Page:Poet Lore, volume 27, 1916.djvu/42

 fluence on you, doctor? (He laughs.)

Nedoma.—The atmosphere, my friend, devours only the weak. Every atmosphere. Only the other day, I had a great debate about that with your friend Dušek.

Hlaváček (Assenting).—A beloved theme of his in recent times!

Nedoma.—Isn’t that so? He complained that he had to escape from his hitherto atmosphere by main force in order to save himself from crumbling. He had to save himself, he said, and get into freer, clearer air.

Hlaváček (Smiling a little).—He is slurring his own nest!

Nedoma.—Do you know what I said to him? That any medium can not gnaw at a strong man. And may the devil take a weak man! Among us or among you—the same holds true. But a new medium devours a weak man much quicker.

Hlaváček.—And Dušek is in a new medium!

Nedoma.—Exceedingly so! And, my friend, he is in great error, in the meantime. He seeks in our society what doesn’t exist there. The new colors and the new perfumes have deluded him—nothing more. Fundamentally it is the same. Except for the fact that Dušek’s awakening will be all the more terrible when he comes to, in a strange world.

Hlaváček.—And yet—he has found here a new intoxicant!

Nedoma.—What good does it do him? Does it create any thing in him or bring anything out of him? Not a thing. Did you see his new picture?

( nods.)

Nedoma.—Well—then! And that is only the beginning of the end. (A pause.) You ought to give him a talking to.

Hlaváček (Smiles).—I’d fare ill, if I did.

Nedoma.—He’s touchy, isn’t he? Another sign of a fall. And, my friend, he’s fallen into quite an agreeable world, where at least they rave about art, if nothing else. Sir, we are, so to speak, in an artists’ hall, here. (Laughs.) Truly, though, Mrs. Heller herself has enough earnest interest. But—the rest! But Mrs. Heller is taming them; note—first, the musical competitions of artists and dilettantes—and, no supper until eleven. (Looks at his watch.) I am hungry now.

Helen (Enters at the rear with Clara).—O ho! here are two deserters! Go at once and listen!

Nedoma (Laughing).—Won’t you relieve us of duty? Come, Mr. Hlaváček; the ladies are evidently longing for confidences.