END OF THE FIRST ACT
The lawn ofCarlyon'shouse. Wall of house at left and back; steps in left back corner. A French window in the wall to the left. In front right centre garden-seat with bushes behind, concealing seat from main steps in the corner; to the right a garden with trees. Time. After lunch.
Enter down the big stepsCarlyon,AdeneandRheinhardt.
Carlyon.
Yes, it would be a grand undertaking. But upon my word your recklessness is infectious. I give notice, "All recent remarks are against my better judgment."
Adene.
I'm so grateful for your encouragement, I don't mind what has brought it about.
Carlyon.
I don't encourage you. The best I hope for is that they will only cut off your ears. Bear witness, Dr. Rheinhardt, have I encouraged him?
Adene.
Yes, hasn't he?
Rheinhardt.
I comprehend this way his position. Primo, you cannot get into Bhojâl; secundo, you can never come again out; tertio, there is nothing to be learned there; conclusion, you had better try it!
Carlyon.
I admit the premises.
Adene.
And I claim the conclusion! Were you going down the garden?
Carlyon.
I must just get my hat.
Adene.
Let me fetch it for you.
Carlyon.
Nonsense, I am not reduced to that.[ExitCarlyonup big stepsl.
Rheinhardt.
Gott im Himmel! why do you offer to fetch that man's hat?
Adene.
Fetch his hat? Oh, I'd do more than that for him! I think him a really great man, you know.
Rheinhardt.
There it comes. Gott im Himmel, there it comes. Your great men! Sit down and do not excite yourself. You are much too excitable.
Adene.
[Sitting down.] Don't you feel something in his manner yourself? He is so strong, and seems so confident that he is right in all he does; that his word——
Rheinhardt.
Do I feel something in his manner? Yes, I feelgreat solid block rudeness in his manner. He is confident he is right? Yes, when he is very likely wrong!
Adene.
But seriously, don't you feel that he is a big man, and a man who can do whatever he means to do, however difficult?
Rheinhardt.
Bah! and however bad. I do not like your great men; I am not a world conqueror. I am just like other people, and I expect other people to be just like me. I do not overcrush my fellow creatures. A fool contradicts me, and I submit to the argumentation of that fool! [Adenetries to speak, butRheinhardtchecks him with a gesture.] A cow charges upon me, and I run myself away from that cow; I do not say, "I, Rheinhardt, am Almighty!" You say this Sir Carlyon is a great man; you will say Steinmetz is a great man——
Adene.
No, I won't, I'll believe anything you like to tell me about Steinmetz.
Rheinhardt.
You contradict me flatly when I speak! I tell you Steinmetz is an arrogant man, a rash man, an ingenious man, a clumsy man. You show me what you call his road-making experimentations! I tell you that I behold so many miserable assassinates! If he is a great man, I am a great man myself!
Re-enterCarlyonwithVera,her arm round his waist,l.
Adene.
I am sure you are.
Rheinhardt.
Sir, you insult me!
Carlyon.
Here I am! Will you come too, Rheinhardt?
Rheinhardt.
No, I will not! I will talk to my pupil. Go!
[ExeuntCarlyonandAdenedown garden right.Elizabethappears on the steps, looking afterCarlyon,then withdraws again.
Rheinhardt.
So you see I have come. I started so soon as I got your letter.
Vera.
I am very, very grateful to you. I do so hope I may be wrong.
Rheinhardt.
He does not show much sign of it.
Vera.
He has such self-command.
Rheinhardt.
Not at all! He is irritable and contradicts me much.
Vera.
I had not noticed him irritable. He is sometimes depressed.
Rheinhardt.
I tell you he is irritable. You must be careful not to excite him, not to contradict him; bah, let little things pass![With a sweep of the hand.
Vera.
Then you think from what I have told you that it really is so?
Rheinhardt.
How can I say? The evidences are much too small. Have you examined him again?
Vera.
I managed it again yesterday. I think it's even clearer; of course I can't be sure.
Rheinhardt.
You have watched him in daily life? Yes?
Vera.
Of course. I have a good many notes for you to see.
Rheinhardt.
He does not suspect anything?
Vera.
Nothing. He says he is overworked; but you would never know from himself that he was at all ill.
Rheinhardt.
That is right, of course he must not be told.
Vera.
It has no effect on a glioma, has it? For the patient to know?
Rheinhardt.
