Page:Poet Lore, volume 27, 1916.djvu/80

 Dušek.—Don’t mock at me, Šimr!

Šimr (Shrugs his shoulders).—Hm! (Turns away.) By Jove, Dušek, I owe you a gold piece, yet, do you know it! (Reaches into pocket.)

Dušek (Surprised).—You owe me?

Šimr.—For nearly a year—don’t you remember? (Gives the coin.) Plenty of money, old chap! (To the models.) Haven’t I, girls?

Réza (Laughs).—You’ll blow it to the winds in a hurry.

Dušek (Puts the coin in his pocket).—Thanks!

Šimr.—That is to say—I thank you!

Hlaváček (To ).—Haven’t you seen Paroubek?

Šimr.—He’s at the Slavia, he’ll be here soon. Malina also. (Reaches into his pocket.) Here are the provisions! (Places a package on the table.) Look, Dušek, you must learn to live this way again. For forty kreutzers a side of bacon, a few wieners

Hlaváček (Unwraps package).—For forty! Thunder! That won’t be enough!

Šimr (Looking around with a mischievous grin).—But they threw in the advice not to eat anything from the dealers in smoked meat

Hlaváček (Springs up).—I’ll give you a good—(Stretches out his hand as if to slap )

Dušek (Impatiently).—Good-bye, Láda! (Extends his hand.)

Šimr (To ).—Man, alive, how you look! If I were a landscape artist, I’d use you as a model for a ruin! (The models burst out in noisy laughter.)

Dušek (Hurt by the jibe quickly draws his hat down on his forehead).—Good-bye, Šimr.

Hlaváček.—Won’t you wait?

Dušek (Impatiently).—No, no, no!

Šimr.—You’re a queer one! To get wrathy for a word! Good luck to you! (Offers his hand.)

Dušek (Having extended his hand, indifferently, to Šimr, again offers his hand to ).—Good-bye, Láda, old boy, I thank you! And don’t be angry with me, please!

Hlaváček (Astonished).—What puts you in this soft mood? (Earnestly.) Well, good-bye—and come if you care to. There’s plenty of room here for you.

Bozena.—My respects, Mr. Dušek.

Réza (Simultaneously).—Good night!