ACT TWO
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Scene One
Peasant's parlor.
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Gottlieb, Hinze. Both are sitting at a small table, eating.
Gottlieb
Was it to your liking?
Hinze
Very good, very nice indeed.
Gottlieb
But now my fate must be decided quickly, because otherwise I don't know what I'm to do.
Hinze
Patience! Just a few more days. Good fortune must be given some time to grow; who would expect to become happy all of a sudden? My good man, that sort of thing only happens in books; in the real world things do not move so quickly.
Fischer
Did you hear that? The cat dares to speak of the real world! — I have half a mind to go home before this play drives me mad.
Leutner
It's almost as if that's what the writer intended.
Müller
A excellent kind of artistic pleasure, I must say: to be driven mad!
Schlosser
This is too much. Instead of being happy merely to exist, if only in an imaginary world, he wishes to disabbuse the other man of his fantastic hopes and treat him as a dreamer, even though he, at least in his rôle as a peasant, is not contradicting the laws of our everyday world!
Gottlieb
If I only knew, dear Hinze, how you have acquired this experience, this intelligence!
Hinze
Do you think, then, that when I lie for days in front of the stove with my eyes shut, it is all for nothing? I always pursue my studies there in silence. The powers of the mind only grow in secrecy and unobserved; it is always a sign that you have made the least progress whenever you feel the inclination to crane your neck around as much as possible to see how far you have come. — By the way, be so good as to untie my napkin.
Gottlieb
doing it
Benedicite!
They kiss.
Gottlieb
I hope you're satisfied with that.
Hinze
I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Gottlieb
The boots seem to fit very nicely, and you have charming little feet.
Hinze
That is only because we cats always walk on our toes, as you must already have read in your natural history.
Gottlieb
I have great deal of respect for you — on account of those boots.
Hinze
hanging a knapsack round his neck
I'm going now. — Look, I've also made a bag with a drawstring for myself.
Gottlieb
What's all this for?
Hinze
Just leave me be! I want to look like a hunter. — Now, where's my cane?
Gottlieb
Here.
Hinze
Well, good-bye, then.
Exit Hinze.
Gottlieb
A hunter? — I can't make head or tail of him.
Exit Gottlieb.