What doyouknow about gliomas? What do you know about any tumour on the brain at all?
Vera.
I only asked.
Rheinhardt.
Of course he must not know!—— You say his knowledge does not make the glioma worse. No, but it makes the effects worse! It strikes the man down; it is a moral paralysis, when he knows he has a mortal disease. You say it does not bring death nearer? What do you call it if a man has no spirit left in him, no courage, no interest in life? You say it is not important——
Vera.
Please, I never said so.
Rheinhardt.
You contradict me flatly when I speak! I tell you it robs a man of all that is living in him. It makes him at once half dead.
Vera.
Would even a very strong-minded man?——
Rheinhardt.
Hut! You have been reading Steinmetz. Is a strong-minded man immortal? Will a strong-minded man stand up when I knock him with a sledging-hammer down? There is no such person as Steinmetz's strong-minded man. Take me in. [Going to the door.] Show me your notes! Most likely you were wrong from the beginning.
[During this speech re-enterCarlyonandAdenefrom back.VeraandRheinhardtare by the stepsl.
Adene.
[ToCarlyon.] Well, I shall be in the library, and am ready whenever you are.[Goes off by the steps at the back.
Carlyon.
What, doctor, is she upholding your vanquished opponents? Be severe with her. She would be merciless to us for half such a crime!
Vera.
I'll be back in a moment, father.
[ExeuntVeraand,Rheinhardt, Rheinhardtmaking impatient gestures without answering.Verakisses her hand toCarlyon. Carlyonsits downr.,but gets up again asElizabethcomes in from the French windowl.
Carlyon.
Well, out with it! [Elizabethlooks surprised.] You've been following me about for two days now, so I suppose there's some mystery coming.
Elizabeth.
You sometimes speak as if I were no help to you at all!
Carlyon.
Do I? Well, I think I know what you are going to say this time.
Elizabeth.
What?
Carlyon.
First that I was reckless the other day to talk as I did, and quote that tiger song.
Elizabeth.
Yes.
Carlyon.
Well, I wasn't. I knew what I was doing.
Elizabeth.
That was not the chief thing.
Carlyon.
Next, that Adene, of all men in the world, must not be sent researching in Bhojâl.
Elizabeth.
Yes.
Carlyon.
And, thirdly, that there is a way of stopping him.
Elizabeth.
You mean that he cares for Vera? [Carlyonnods.] That is just it! Do not put too much on her. She is more than half in love with him, too.
Carlyon.
[Rather irritably.] Oh, that's nonsense.
Elizabeth.
Haven't you seen how she is always watching him? Her face clouds at once if you speak of him suddenly; she has grown quite pensive.
Carlyon.
Why, she'd sooner buckle my shoes than have him at her feet!
Elizabeth.
Oh, of course. I didn't mean as much as that. But I do wish you would find some safer way.
Carlyon.
[Ironically.] Explain matters to the present Rajpoor Government, eh? H'm, well, now it's off your mind, Elizabeth. You must feel better?
Elizabeth.
Youwillbe careful about her?
Carlyon.
I will tell her as much as ever she can bear! However, you have been of some use this time.
[Rises; nods kindly to her. EnterVeraby the steps;Elizabethmoves off towards the French window.
Vera.
Where are you going, Elizabeth?
Elizabeth.
Just to look at my birds.[ExitElizabeth.
Carlyon.
Vera, I am going to confide in you. Will you help me?
Vera.
Oh, father, if you will only let me try! I have longed for you to try me; but you never seemed to have any difficulties.
Carlyon.
As a soldier, you know! Absolute obedience!
Vera.
How could I ever disobey you?
Carlyon.
It is not really that. Only I have never felt sure that you were strong enough. You have grown up in such seclusion, such entire ignorance of the world.
Vera.
I have done men's work at the University.
Carlyon.
Students' work! A student is as ignorant as a woman. I doubt still if the rude facts of life will not be too great a shock for you to face.
Vera.
Not with you, father.
Carlyon.
You know, Vera, a man's conscience and a woman'sconscience are different things. A man has greater difficulties to face, and must risk doing greater wrongs, just as he is called upon to make greater sacrifices for his duty—things that a woman knows nothing of.
[TakesVerato the seatl.,and brings a chair near her.
Vera.
Don't say a woman, say a child! I know this, and I am ready for the bigger life. It is the lesson you have always taught me.
