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 anything _you_ did 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 will _his_ going 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. [VERA _silent_.] 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 you _I_ can do anything; but I cannot sacrifice _him_! 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.