soon—you understand—(Someone knocks.)
Novák (Enters the room).—My respects, doctor!
Nedoma.—At your service, Mr. Novák. Well you have been detained! Don’t you hear? (He points towards the rear from which the sound of music is heard.)
Novák.—Really? Pardon me, I must offer my greetings to the lady of the house. (He departs through rear.)
Nedoma.—Do you know him?
(Hlaváček shakes his head.)
Nedoma (Caustically).—Bohus Vladimir Novák, the poet of Prague reception rooms! (Looks intently at Hlaváček.) Haven’t you read anything of his? (Dryly.) Neither have I. And I hope no one in Bohemia has, either. But—he’s a poet! Yes, indeed, a highly gifted poet as any one in society will attest—even Mrs. Daneš although she reads only Marlitt and Haecklander.
Hlaváček.—Aha, he’s a parlor specialist!
Nedoma.—Excellent! A specialist! Our social set, my friend, scorns the other castes but nevertheless, it feels that it lacks something. So, to make up this lack, it coddles up in its own greenhouse this sort of compensation, for it is too supercilious to accept from another order of society what it does not have itself. (He points behind the scenes.) BohusVladimir Novak suffices for our social set, as the entire field of literature. And since society recognizes him as a poet, ergo
Hlaváček.—Mr. Novák is an authority. (Laughs.)
Nedoma.—And see, that’s why Dušek can never perfectly plant himself in this social set. Even in the most modern garments with the newest perfume on his neck-cloth he will ever remain a common parvenu. (Quickly.) Nota bene, a parvenu without money; only a parvenu with money looks as if he might belong among us.
Hlaváček.—Among you, doctor? Pardon me, but your views
Nedoma (Laughs).—Ah, so, I understand! You see, my friend, I am a physician in those families. I live with them, know their weaknesses, I understand them—and—I forgive them. “We are caught together, we will hang together” say the Germans. I am, my friend, a cynic even in their company. But that suits them, hence, they like me. A family physician, Mr. Hlaváček, is also a piece of furniture in a reception room.
Hlaváček (Frankly).—Then the atmosphere,—has no in-