Carlyon.
Have you learned it?
Vera.
I learned it when I learned to honour you. I always thought of you—— may I say what I thought?
Carlyon.
Go on?
Vera.
Just what I always felt about the sea. It is so deep, so great, so far beyond everything else, that though all the waste things of the world are cast upon it, it takes no stain from them, it is always pure and strong. I thought you were like that.
Carlyon.
You think in poetry, child. But I believe you know me. What I have to say is this: You must prevent young Adene from going to Bhojâl.
Vera.
But I was glad he was going! And I thought he had convinced you he would succeed.
Carlyon.
That is why he must not go. I have done things there which will never be forgotten in Bhojâl, and which must never be known in England.
Vera.
I don't understand. You can't have done anything bad?
Carlyon.
Nothing that causes me remorse. Nothing that I would not do again. But you know how these things are judged.
Vera.
I know the public might misunderstand; but Mr. Adene, he has travelled so much——
Carlyon.
Adene has the conscience of a child.
Vera.
[As if involuntarily, with pain.] His eyes are just like a child's eyes.
Carlyon.
[Rises, walks away, and then turns.] I will not have Adene in his study and the public in their arm chairs judging the desperate things I did when I was face to face with death!
Vera.
Yes, I can see that. But tell me what it was.
Carlyon.
You know how I stand. I have already more influence in India than any living man. And here—well, I am not free to speak of it yet; but if I accept what is offered me, my power here will be very great. If this is once known, good-bye to everything, here or there.
Vera.
It can be nothing that would bring you dishonour.
Carlyon.
Dishonour? Public infamy!
Vera.
Iknowthat what you did was not dishonourable.
Carlyon.
I will tell you the worst at once.[He places the chair nearer her.
Vera.
[Forcing a smile.] I am not afraid.
Carlyon.
I believe you have enough knowledge of me, and enough courage, to see that what I did was right.
Vera.
Thank you for trusting me, father.
Carlyon.
It was when I was in Koreb's town, almost alone, just before the war. The place was full of his men; they came streaming in every day.
Vera.
It was in time of peace, was it?
Carlyon.
It was called peace, but we all knew what was coming. War would have been better. A frank declaration of war was the one thing wanted; but—[watching her keenly]—of course it was my duty to avoid war as long as possible.
Vera.
[Simply.] Of course.
[Carlyonseems about to speak angrily, but changes his mind.
Carlyon.
I sent to Government for advice and Government advised—our waiting patiently to have our throats cut.
Vera.
[Shuddering.] Poor father, what did you do?
Carlyon.
[Darkly.] You remember the little hospital I had there?
Vera.
Yes.
Carlyon.
I utilised my infectious cases.
Vera.
[After a moment's pause.] What do you mean?
Carlyon.
You know the natives have no idea about infection and that sort of thing.
Vera.
Of course. You used to have such trouble to get even the infected clothes burnt.
Carlyon.
Exactly, in ordinary times. Well, at this time I didn't take so much trouble, I took a little trouble the other way.
Vera.
But—What do you mean? What did you want?
Carlyon.
[Harshly.] I wanted the tribes who were crowding round us to disperse. And I knew that cholera would disperse them.
Vera.
Do you mean that you deliberately——?
Carlyon.
Don't trouble about the details. My servant Selim did most of it. There was always a case or two of cholera in Bhojâl, and it's not hard to make such things spread if you want to.
Vera.
I don't understand. What did you do?
Carlyon.
I poisoned the well. It only took ten days and the tribes began to disperse. It was a regular panic. So we took our opportunity and cut our way back to Rajpoor. I only lost two men; and Selim for a third. [Rising, with a sigh of relief.] Then the war broke out.
Vera.
[Shuddering uneasily.] Of course you were right! But there was always cholera there. It may not have come from anything you did.
Carlyon.
I don't know about that. [Grimly.] I think Selim understood his business.
Vera.
[Shuddering again.] How horrible! But of course you were right. All the women and children, too?
Carlyon.
Naturally; I couldn't isolate the non-combatants. There weren't very many. I saved my own men. [He pauses, takes a step or twol.and breaks out.] I deceived the Government, disobeyed the Government, and saved the whole of Rajpoor! I shut the war up in the Bhojâli country, conquered Bhojâl, annexed half of it, and drove the rebellious element beyond the frontier.
Vera.
