- 5 -
Please, doctor, how much longer visit likely to
RADE.
last?
Oh you must have patience a little longer.
HALM.
That's not what I mean, Doctor. I mean how soon is
RADE.
the end coming?
(has meanwhile sat down at the table=and is glaning
TANN.
idly at the magasines).
Why what are you talking about? (To the Nurse)
HALM.
Did he take hisaudrops?
NUR SE.
At half past seven Doctor,
Doctor, I beg you, dont give me a conventional answer.
RADE.
You must excuse me.
With some impatience, but kindly)
HALM.
Not so loud, not so laud.
Please Doctor, just another word,
RADE.
(resolutely)
The fact is I must know the truthl I must! For a
very special reason.
feel confident
The truth—I have the best hopes —well, in a
HALM.
sense, the future is a sealed book to every one of us.
still, I can say – — —
RADE.
Doctor, now supposing I had a plan of very great
importance, a matter on which other people’s fate
depended, and my own space of mind, the peace of mind
of my last hour.
HALM.
Wont you explain more precisely?
Çome, come.
kindly)
And as briefly as possible, if
may a sk you.
I have still two words in front of
Imagine if everyone were so long. Now please,
me.
RADE.
Doctor, there is someone whom I must see.
Well, you can write to the person in question, if
HALM.
To-morrow afternoon
it would make you easier.
between four and five you can have any visitors you
like, I havent the least objection.
RADE.
Doctor, that s too late—That may be too late.—
I can feel it — —— by to-morrow morning it may
be all over. I must speak to this person this very
day.
What is all this about?
HALM.
Thats not possible.
If it
matters to you to that extent you would yesterday
have -
(earnestly) Doctor, you have always been very
RADE.
kind to me — — I know Im rather too insistent-
but you see, Doctor, once it becomes quite certain
that to-morrowbr next day, those gentlemen in the
White coats will be aarrying you down, one gets an
idea that one may be bold and expect more than other
people.
TANN-
Well, Halmschlöger, what is it?
Why