Principal. Let us hope for education on a scientific basis—
Doctor. Better: material-scientific—
Principal. —on a material-scientific basis diverts sooner or later the people from those religious parties and their defenders. I dedicate our work to this sacred goal!
Doctor. As I have stated it: our nation is conservative in regards to their habits and tradition, but it is intelligent and capable in its mind—it's smarter than we imagine!
Mayor. Let it be so!
Komar. It will be so, we will see, before even the sun sets. Hvastja . . . Tonight you will pay for the final mass and for the clerical . . .
Hvastja. Will you do your praying I assigned, will you follow what I ordered you, sinner?
Komar. (points at Hvastja). Look at them! A human seats among us–a Jew among the apostles, a phoney among the sacred guards. Is it contrary to the possibility that others sold their souls to the Mephisto as well? It is not common, though it does happen indeed. I must know – was it through loafing or evil? If they are so lazy, may god pardon them. If they are so dark, so evil, may something higher pardon them, for they have trapped their own self.
Hvastja (stands up very calmly). Friend, I did not come to make you confess nor avow . . . But so I did not come to avow myself to you.
Principal (turns to Komar). Your views truly are made out of intelligence and fairness, but there is no need for such rhetoric.
Doctor. If the thought is bitter, the word shall be sweet – medicine in sweetened water.
9