[Shuddering and cowed.] It was very horrible!
Carlyon.
Horrible! And what if Koreb had been let loose upon Rajpoor? If you had ever seen the sacked villages and the torture stakes——
Vera.
Oh I know, I know. I didn't mean anythingyoudid was horrible.
Carlyon.
[With emotion.] If some chance, some supernatural stroke had done what I did, there would be no horror at the sacrifice, there would be nothing but hymns and thanksgivings. They all prayed to God that this might come to pass! Who dares to blame me because I did the thing they prayed for?
Vera.
[Rising, after a moment's silence.] But how willhisgoing do any harm? Surely it is known already; the others knew it?
Carlyon.
No one but old Selim and I. [With a curious smile.] And afterwards the chief—Koreb.
Vera.
Koreb? How did he know?
Carlyon.
There must have been a rumour among his people, but somehow he knew more.
Vera.
Didn't Koreb speak when he was taken prisoner?
Carlyon.
[Looking at her.] Don't you remember what happened to him? He didn't know how to write.
Vera.
Oh, they cut his tongue out—his own people! I remember.[She shudders.
Carlyon.
[Pacing the room.] There are many nasty things to rake up in the past if we let Adene go. [Verasilent.] Can you stop him?
Vera.
I?
Carlyon.
You!
Vera.
I don't know. I don't see how I can. [With horror.] Why, yes, I could! But it would be—Oh, no, it would be too wicked!
Carlyon.
[Coming to her.] What is it? Wouldn't he stay if you asked him?
Vera.
No, not unless——
Carlyon.
Unless you promised to marry him! If that too much?
Vera.
Oh, no, no, no! That never entered my head. I could do that. I could do anything myself, but——
Carlyon.
Am I not first, after all?
Vera.
[Not noticing what he says.] I tell youIcan do anything; but I cannot sacrificehim!
Carlyon.
If you care for him so much——
Vera.
[Turning quickly.] I care nothing for him, nothing! Of course you are first. I will do anything in the world for you—— only this is so terrible! I can't tell him.
Carlyon.
Tell him! Of course you can't!
Vera.
Oh, not that! I did not mean that!
Carlyon.
Then what can't you tell him?
Vera.
I can't tell him that he's a dying man—that he has a mortal disease of the brain.
Carlyon.
[After a moment of silence.] There was never any one who could really stand against me! How long do you give him?[He sits down with an air of relief.
Vera.
It may be a long time. I can't say.
Carlyon.
I must have some idea; say what you think. Afterwards we can find some one who knows.
Vera.
I think probably he will be blind in a year, and paralysed in two years, and then——
Carlyon.
Blind in a year, paralysed in two!
Vera.
But I may be utterly wrong; I know so little and I have only had a few stolen opportunities of observing him.
Carlyon.
Have you told Rheinhardt?
Vera.
Yes, that is why I asked him here——
Carlyon.
[Observing that she is hurt.] A dying man can be as dangerous as another. How can you stop him?
Vera.
By telling him.
Carlyon.
And he'll spend the rest of his life in getting doctored; yes. At any rate he isn't likely to go travelling in Bhojâl. I should think he was a brave man too.
Vera.
He won't be brave any more! Dr. Rheinhardt has told me all about it—it crushes a man, breaks his nerve, takes away all his spirit.
Carlyon.
[Who has not been listening to her—pacing the room again.] Yes, that is evidently the plan. It is as simple as daylight. Poor fellow, he had the makings of a fine man.
Vera.
Oh, don't pity him. I can't do it if you pity him.
Carlyon.
You're not going to give him his disease!
Vera.
No, but to tell him——
Carlyon.
You'll have to tell your patients things.
Vera.
If there was any hope of curing him——
Carlyon.
So there is! Theremustbe—somehope, unless you send him off to Bhojâl in ignorance. Then I agree there is none. [Veralooks at him with suspicion.] It happens to be dangerous to me, certainly, but that doesn't make it prudent for him.
Vera.
Father, don't try to make little of it. I will dowhat you ask; but I must do it by breaking his spirit. I shall tell him suddenly, brutally—so as to crush him once for all. Oh, how I shall loathe myself! [After a pause.] Only the last few months of his life!
Carlyon.
[Coming up to her.] There speaks my brave girl again! What could he do with that crippled life? And think of the long years that lie before me—and you with me.
[He turns and walks a little way up the garden.
