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. 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 Bhojal. ELIZABETH. Yes. CARLYON. And, thirdly, that there is a way of stopping him. ELIZABETH. You mean that he cares for Vera? [CARLYON _nods_.] 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. You _will_ be 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. Enter_ VERA _by the steps_; ELIZABETH _moves off towards the French window_. VERA. Where are you going, Elizabeth? ELIZABETH. Just to look at my birds. [_Exit_ ELIZABETH. CARLYON. Vera, I am going to confide in you. Will you help me? VERA.