Prince.--Is it true that you are trying to become a member of parliament. Doctor.--At your service, Your Highness? Prince.--Mrs. Czeska. Have you heard--the world is upside down, Jozwowicz! Doctor.--What is it, Your Highness? Prince.--And perhaps you will also become a minister. Doctor.--It may be. Prince.--Did you hear? And do you think that I will call you "Your Excellency"? Doctor.--It would be proper. Prince.--Jozwowicz, do you wish to give me a stroke of apoplexy? Doctor.--Be calm, Your Highness. My Excellency will always take care of your Grace's bile. Prince.--It is true. The irritation hurts me. What, Jozwowicz--does it hurt me? Doctor.--Yes, it excites the bile, but it gives you an appetite. (He approaches with George.) Stella.--What were you talking about? Doctor.--I have been listening to George. Horrible! Dreadful! George made a mistake by coming into the world two hundred years too late. Bayards are not appreciated nowadays. Czeska.--Providence is above all. Drahomir.--I believe it also. Doctor.--Were I a mathematician, without contradicting you I would say that, as in many cases we do not know what X equals, we must take care of ourselves. Prince.--What are you saying? Stella.--Doctor, pray do not talk so sceptically, or there will be a war--not with papa, but with me. Doctor.--My scepticism is ended where your words begin, therefore I surrender. Stella.--How gallant--the member of parliament. SCENE VI. The same Servant. Servant.--Tea is served. George.--I must bid you good-bye. Stella.--Why, why are you going so early to-night? Doctor (aside).--My old schoolmate is at home here. George.--You must excuse me. I am very happy with you, but to-night I must be going home. I will leave Drahomir--he will replace me. Stella.--To be angry with you would be to make you conceited. But you must tell me why you are going. George.--The people who have lost their homes by fire are in my house. I must give some orders and provide for their necessities. Czeska (aside).--He is sacrificing pleasure to duty. (Aloud.) Stella! Stella.--What is it? Czeska.--To-morrow we must make some collections for them, and provide them with clothing. Doctor.--I will go with you, ladies. It will be the first case in which misery did not search for the doctor, but the doctor searched for misery. Czeska.--Very clever. Prince (rapping with the stick).--Pretwic! George.--Your Highness, what do you order? Prince.--You say that this rabble is very poor? George.--Very poor, indeed. Prince.--You say that they have nothing to eat? George.--Almost nothing, my prince. Prince.--God punishes them for voting for such a man (he points to Jozwowicz) as that one. Doctor (bows).--They have not elected me yet. Stella.--Papa. Prince.--What did I want to say? Aha! Pretwic! George.--I listen to you, my prince. Prince.--You said that they were starving? George.--I said--almost.