Page:Poet Lore, volume 28, 1917.djvu/561

 Pivousek.—Stuff and nonsense! Move them out!

Shouting aside.—The Director! Let the Director come! Merfajt!

Voices (Drawing nearer).—Kralenec! Come, Kralenec!

Kralenec.—I am coming! As soon as I am through right here! Pivousku, do you hear that roar outside? Will you leave this alone?

Pivousek.—And if all the world were afire, I have been commanded to do this, and I must finish it! (To and the servants.) Carry them out quickly, so that you will make an end of this business soon!

Kralenec.—You will leave this place at once, or I will kill you!

Pivousek (Advancing).—And I say, be still! If you do not, the Director will have you arrested! Come on! (Takes hold of the bed to help the men carry it out.)

Kralenec.—Back! (Strikes Pivousek to the ground.)

Pivousek.—Help! Go for him! ( and the servant are about to pit themselves against ,—he seizes an ax, taking a stand with it, upraised. glides toward the door.)

KralencKralenec [sic].—Whoever approaches nearer will be a dead man!

Tonicka.—Vojtech!

( and the Servant creep timidly toward the door.)

Pivousek.—We will go now, but (threateningly,) we will return again! (He leaves, and the servant follow.)

Kralenec (Looking out of the window).—Tonicka, do you see our people? Today we must win out!

(Enter .)

Kotora.—Kralenec! Rokos is sending for you! The Director has closed his doors and refuses to talk to us! We must manage some other way!

Tonicka (Frightened).—But the troops have just arrived! (The ravages of uncertainty and anxiety are affecting her.)

Kotora.—We know it! We must act all the more quickly!

Voices (Outside).—Kotora! Kralenec!

Kotora.—I am coming! I am coming! (Goes out.)

Kralenec.—And I also! (Wants to leave. In the distance may be heard the beating of drums.)