Czeska (entering).--You wished to speak to me?
Doctor.--Yes, madam.
Anton (bows to Mrs. Czeska, then speaks to Jozwowicz).--I am going to get the money and I will be back in a moment.
Doctor.--Very well. (Anton goes out.)
Czeska.--Who is that gentleman?
Doctor.--A pilot.
Czeska.--What do you mean?
Doctor.--He guides the boat in which I am sailing. As for the rest, he is a horribly honest man.
Czeska.--I do not understand very well. What did you wish to speak to me about?
Doctor.--About the princess. You are both like mother and daughter, and you should have her entire confidence. What is the matter with her? She conceals something--some sorrow. As a doctor I must know everything, because in order to cure physical disease one must know the moral cause. (Aside) The spirit of Aesculapius forgive me this phrase.
Czeska.--My good sir, what are you asking about?
Doctor.--I have told you that the princess conceals some sorrow.
Czeska.--I do not know.
Doctor.--We both love her; let us then speak frankly.
Czeska.--I am willing.
Doctor.--Then, does she love her fiance?
Czeska.--How can you ask me such a question? If she did not, she would not be betrothed to him. It is such a simple thing that even I do not talk to her about it any more.
Doctor.--You say: "I do not talk about it any more"; so you have already talked about it.
Czeska.--Yes. She told me that she was afraid she did not love him enough. But every pure soul fears that it does not fulfil its duty.
Why did you ask me that?
Doctor (saluting her).--I have my reasons. I wished to know. (Aside) I am wasting my time with her.
SCENE V.
The same. Jan Miliszewski.
Jan.--I could not find mamma. Good-morning, madam. Do I intrude?
Czeska.--Not at all, sir. (To Jozwowicz) She will do her duty; rest a.s.sured of that.
Doctor.--Thank you. (Czeska goes out.)
Jan.--Doctor.
Doctor.--I am listening to you, sir.
Jan.--Let us speak frankly. Mamma wishes me to become a member of parliament, but I do not care for it.
Doctor.--You are too modest, sir.
Jan.--You are sneering, and I do not know how to defend myself. But I am frank with you--I would not care a bit about being elected to parliament if it were not for my mamma. When mamma wishes for something it must be accomplished. All women of the family of Srokoszynski are that way, and mamma is of that family.
Doctor.--But, count, you have a will of your own.
Jan.--That is the trouble--the Miliszewskis are all ruled by the women. It is our family characteristic, sir.
Doctor.--A knightly characteristic indeed! But what can I do for you?
Jan.--I am not going to oppose you.
Doctor.--I must be as frank with you as you are with me. Until now you have helped me.
Jan.--I don"t know how, but if it is so, then you must help me in your turn.
Doctor.--In what?
Jan.--It is a very delicate question. But you must not tell mamma anything about it.
Doctor.--Certainly not.
Jan.--Mamma wishes me to marry the princess, but I, sir, I do not want--
Doctor.--You do not want?
Jan.--It astonishes you?
Doctor.--I must be frank--
Jan.--I do not wish to because I do not wish to. When a man does not feel like marrying, then he does not feel like it. You will suppose that I am in love with some one else? It may be. But it is not with the princess. Naturally, when mamma says: "Jan, go ahead," I go ahead, because I cannot help it. The Miliszewskis knew how to manage the men, but not the women.
Doctor.--I do not understand--how can I be useful to you?
Jan.--You can do anything in this house, so you must help me secretly, to be refused.
Doctor.--Count, you may rely on me in that matter.
Jan.--Thank you.