Trast. I take the liberty--You come back from a foreign country where you have been associating with triple-plated gentlemen, and then you expect your people, in order to please you, to change the very skins they live in; although they've fitted perfectly all these years! That is immodest, my boy! And your sister has really received back her honor from the family Muhlingk; the honor which she can make use of. For everything on this earth has its price and value. The honor of the Avenue may be paid for with blood--may be, I said. The honor of the Alley is restituted with a little capital, _in integrum_. (_As_ Robert _steps towards him angrily_) Don't eat me up! I haven't finished! Yes--what other significance has a girl's honor--and that's what we're concerned with now--than to bring a sort of dowry of pure-heartedness and honesty to her husband. She is there for one purpose and that is marriage! Just be so good as to make a few inquiries in the society from which you come and see if your sister, with the money that has dropped into her lap, can't make a much better match than she otherwise could! Robert. Trast, you are cruel, you are crude! Trast. Crude like Nature, cruel like Truth! Only the indolent and the cowardly surround themselves a _tout prix_ with idyllics--But you have nothing to do with them now. Come, give me your hand, shake the dust of home off your feet and don't look back! Robert. First I must have personal satisfaction. Trast. So you insist on fighting a duel with him? Robert. Yes. Trast. Don't be so old-fashioned. Robert. Old-fashioned--I may be. Perhaps because I came into the world as a plebeian and because my conception of honor was acquired. I haven't the strength to rise to the heights of your standpoint. Let me go down in my own narrowness if I must. Trast. But suppose he won't give satisfaction? Robert. I shall find some way to force him. Trast. Aha! (_Aside_) the revolver!--One thing more, my boy; if you have made up your mind to let Herr Kurt put a bullet through you, you must take away every pretext for his refusing. Robert. Heavens, yes! you are right! Trast. (_Drawing out his pocket-book_) Does that embarrass you? Robert. No, you have done too much for me, for me to ask---- Trast. (_Filling out a check_) There! Robert. And if I can never pay that back? Trast. Then I'll write it in the largest ledger, where the accounts of friendships are kept (_Stroking his head_) It won't be as bad as that! Hm--my boy--one thing you've forgotten. Robert. What? Trast. Leonore. Robert. (_Shuddering_) Don't speak of her! Trast. You love her. Robert. Oh!--I shan't answer! Trast. Would you like to have her think of you as the murderer of her brother. Robert. Better than if she had to think of me as a man without honor. Trast. (_Straightening up_) Am I not a so-called "man without honor?" And haven't you found me a good fellow? And don't I carry my head as high as anyone in the world? Shame on you!