did well. We do not bribe. But no matter about that. What
good luck that they put up Miliszewski for a candidate. Otherwise you
would be lost because Husarski would have had the majority.

Doctor.--Anton, I am sure that we will be defeated.

Anton.--No! What am I for? Uf! How tired I am. Let me rest for five
minutes (he sits down). Good gracious! how soft the furniture is here.
We must donate some money for some public purpose. Have you any money?

Doctor.--I have some.

Anton.--We are going to give that money to build a school.

Doctor.--Here is the key of my desk--you will find some ready money
there, and some checks.

Anton.--Very well, but I must rest a moment. In the mean while what is
the news here? You are not looking well. Your eyes have sunken. Upon
my word, I was not so much in love with my wife. Speak--I will rest in
the mean while--but speak frankly.

Doctor.--I will be frank with you.

Anton.--What more?

Doctor.--That marriage will be broken off.

Anton.--Why.

Doctor.--Because there are times when these people do not succeed in
anything.

Anton.--To the garret with those peacocks. And what about that
cannibal Pretwic?

Doctor.--A long story. The princess has mistaken the sympathy which
she feels for him for something more serious. To-day she knows that
she does not love him.

Anton.--That is good. Truly, it looks as though they were pursued by
fate. It is the lot of races that have lived too long.

Doctor.--Implacable logic of things.

Anton.--Then she is not going to marry him. I pity them, but to the
deuce with sentimentality!

Doctor.--She would marry him if it killed her to keep her word. But
there is a third person entangled in the matter--Count Drahomir.

Anton.--At every step one meets a count! He betrays Pretwic?

Doctor.--What a blockhead you are.

Anton.--Well, frankly speaking, I do not care one whit for your
drawing-room affairs.

Doctor.--Drahomir and she do not know that they love each other. But
something attracts them to each other. What is that force? They do not
ask. They are like children.

Anton.--And how will you profit from all this?

Doctor.--Listen, you democrat. When two knights are in love with one
noble damsel, that love usually ends dramatically--and the third party
usually gets the noble damsel.

Anton.--And the knights?

Doctor.--Let them perish.

Anton.--What then do you suppose will happen?

Doctor.--I do not know. Pretwic is a passionat