The notes of a slow waltz can be dimly heard. Dr. Plavec yawns, drowsiness begins to overcome him. Mrs. Roller, who has appeared in the background at the end of the preceding scene and waited for Mrs. Rettig to leave, now walks cautiously forward under the oak, knitting a stocking. She watches the doctor and then goes up to him.
Plavec (Starting).—Lenka dear—O, pardon me!
Mrs. Roller.—I beg your pardon for having disturbed you.
Plavec.—I have been waiting here in this heat, this music, and this afternoon I did not even have my nap.
Mrs. Roller.—I can believe it—for very longing and anticipation. And here is a Stelldichein.[1]—I'll be going directly, doctor, right off. This is a lovely place to wait, if only the students will let the tax-collector's daughter leave off dancing. She seems to be extremely attractive.
Plavec.—She is coming here with Mrs. Rettig.
Mrs. Roller.—With the magistrate's wife? I am surprised.
Plavec.—And why?
Mrs. Roller.—The magistrate's wife does not approve of your marriage.
Plavec.—Well, nevertheless, das heisst—[2]
Mrs. Roller.—She would like to break it off.
Plavec.—Surely that can't be so!
Mrs. Roller.—If you had only heard what she said yesterday in the park at the Morgenpromenade[3]. She told us so herself, to our faces; Dr. Gülich was with us at the time.
Plavec.—That she would like—?
Mrs. Roller.—Yes, to break off your marriage. So you may imagine how surprised we were. Especially since you are such a friend of magistrate Rettig. We could not explain it otherwise than that Mrs. Rettig felt sorry for Lenka.
Plavec.—Why?
Mrs. Roller.—Nichts für Ungut,[4] doctor. Sorry not from any concern for you, and of course the match is all right; but then you know, the magistrate's wife is a trifle überspannt, so romantisch[5]; she writes those little verliebt[6] stories, and so she thinks to herself: "Unhappy love, ein gebrochenes Herz—Herr Adjunkt[7]—"
Plavec.—Again that retainer!
Mrs. Roller.—The magistrate's wife favors him. But why am I saying this?—I thought that you knew about it, doctor.
