Drahomir.—­When shall I bid her good-bye?

Doctor.—­In a moment.  I told her.  I will manage to be with Pretwic during that time.  She will be here presently.

Drahomir.—­I would prefer to die.

Doctor.—­No one is certain of to-morrow.  Be off now. (Drahomir goes out.)

SCENE VI.

Jozwowicz.  Then a servant.

Doctor.—­How warm it is here!  My head is splitting. (He rings—­a servant enters.) Ask Mr. Pretwic to come here. (The servant goes out.) My head is bursting—­but then I will have a long peace.

SCENE VII.

Jozwowicz.  George Pretwic.

George (entering).—­What do you wish with me?

Doctor.—­I wish to give you good advice about the princess’s health.

George.—­How is she?

Doctor.—­Better.  I allowed her to leave bed because she and Drahomir asked me to.

George.—­Drahomir?

Doctor.—­Yes.  He wishes to talk with her.  They will be here in a quarter of an hour.

George.—­Jozwowicz, I am choking with wrath and pain.  Drahomir avoids me.

Doctor.—­But you do not suspect him.

George.—­I swear to you that I have defended myself from suspicions as a man dying on the steppe defends himself from the crows—­that I have bitten my hands with pain and despair—­that I still defend myself.  But I cannot any more.  I cannot.  The evidence pounds on my brain.  He avoids me.  He tells me that I have become an idiot—­that I have become a madman, because—­

Doctor.—­Keep your temper.  Even if he were in love with the princess, nobody rules his own heart.

George.—­Enough!  You were right when you coupled his name with hers.  At that moment I repulsed the thought, but it was there just the same (he strikes his breast).  The fruit is ripened.  Oh, what a ridiculous and dreadful part I am playing here—­

Doctor.—­But he saved your life.

George.—­In order to take it when it began to have a certain value.  His service is paid with torture, with a slain happiness, with a broken hope, with destroyed faith in myself, in him and in her.

Doctor.—­Be easy.

George.—­I loved that man.  Tell me that I am a madman and I shall be calmed.  How dreadful to think that it is he!  Forgive me everything I said to you before and help me.  Evil thoughts are rushing through my head.

Doctor.—­Be calm—­you are mistaken.

George.—­Prove to me that I am mistaken and I will kneel before you.

Doctor.—­You are mistaken, because Drahomir is going away.

George.—­He is going away. (A moment of silence.) Oh, Lord!  Then I can live without such tortures, I may hope!

Doctor (coolly and slowly).—­But he is not going away forever.  He said he would return.

George.—­You put me on the cross again.