Hlaváček.—Upon my soul, boys, I’ve felt as if I’d gotten a whipping ever since I saw Dušek. I have a feeling all the time that we shouldn’t have let him go away.
Šimr.—I suppose I ought to have implored him not to leave.
Hlaváček.—You know him and you know how morbid he is. And these evenings, in solitude, with horrible thoughts—(Rises) Do you know what, I’m going to get him!
Šimr.—It’s a wonder you wouldn’t get tired of it!
Hlaváček.—He talked such queer things here—Upon my soul, I almost have a fear for him!
Šimr.—You idiot—He likes himself too well.
Hlaváček (Stands undecided in the center of the studio.)
Réza.—The other day I almost wept for Dušek. We found a newspaper in the house and there was a report of the Christmas exhibition. And what they said about Dušek!
Hlaváček.—I know! (Tosses his head.) You know, Šimr.
Šimr.—You recall, boys, how Dušek raged last year when they praised someone else instead of him? Once he actually startled me by saying he’d become stunted in growth among us!
Paroubek.—Eh, you can’t stop the growth of a good seed!
Šimr.—Like you, for instance? (Laughs, then gravely.) But Dušek already had this in his blood! As long as he kicked others, it was all right—but now when someone kicks him down—
Hlaváček (In a low voice).—Stop it, Šimr!
Šimr.—Just stand up for him! Such a thing as this happens only to such fine gentlemen as he was. (Angrily.) If I’m a painter, then I’m a painter—and if I’m a baron, then I’m a baron! But to quit painting to imitate a baron
Hlaváček.—It’s a pity, it’s a pity to lose such skill! How that man understood colors and what ideas he had! It was exactly as if—(At that instant a hollow sound echoes in the front hall caused by a fall. Hlaváček is startled.) What is happening out there?
Šimr (Looks out of the door. With comic sorrow).—Alas, our Lord Jesus! (Goes into front hall.) (All display excitement.)
Šimr (Returns carrying the broken oleander in a shattered jardinere).—Look, Vaniček, we shan’t go to law about the oleander! It fell of itself from the stand to the floor.
Bozena (Surprised).—Didn’t someone knock it down?
Hlaváček (Uneasily).—Why, we were all here!
Réza.—That’s a sign!
