When We Dead Awaken Part 4

MAIA.

How so?

PROFESSOR RUBEK.

When I had finished this masterpiece of mine--[Makes a pa.s.sionate movement with his hand]--for "The Resurrection Day" is a masterpiece! Or was one in the beginning. No, it is one still. It must, must, must be a masterpiece!

MAIA.

[Looks at him in astonishment.] Why, Rubek--all the world knows that.

PROFESSOR RUBEK.

[Short, repellently.] All the world knows nothing! Understands nothing!

MAIA.

Well, at any rate it can divine something--

PROFESSOR RUBEK.

Something that isn't there at all, yes. Something that never was in my mind. Ah yes, that they can all go into ecstasies over! [Growling to himself.] What is the good of working oneself to death for the mob and the ma.s.ses--for "all the world"!

MAIA.

Do you think it is better, then--do you think it is worthy of you, to do nothing at all but portrait-bust now and then?

PROFESSOR RUBEK.

[With a sly smile.] They are not exactly portrait-busts that I turn out, Maia.

MAIA.

Yes, indeed they are--for the last two or three years--ever since you finished your great group and got it out of the house--

PROFESSOR RUBEK.

All the same, they are no mere portrait-busts, I a.s.sure you.

MAIA.

What are they, then?

PROFESSOR RUBEK.

There is something equivocal, something cryptic, lurking in and behind these busts--a secret something, that the people themselves cannot see--

MAIA.

Indeed?

PROFESSOR RUBEK.

[Decisively.] I alone can see it. And it amuses me unspeakably.--On the surface I give them the "striking likeness," as they call it, that they all stand and gape at in astonishment--[Lowers his voice]--but at bottom they are all respectable, pompous horse-faces, and self-opinionated donkey-muzzles, and lop-eared, low-browed dog-skulls, and fatted swine-snouts--and sometimes dull, brutal bull-fronts as well--

MAIA.

[Indifferently.] All the dear domestic animals, in fact.

PROFESSOR RUBEK.

Simply the dear domestic animals, Maia. All the animals which men have bedevilled in their own image--and which have bedevilled men in return.

[Empties his champagne-gla.s.s and laughs.] And it is these double-faced works of art that our excellent plutocrats come and order of me. And pay for in all good faith--and in good round figures too--almost their weight in gold, as the saying goes.

MAIA.

[Fills his gla.s.s.] Come, Rubek! Drink and be happy.

PROFESSOR RUBEK.

[Pa.s.ses his hand several times across his forehead and leans back in his chair.] I am happy, Maia. Really happy--in a way. [Short silence.]

For after all there is a certain happiness in feeling oneself free and independent on every hand--in having at ones command everything one can possibly wish for--all outward things, that is to say. Do you not agree with me, Maia?

MAIA.

Oh yes, I agree. All that is well enough in its way. [Looking at him.] But do you remember what you promised me the day we came to an understanding on--on that troublesome point--

PROFESSOR RUBEK.