on! (Comes in, and again from the door coaxes some one outside more pressingly, but in a suppressed voice.) Come on, I tell you!
Rejsek comes in dressed as in Act I. He is not so rough-looking as Chadima. He smooths the hair on his temples and looks about.
Chadima.—You are a reader of books, and madam—
Rejsek.—So this is where she does her writing. (Observes the bookcase.) My, but there is a lot of reading matter here! (Goes towards the books.)
Chadima.—And when I tell her about that too—Rejsek, did he really say that?
Rejsek.—I'll bet my last copper, Dr. Gülich said that you were rocky.
Chadima (Shakes his fist towards the window).—I'll give it to him, I'll give it to him for calling me rocky! If he bristles up his back I'll pluck him clean. It's all because of that shop sign, I know; and you, Rejsek—
Rejsek (Who has meanwhile been looking at the backs of the books, reads their titles in a low voice).—"Dobroslav"—"The Lady of the Lake"—"The Bells of Loket"—aha, Klicpera[1]—
Chadima.—You won't give in, either?
Rejsek (Pretending not to hear).—"The Magic Hat."—(Nods his head with a smile.)
Chadima.—Listen, Rejsek—
Rejsek (Not heeding him, all at once quickly draws out a book, with a reader's curiosity).—This, I think—
Chadima (Impatiently).—But that later!
Rejsek (Not even looking around).—This is by Kramerius.[2]
Chadima (Seized with curiosity, and also to interrupt Rejsek, snatches the book from his hand).—Let's see! (Reads, holding the book at a great distance.) "The Evening Meetings of the Dobrovic Community; or, Profitable Teachings, according to which—"
Rejsek (In the meantime has taken from his breast pocket a case, from which he draws a pair of rimmed spectacles and quickly puts them on).—Show it to me. (Turns the page and reads from the preface.) "If Bohemians would but remember that they proceed from the nation which once for its famous deeds—"
Chadima.—Aha!
- ↑ Václav Kliment Klicpera (1792–1859), poet and dramatist. "The Miller's Monkey" (see p. 39) is one of his popular pieces for declamation.
- ↑ Václav Matej Kramerius (1759–1808), author and publisher. By his zeal for providing reading matter, in popular style, in the Bohemian language, be became one of the pioneers in the Bohemian revival.
