George.—­How often the best student, Jozwowicz, helped Pretwic with his exercises.

Doctor.—­You have a good memory, sir.

George.—­Very good, indeed, for then we did not call each other “sir.” 
Once more, Stanislaw, I welcome you.

Doctor.—­And I return the welcome.

George—­But do I not remember that after you went through college you studied law?

Doctor.—­And afterward I became a doctor of medicine.

Prince.—­Be seated.  Jan, bring the lights.

Stella.—­How charming that you are acquainted!

Doctor.—­The school-bench, like misery, unites people.  But then, social standing separates them.  George’s future was assured.  I was obliged to search for mine.

Prince.—­He has searched also, and found adventures.

Drahomir.—­In two parts of the world.

Czeska.—­That is splendid.

Doctor.—­Well, he followed his instinct.  Even in school he broke the horses, went shooting and fenced.

George.—­Better than I studied.

Doctor (laughing).—­Yes—­we used to call him the general, because he commanded us in our student fights.

Drahomir.—­George, I recognized you there.

Czeska.—­But now, I think, he will stop fighting.

Stella.—­Who knows?

George.—­I am sure of it.

Doctor.—­As for me, I was his worst soldier.  I never was fond of playing that way.

Prince.—­Because those are the distractions of the nobility and not of a doctor.

Doctor.—­We begin to quarrel already.  You are all proud of the fact that your ancestors, the knights, killed so many people.  But if the prince knew how many people I have killed with my prescriptions!  I can guarantee you that none of Your Highness’s ancestors can be proud of such great number.

Drahomir.—­Bravo.  Very good!

Prince.—­And he is my doctor!

Stella.—­Papa!  The doctor is joking.

Prince.—­Thanks for such jokes.  But it is sure that the world is now upside-down.

Doctor.—­Your Highness, we will live a hundred years more. (To
George.) Come, tell me, what became of you? (They go out.)

Prince.—­You would not believe how unhappy I am because I cannot get along with that man.  He is the son of a blacksmith from Stanislawow.  I sent him to school because I wished to make an overseer of him.  But afterwards he went to study at the University.

Drahomir.—­He is twice a doctor—­he is an intelligent man.  One can see that by merely looking at him.

Stella.—­Very much so.

Czeska.—­So intelligent that I am afraid of him.

Drahomir.—­But the prince must be satisfied.

Prince.—­Satisfied, satisfied!  He has lost his common sense.  He became a democrat—­a sans culotte.  But he is a good doctor, and I am sick.  I have some stomach trouble. (To Drahomir.) Have you heard of it?