JULIAN
There is in this world no sin, no crime, no deception, that cannot be atoned. Only for what has happened here, there should be no expiation and no forgetfulness, you think?
FELIX
Can it be possible that you don"t understand?... Here a lie has been eternalized. There is no getting away from it. And she who did it was my mother--and it was you who made her do it--and the lie am I, and such I must remain as long as I am pa.s.sing for that which I am not.
JULIAN
Let us proclaim the truth then, Felix.--I shall face any judge that you may choose, and submit to any verdict pa.s.sed on me.--Must I alone remain condemned forever? Should I alone, among all that have erred, never dare to say: "It is atoned"?
FELIX
It is too late. Guilt can be wiped out by confession only while the guilty one is still able to make rest.i.tution. You ought to know yourself, that this respite expired long ago.
SALA (_enters_)
FELIX
Mr. von Sala!--Have you anything to tell us?
SALA
Yes.--Good morning, Julian.--No, stay, Julian. I am glad to have a witness. (_To Felix_) Are you determined to join the expedition?
FELIX
I am.
SALA
So am I. But it is possible that one of us must change his mind.
FELIX
Mr. von Sala...?
SALA
It would be a bad thing to risk finding out that you have started on a journey of such scope with one whom you would prefer to shoot dead if you knew him completely.
FELIX
Where is my sister, Mr. von Sala?
SALA
I don"t know. Where she is at this moment, I don"t know. But last evening, just before you arrived, she had left me for the last time.
FELIX
Mr. von Sala....
SALA
Her farewell words to me were: Until to-morrow. You can see that I had every reason to be surprised this morning, when you appeared at my house. Permit me furthermore to tell you, that yesterday, of all days, I asked Johanna to become my wife--which seemed to agitate her very much. In telling you this, I have by no means the intention of smoothing over things. For my question implied no desire on my part to make good any wrong I might have done. It was apparently nothing but a whim--like so much else. There is here no question of anything but to let you know the truth. This means that I am at your disposal in any manner you may choose.--I thought it absolutely necessary to say all this before we were brought to the point of having to descend into the depths of the earth together, or, perhaps, to sleep in the same tent.
FELIX (_after a long pause_)
Mr. von Sala ... we shall not have to sleep in the same tent.
SALA
Why not?
FELIX
Your journey will not last that long.
[_A very long pause ensues._
SALA
Oh ... I understand. And are you sure of that?
FELIX
Perfectly. (_Pause_}
SALA
And did Johanna know it?
FELIX
Yes.
SALA
I thank you.--Oh, you can safely take my hand. The matter has been settled in the most chivalrous manner possible.--Well?... It is not customary to refuse one"s hand to him who is already down.
FELIX (_gives his hand to Sala; then he says_)
And where can she be?
SALA
I don"t know.