Vera.
If it were any one but you!
Re-enterRheinhardtdown the steps; he seesVerabut notCarlyon.
Rheinhardt.
You were quite right, quite right! You have seen at a glance what it would take weeks and weeks—Of course it was just a piece of luck; it was not any skill—you have none. [ToCarlyon.] Ah, I did not see you! I was talking of your daughter's work.
Carlyon.
[Coming down toRheinhardt.] Ah, Dr. Rheinhardt, I know the sad piece of work you are referring to. Is there no hope?
Rheinhardt.
[ToVera.] Did you speak hereof to another person?
Vera.
Only my father, Dr. Rheinhardt.
Rheinhardt.
"Only"! "Only"! And you wish to be a doctor!
Carlyon.
Come, Doctor, you mustn't be hard upon her. I extorted the facts.
Rheinhardt.
A professional secret cannot be extorted! Miss Carlyon has only one apology: she is not yet even in name a physician, and has time to reflect before she attempts it to become.
Carlyon.
Well, I will leave her to be scolded alone. It is worse before witnesses! Unless you would care to say anything to me?
Rheinhardt.
That is not my affair.
[ExitCarlyon,with a sort of stern, humorous defiance,l.]
So it was an extortion, eh? A compulsion?
Vera.
Yes.
Rheinhardt.
And now you are sorry for what you have done? eh? and you pray forgiveness, and you will never do it again?
Vera.
No, I had to. I would always do the same.
Rheinhardt.
Gott im Himmel! Then I blame you no more! If you can show courage to Rheinhardt!—You may have had reasons. Well, well, I trust you.
Vera.
Don't do that.
Rheinhardt.
I will put you to a test. Your conclusions are right, if your observations are right. That is what I must see.
Vera.
Areyougoing to tell him?
Rheinhardt.
Tell him? Am I mad? And what is more, he must not know that you have watched him. You understand?
Vera.
Oh, yes![She sits down, dispiritedly.
Rheinhardt.
This diagnosis, you are proud of it, eh? Well, we shall say nothing about it. [Veranods.] I will speak of his headaches; he will let me treat them. Then I will watch! I will watch!
Vera.
You don't think—there couldn't be any chance of an operation?
Rheinhardt.
Not the faintest! Not the ghost! Operation? Bah! it would be criminal, it would be an assassinate! [With a climax of contempt.] Ugh! it is what Steinmetz would do!
Vera.
[Rising.] Would Steinmetz try it? He is coming over here for the Medical Congress.
Rheinhardt.
Gott im Himmel! Would Steinmetz ever refuse an assassinate? He would just kill him one year sooner, that is all. He is dying fast enough for me.
Vera.
[To herself.] Is it worth while to be so long dying?
Rheinhardt.
Are you coming in?
Vera.
No, I want to sit out in the air.[She sits again.
Rheinhardt.
Ah, then the thesis is finished: or is it given up?
Vera.
Doctor, don't be angry with me for little things, when there may come great ones. [Shakes his hand.] Just to show that you forgive me this time for telling father. I expect some day you will never forgive me. [Rheinhardtlooks curiously at her, and exit.Verawaits motionless for an instant, then rises with a hard laugh.] Well, the sooner the better. [Going across to window back.] Mr. Adene! Mr. Adene!
Adene.
[From inside.] Miss Carlyon! Yes, I am coming at once.
EnterElizabethhurriedly from the house.
Elizabeth.
What is it? Why do you call him?
Vera.
I have something to say to him.
Elizabeth.
Vera, Vera, have you thought well what you are doing?
Vera.
No, and I won't think!
Elizabeth.
You must not betray your father![Holding her arm.
Vera.
[Throwing her off.] It is not my father I am betraying!
Elizabeth.
[Letting go.] Thank Heaven for that! Oh, child! put all your faith in him, and, whatever you suffer, you will never be lonely or forsaken!
[ExitElizabeth,asAdeneappears on the steps, pen in hand.
Adene.
I have just been writing——
Vera.
You are perfectly determined to go?
Adene.
Of course. Why?
Vera.
Is there nothing you could think of that would turn you back?
Adene.
No; especially now that your father approves.
Vera.
But will you go on to other places after Bhojâl?
Adene.
Naturally. Why are you cross-examining me? I will confess everything.
Vera.
And if you find an Englishman who has done wrong ever so long ago to a native, you will expose him?
