The same. Jan Miliszewski.
Jan.--I could not find mamma. Good-morning, madam. Do I intrude?
Czeska.--Not at all, sir. (To Jozwowicz) She will do her duty; rest
assured of that.
Doctor.--Thank you. (Czeska goes out.)
Jan.--Doctor.
Doctor.--I am listening to you, sir.
Jan.--Let us speak frankly. Mamma wishes me to become a member of
parliament, but I do not care for it.
Doctor.--You are too modest, sir.
Jan.--You are sneering, and I do not know how to defend myself. But
I am frank with you--I would not care a bit about being elected
to parliament if it were not for my mamma. When mamma wishes for
something it must be accomplished. All women of the family of
Srokoszynski are that way, and mamma is of that family.
Doctor.--But, count, you have a will of your own.
Jan.--That is the trouble--the Miliszewskis are all ruled by the
women. It is our family characteristic, sir.
Doctor.--A knightly characteristic indeed! But what can I do for you?
Jan.--I am not going to oppose you.
Doctor.--I must be as frank with you as you are with me. Until now you
have helped me.
Jan.--I don't know how, but if it is so, then you must help me in your
turn.
Doctor.--In what?
Jan.--It is a very delicate question. But you must not tell mamma
anything about it.
Doctor.--Certainly not.
Jan.--Mamma wishes me to marry the princess, but I, sir, I do not
want--
Doctor.--You do not want?
Jan.--It astonishes you?
Doctor.--I must be frank--
Jan.--I do not wish to because I do not wish to. When a man does not
feel like marrying, then he does not feel like it. You will suppose
that I am in love with some one else? It may be. But it is not with
the princess. Naturally, when mamma says: "Jan, go ahead," I go ahead,
because I cannot help it. The Miliszewskis knew how to manage the men,
but not the women.
Doctor.--I do not understand--how can I be useful to you?
Jan.--You can do anything in this house, so you must help me secretly,
to be refused.
Doctor.--Count, you may rely on me in that matter.
Jan.--Thank you.
Doctor.--And it will be so much the easier done because the princess
is betrothed.
Jan.--I did not know that any one dared to compete with me.
Doctor (aside).--What an idea! (Aloud) It is Mr. George Pretwic.
Jan.--Then they wished to make sport of me.
Doctor.--Mr. Pretwic is an audacious man. You were perfectly right
when you said the question was a delicate one. The people are afraid
of Mr. Pretwic; if you were to give up, people would say that--
Jan.--That I am also afraid? Then I will not give up. My dear sir, I
see you do not know the Miliszewskis. We do not know how to handle the
women, but there is not a coward in our family. I know that people
laugh at me, but the one who would dare to call me a coward would not
laugh. I will show them at once that I am not a coward. Where is Mr.
Pretwic?
Doctor.--He is in the garden (pointing through the window). Do you see
him there, near the lake?
Jan.--Good-bye.