at six o’clock in the morning.—(Maliciously) Maybe they thought we published it that time throughout Prague ! (A pause.)
Hlaváček.—Good enough for ’em—for both of them! (Notices Dušek.) I say, old man, you’re not torturing yourself because they got married?
Dušek (Haughtily).—You fool!
Hlaváček.—What’s gnawing at you, then?
Dušek.—Not for her, by any means—believe me, not for her! And after the worst desperation was over that time, I almost believed you—that it had all turned out for the best! But now! Look at me! (Rises.) Well?
Hlaváček.—Well—what?
Dušek.—Don’t you see? (A pause.) Did you know that they returned my picture from the Rudolfinum?
Hlaváček (Surprised).—Wha-a-t? (After a while.) What did you send?
Dušek.—I finished that “Psyche.” That is—I finished at it! They fairly threw it back at my feet. (Bitterly.) My “Psyche” you know. For two months I forced myself to paint at it to get a little calm out of my work. I began again and again, virtually fought with myself about the thought and the form, I wrung my brain and soul—and—nothing, nothing, nothing! (Explosively.) Bah! (A pause.) I’m not surprised at them for not wanting it. It was a terrible daub, worse than a chromo. (Sadly.) Ládo, you know I didn’t use to be just an ordinary dauber, did I?
Hlaváček (With genuine feeling).—And you’re not, you little idiot! What if you have made a mess of one thing? That’s nothing! You slid out of the track last year, a little, and then you had a sudden awakening—well,—what of it? Buy yourself some canvas and paints, smear up something, come again among your old comrades—and you’ll see—it will once more be a “go!”
Dušek (Bitterly).—As if I had even the price of the paints. (Stops suddenly, after a while.) But what made me come to you at all? That time in my anger I gave up the place—you recall that time? I thought by spring I’d get something together and disappear to Munich
Hlaváček.—And today you have to move, is that it? It’s the first?
Dušek.—Only that I have no place to move to. Tomorrow a new renter moves into my rooms
Hlaváček—An acquaintance?
