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 pa.s.s! [_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 do _you_ know 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-enter_ CARLYON _and_ ADENE _from back_. VERA _and_ RHEINHARDT _are by the steps_ L.
ADENE.
[_To_ CARLYON.] 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.
[_Exeunt_ VERA _and_, RHEINHARDT, RHEINHARDT _making impatient gestures without answering_. VERA _kisses her hand to_ CARLYON. CARLYON _sits down_ R., _but gets up again as_ ELIZABETH _comes in from the French window_ L.
CARLYON.
Well, out with it! [ELIZABETH _looks surprised._] You"ve been following me about for two days now, so I suppose there"s some mystery coming.