Here have we two solitary people lived down
there for four or five mortal years, and scarcely have an hour away from
each other.--We two all by ourselves.

PROFESSOR RUBEK.

[With interest.] Well? And then--?

MAIA.

[A little oppressed.] You are not a particularly sociable man, Rubek.
You like to keep to yourself and think your own thoughts. And of course
I can't talk properly to you about your affairs. I know nothing about
art and that sort of thing-- [With an impatient gesture.] And care very
little either, for that matter!

PROFESSOR RUBEK.

Well, well; and that's why we generally sit by the fireside, and chat
about your affairs.

MAIA.

Oh, good gracious--I have no affairs to chat about.

PROFESSOR RUBEK.

Well, they are trifles, perhaps; but at any rate the time passes for us
in that way as well