Page:Poet Lore, volume 35, 1924.pdf/389

 Prochazka.—The idiot! There he is now! That is what he gets for not taking advice!

Cizek.—And now there will be peace. I have always said: the state should be superior to everything, and these fights should not occur. But why should we care? Legislators and ministers, more show and display! That is all there is to it!

Prochazka.—That is right!

( enters unnoticed.)

Dr. Svoboda (To himself)—The vultures have already alighted on the corpse.

Dub.—And what about the estate?

Servant.—It will be sold at auction. There won’t be enough left to pay off the debts.

Dub.—And where will these people go?

Servant.—The old lady has a brother in Vienna. She will go to him.

Dr. Svoboda (To himself).—Good Heavens!

Dub.—And the old man?

Servant.—He may go where he likes nobody cares about him.

Dr. Svoboda (Stepping to the front).—You scoundrel!

Servant (Jumps up with the others)—Good Lord! The master!

Dr. Svoboda (To the Servant)—Away! Away! ( hurries off. To the others.) And you may leave this room at once!

Prochazka (Fearlessly)—We were appointed by the court, so whom are we to deal with?

Dr. Svoboda.—I am the master of this house!

Prochazka.—That is—as the Honorable Doctor,—you once were the master of this house. But the place has since been in the hands of the executioner, so who has the right to command us now?

Dub (Dryly)—No one do you understand?

Dr. Svoboda (Taking a step forward, then controlling himself).—Noone! Then I can give no further orders in my home!

Cizek.—We have come from the court, (insolently) and if any one dares to touch us that is what the court is for.