Conscience? I don't know what it means. I tell you I have seldom, very seldom, broken through what people call justice. But when I did--where other men would flinch and prevaricate, I lied and swore false oaths. Where they would connive at wrong occurring, I did the wrong with my own hands, and cleared away the evidence of it. My own people in Bhojal knew me; they told in their songs how I could give the tiger fresh hunger and the cobra poison; but they said too, "Best to be in the hand of God, next best in the hand of Kal[^y]ona Sahib." VERA. Yes, yes. I am bewildered, but I can see some great right and truth coming out through it all. You saved your own people and all Rajpoor. One man had gone mad with fear---- [_She is going over it, to convince herself._ CARLYON. [_With swift contempt._] Do you think mere danger made me poison the Bhojali waters? VERA. You told me how it was. Any one who knew all would forgive you! CARLYON. Forgive me! I want no forgiveness! I did what I did because it was the right thing to do; not because I was afraid. [_She looks up bewildered._] I did it to make the Bhojalis rebel, and then to crush them. VERA. [_Aghast._] To make them rebel? You poisoned the water to make them----? CARLYON. Yes, and all fell out exactly as I meant. They were panicstricken, paralysed, stung to fury, all at one blow. And they struck when they were weak and I was strong! VERA. But you said--you said---- I can't believe it! CARLYON. Only one thing went wrong. I had too much power over Koreb. The man loved me like a dog, and somehow couldn't fight against me. VERA. I know. Oh, I know! Poor Koreb! CARLYON. [_His hand on her shoulder._] He fled from his own people and came to me. He was half crazy by that time, and went babbling like a fool right and left. I thought of having him shot. I thought of one thing after another. Selim was with me; and that night Selim fell upon him in his sleep, and made sure of his silence! VERA. [_Recoils in horror and puts her hand over her mouth._] You never---- CARLYON. I never spoke a word, but my thought somehow drilled its way into his brain, and when I woke in the morning the thing was done.--Rouse yourself! You are the daughter of a man born for greatness, a man who does what others dream of! You love me, and you dare not disobey! [_She raises her eyes to his in a fascinated, half-stupefied way._] Read that letter! VERA. [_Utterly unnerved._] I can't read! What is it? CARLYON. Adene has come back from Bhojal. He is almost dying, but---- Do you see that? VERA. What is it? CARLYON. [_Taking the letter back and speaking in a tone of anger and fear._] Selim is with him! VERA. Then Selim can defend you, not I! [_He stops her as he is trying to rise._] Oh, let me go! CARLYON. Selim won't defend me! After that morning he knew too much. It was two nights later, in the jungle.--Are you listening? VERA. Yes. You murdered him too! What is it you want of me? CARLYON.