RICHARD. A duel—between us? ROBERT. [_With growing excitement._] A battle of both our souls, different as they are, against all that is false in them and in the world. A battle of your soul against the spectre of fidelity, of mine against the spectre of friendship. All life is a conquest, the victory of human passion over the commandments of cowardice. Will you, Richard? Have you the courage? Even if it shatters to atoms the friendship between us, even if it breaks up for ever the last illusion in your own life? There was an eternity before we were born: another will come after we are dead. The blinding instant of passion alone—passion, free, unashamed, irresistible—that is the only gate by which we can escape from the misery of what slaves call life. Is not this the language of your own youth that I heard so often from you in this very place where we are sitting now? Have you changed? RICHARD. [_Passes his hand across his brow._] Yes. It is the language of my youth. ROBERT. [_Eagerly, intensely._] Richard, you have driven me up to this point. She and I have only obeyed your will. You yourself have roused these words in my brain. Your own words. Shall we? Freely? Together? RICHARD. [_Mastering his emotion._] Together no. Fight your part alone. I will not free you. Leave me to fight mine. ROBERT. [_Rises, decided._] You allow me, then? RICHARD. [_Rises also, calmly._] Free yourself. [_A knock is heard at the hall door._] ROBERT. [_In alarm._] What does this mean? RICHARD. [_Calmly._] Bertha, evidently. Did you not ask her to come? ROBERT. Yes, but... [_Looking about him._] Then I am going, Richard. RICHARD. No. I am going. ROBERT. [_Desperately._] Richard, I appeal to you. Let me go. It is over. She is yours. Keep her and forgive me, both of you. RICHARD. Because you are generous enough to allow me? ROBERT. [_Hotly._] Richard, you will make me angry with you if you say that. RICHARD. Angry or not, I will not live on your generosity. You have asked her to meet you here tonight and alone. Solve the question between you. ROBERT. [_Promptly._] Open the door. I shall wait in the garden. [_He goes towards the porch._] Explain to her, Richard, as best you can. I cannot see her now. RICHARD. I shall go. I tell you. Wait out there if you wish. [_He goes out by the door on the right. Robert goes out hastily through the porch but comes back the same instant._] ROBERT. An umbrella! [_With a sudden gesture._] O! [_He goes out again through the porch. The hall door is heard to open and close. Richard enters, followed by Bertha, who is dressed in a darkbrown costume and wears a small dark red hat. She has neither umbrella nor waterproof._] RICHARD. [_Gaily._] Welcome back to old Ireland! BERTHA. [_Nervously, seriously._] Is this the place? RICHARD. Yes, it is. How did you find it? BERTHA. I told the cabman. I didn’t like to ask my way. [_Looking about her curiously._] Was he not waiting? Has he gone away?