Hanička (On the right, behind the mill).—Libor! Libor!

Grandmother stands in the doorway, looking about. Hanička returns.

Grandmother.—Is he not here?

Hanička.—There is neither sight nor sign of him. Perhaps he is on the hilltop with the woodmen; I’ll call up there.

Grandmother.—Go, call him, child, and bring the news. (Goes into the mill.)

Hanička hastens toward the left, suddenly slips off the wooden shoes and lays them on the tree stump. She is about to go on, when on the left Zajíček and the musicians enter.

Hanička.—Well, look who is here, the assistant and his famous musicians! Why all this haste?

Zajíček.—We are preparing a concert.

Hanička.—Again? Did you not have one at the welcoming ceremony?

Zajíček.—No, there wasn’t any; they said the Princess was tired.

Sejtko (Merrily).—From riding in the carriage on silk cushions.

Zajíček.—So the courtier said.

Zima.—I should say and do believe (carefully looks about him) that the Princes does not know a single thing about it, (mysteriously) that the courtier—

Sejtko.—Well then, what is it, Zima?

Zima (Looking about him carefully).—It’s a delicate matter; One must be careful of one’s speech—however, (knowingly) that courtier, it seems to me from what I observe, is more than a mere courtier. He dictates and wishes to dictate; he is more than a courtier, but less than a friend; he is a distant friend of the Lady Princess. And as for the rest, that you may know who is the best friend—

Zajíček.—We must go.

Sejtko.—We must listen to the rest of this wisdom. Well, Zima, who is the best friend?