Trast. I didn"t think you had a family now! (Robert _buries his face in his hands_) I understand--it"s a contraction of the nerves after the limb is amputated.--Don"t deceive yourself! Even though the foot still pains you, the leg is gone!
Robert. You never had a sister!
Trast.--Tell me, must I, the aristocrat, learn what abas.e.m.e.nt means from you, a plebeian? My boy, don"t forswear your parents. Don"t say that they are worse than you or I.--They are different, that"s all.
Their sensations are sensations that are strange to you, the point of view they hold is simply beyond your comprehension. Therefore to criticize them is not only narrow-minded, but presumptuous--And you may as well know soon as late: in your struggle with your people you have been wrong from beginning to end!
Robert. Trast, you say that!
Trast. I take the liberty--You come back from a foreign country where you have been a.s.sociating with triple-plated gentlemen, and then you expect your people, in order to please you, to change the very skins they live in; although they"ve fitted perfectly all these years! That is immodest, my boy! And your sister has really received back her honor from the family Muhlingk; the honor which she can make use of. For everything on this earth has its price and value. The honor of the Avenue may be paid for with blood--may be, I said. The honor of the Alley is rest.i.tuted with a little capital, _in integrum_. (_As_ Robert _steps towards him angrily_) Don"t eat me up! I haven"t finished!
Yes--what other significance has a girl"s honor--and that"s what we"re concerned with now--than to bring a sort of dowry of pure-heartedness and honesty to her husband. She is there for one purpose and that is marriage! Just be so good as to make a few inquiries in the society from which you come and see if your sister, with the money that has dropped into her lap, can"t make a much better match than she otherwise could!
Robert. Trast, you are cruel, you are crude!
Trast. Crude like Nature, cruel like Truth! Only the indolent and the cowardly surround themselves a _tout prix_ with idyllics--But you have nothing to do with them now. Come, give me your hand, shake the dust of home off your feet and don"t look back!
Robert. First I must have personal satisfaction.
Trast. So you insist on fighting a duel with him?
Robert. Yes.
Trast. Don"t be so old-fashioned.
Robert. Old-fashioned--I may be. Perhaps because I came into the world as a plebeian and because my conception of honor was acquired. I haven"t the strength to rise to the heights of your standpoint. Let me go down in my own narrowness if I must.
Trast. But suppose he won"t give satisfaction?
Robert. I shall find some way to force him.
Trast. Aha! (_Aside_) the revolver!--One thing more, my boy; if you have made up your mind to let Herr Kurt put a bullet through you, you must take away every pretext for his refusing.
Robert. Heavens, yes! you are right!
Trast. (_Drawing out his pocket-book_) Does that embarra.s.s you?
Robert. No, you have done too much for me, for me to ask----
Trast. (_Filling out a check_) There!
Robert. And if I can never pay that back?
Trast. Then I"ll write it in the largest ledger, where the accounts of friendships are kept (_Stroking his head_) It won"t be as bad as that!
Hm--my boy--one thing you"ve forgotten.
Robert. What?
Trast. Leonore.
Robert. (_Shuddering_) Don"t speak of her!
Trast. You love her.
Robert. Oh!--I shan"t answer!
Trast. Would you like to have her think of you as the murderer of her brother.
Robert. Better than if she had to think of me as a man without honor.
Trast. (_Straightening up_) Am I not a so-called "man without honor?"
And haven"t you found me a good fellow? And don"t I carry my head as high as anyone in the world? Shame on you!
Robert. (_After a pause_) Trast--forgive me!
Trast. Forgive--Nonsense, I like you!--That"s enough!
Robert. Trast--I--won"t fight--the duel!
Trast. Your word?
Robert. My word!
Trast. Come, then.
Robert. Where?
Trast. How do I know? Into the world.
Robert. Forgive me--shall I?
(_Enter_ Wilhelm.)
Wilhelm. The Herr Councillor has just come into his office.
Trast. (_Aside_) Kurt not home!--That"s good.
Robert. I"ll go in. (_He takes his portfolio_)
Trast. Good! Wait for me!
Robert. What do you want here?
Trast. Never mind about that. Come here. (_Aside to_ Robert) Before you go, give me your revolver.
Robert. (_Startled_) You know?
Trast. Anyone could see it inside your coat