Adene.
Certainly, if I find any.
Vera.
Take a man who has left it all behind him . . . who was serving his country in some high and difficult post?
Adene.
I shall report anything I think ought to be known to the proper authorities. I am not a police agent nor a spy; but I am a historian, and I do not intend to hide things in order to oblige people!
Vera.
Peace and war the same?
Adene.
Of course there is great latitude allowed in war, but——
Vera.
[Interrupting.] I know you will do harm! I wish you would wait and think. . . . Wait for six months.
Adene.
Six months!!
Vera.
You are doing evil work there! You are upsettingthe work of government. . . . It is all being reformed. You will be killed yourself. . . . I shall never ask anything but this of you: only wait! Wait till you can think it over![Comes a little to him.
Adene.
[Mastering some impatience.] My dear Miss Carlyon. I have thought it over long ago. You don't suppose I have worked for years towards this scheme and never asked myself whether it was right?
Vera.
It is not too late to think again.
Adene.
I cannot understand why you are so troubled.
Vera.
I have told you why.
Adene.
You can't want to screen any one!
Vera.
Whom could I screen? I know no one but father.[She moves a little away from him.
Adene.
[Goes to her.] Is it possible that it is my life you care for? I should never have dared to hope it. If it is really that, may I, when I come back——
Vera.
Will you go or will you stay?
Adene.
I will take every possible care. My life never seemed so precious to me as it does now. If only when I return I may come to you——
Vera.
Will you go or will you stay?
Adene.
You are unreasonable. [Takes her hand.] Surely one must take the risks——
Vera.
[Interrupting.] Leave go, leave go! You are mad! [He recoils from her.] Your life may well seem precious; you have barely a year of it left!
Adene.
What do you mean?
Vera.
I have watched you day by day. I saw it in your eyes with that glass. There are a dozen symptoms to make it as clear as daylight. You don't feel much yet, but you're going blind, you're going paralysed, you are dying slowly under my eyes. . . . [Adene,incredulous but horror-struck, grasps the back of the chair.] Dr. Rheinhardt knows it. He has seen my notes and watched you. First blind, then paralysed, then dead! Now go if you can; cross the mountains and ruin good men by raking up their old wrongdoings.
Adene.
It can't be true! [Calling out.] Reinhardt, Rheinhardt! Here! Come at once!
Rheinhardtappears on the stepsl.
Rheinhardt.
Why, what in this world . . .
Adene.
Is this true? Have you seen anything in me?——
Rheinhardt.
Woman, woman! you have not told him?
Adene.
Then it is true. Is there no chance for me?
Rheinhardt.
My friend, your case is somewhat serious.
Adene.
She says there is no hope; is a true? What is it?
Rheinhardt.
[Slowly.] There is much reason to fear that you may have what we call a glioma in the substance of the brain. But you need not yet be uneasy. You may live a considerable time.
Adene.
Is there no operation possible?
Rheinhardt.
None at all, none at all! It would be criminal at present.
Adene.
How long shall I have the use of my faculties?
Rheinhardt.
You may well live until some experimentation—— Yes, the subject is being much attended to.
Adene.
Oh, Rheinhardt, you are my friend. How long can I calculate upon? Two months? One month?
Rheinhardt.
Longer than that.
Adene.
Six months? [Rheinhardtassents.] Then I must start at once. I can do most of it! [Coming across toVera.] Thank you. Miss Carlyon, for letting me know. Forgive me for what I said—what I tried to say. I did not, of course, know how painful it was. I shall always—I am privileged now, am I not?—I shall always love and honour you, and be grateful for the anxiety you showed to save me from what you thought a danger. But I shall be happier when I get to work.
Vera.
But you won't go? You won't go! Is it all for nothing?
Adene.
Will work hurt me, Rheinhardt?
Rheinhardt.
Far better work than not—if you can.
Adene.
Oh, I can, sure enough. Miss Carlyon, may I——
Vera.
No, no! Go away from me and forget that you ever saw me.[She falls on the settee, sobbing.
Adene.
Good-bye, Rheinhardt. But you must have another look at me, to make certain.
Rheinhardt.
Of course I must. [ExitAdene.] Ach, Gott!What a man! But he must break down. He must break down! Oh, if Steinmetz were to be right after all? [Passing byVera.] Ach! you miserable, you rotten-hearted girl!