11
FLORIAN
Nonsense. It requires an effort of the will, that's all.
Do you know how I made myself well again? (Rademacher looks at
him) You needn’t look at me like that – I was pretty near gone.
I simply wouldn’t allow any sad thoughts to come up.
RADEMACHER
How did you prevent it?
FLORIAN
I thought of all the people who had ever made me angry and I
said the most insulting things to them—in my thoughts. That's
a great comfort, let me tell you. I even studied out whom I
should haunt after my death. There’s a fellow critic of yours
in Olmütz —.a mal Gious beast —.and then the manager who docked
half my salary because I extemporized! And the audience daugh-
ing at me all the time and not at the foot play. – He should
have been etateful to me, instead of which—well just wait! I
would have appeared in great style – I could have made a good
income even in heaven. I should simply have taken a job with
the spiritualists.
(The nurse returns C. with Dr. Halmschlaeger and Dr.
Tann)
TANN
(Young, carelessly dressed, hat on the back of his head, un-
lighted eigar in his month) Now come, Halmschlaeger, don’t
let them keep you so long again.
HALMSCHLAEGER
(Young, carefully dressed, glasses, small bloode heard) No,
I’ll be through in a few minutes.
TANN
If you're not I'll go on ahead and wait for you in the café.
F.