ike 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.

Glogowski strayed about the stage, himself set up the interior of
the peasants' hut, gave instructions to the actors and uneasily
scanned the first row of seats occupied by the representatives of
the press.

"It will be warm for me to-morrow!" he whispered to himself, and
began to walk about feverishly, for he was unable to stand or sit
still in one spot. Finally, he went out into the garden-hall, stood
leaning against a chestnut tree and watched with beating heart the
first act of his play which had just begun.

The audience sat coldly and quietly listening. An oppressive silence
filled the hall. Glogowski saw hundreds of eyes and immovable heads,
he even saw the restaurant waiters standing on chairs beneath the
veranda, watching the stage. The voices of the actors resounded
distinctly, floating out to that dark, densely packed mass of
people.

Glogowski sat down in the darkest corner behind the scenes on a heap
of decorations, covered his face with his hands and listened.

Scene followed scene, and still that same ominous silence reigned.
Glogowski was unable to sit there quietly! He heard the baritone
voice of Topolski, the soprano of Majkowska and the somewhat hoarse
voice of Glas, but it was not that which he wished to hear. Not
that! He bit his fingers so violently that tears came to his eyes
from the pain.

The first act ended.

A few lukewarm handclaps broke out here and there and died away
again in the general silence.

Glogowski sprang up and with craning neck and feverishly gleaming
eyes waited, but he heard only the thump of the falling curtain and
the buzz of voices suddenly rising in the hall.

During the intermission he again observed the public. Their faces
wore a strange expression. The members of the press frowned, and
whispered something among themselves, while certain of them made
notes.

"I feel cold!" whispered Glogowski to himse