SCENE—_The shop again. It is a sunny autumn morning. When the
curtain rises JUHASZ is escorting the Insignificant Lady to the
door, which PHILIP holds open for her._
UNASSUMING LADY—[_As she goes._] Thank you. I will telephone you on
Wednesday about noon, and if the materials have arrived I will come in
during the afternoon some time. Good day.
JUHASZ—Good day, madame.
PHILIP—Good day.
UNASSUMING LADY—[_To PHILIP._] Good day. [_She exits. PHILIP closes the
door. JUHASZ returns to the counter down right and begins clearing away._]
JUHASZ—[_Gloomily._] This place gets more like a graveyard every day.
PHILIP—I don’t see how you can say that, Mr. Juhasz. You’ve only been
back two weeks, and in those two weeks you have done more business than
you used to do in two months.
JUHASZ—[_Morosely._] Not enough to suit me.
PHILIP—It has become the fashion to buy here. Everybody in Budapest seems
anxious to help you.
JUHASZ—Because they are sorry for me. I don’t want them to be sorry for
me.
PHILIP—Nonsense! It’s because they like you. You ought to be very happy.
JUHASZ—I’m not happy. Do you understand? And I won’t be happy until I
have paid him back every heller he laid out for me.
PHILIP—At this rate it won’t take long.
JUHASZ—I haven’t slept in two weeks, and I shan’t sleep while I remain
under obligation to him.
PHILIP—I really don’t see why you are so angry with the Count. After all,
he did it for your good.
JUHASZ—He did it for his own good. And now he laughs at me ... he and ...
Paula.... [_The door opens. OSCAR stands irresolutely on the threshold.
He is shabby and crestfallen._]
OSCAR—Good morning.
JUHASZ—Good morning.
OSCAR—Good morning, Philip.
PHILIP—How do you do? [_Turns his back on OSCAR and, with ostentatious
delicacy, exits through the archway. There is a pause._]
OSCAR—He’s angry with me. [_A pause._] I hope ... you are not.