_Kore._ He is. The most human of us all. You don't know him. Adrian, you see that all depends upon you---- _Adr._ [_Waving him away_] Begone--all of you! _Manl._ Come! God gave us good right arms. We need not wait for Lavrov's. _Kore._ But can we do without the Social Democrats? _Greg._ Yes! We have the others. Come to Breshloff's! [_All go except Korelenko, who lingers in the door. Adrian sits exhausted on bench before loom_] _Adr._ Sasha? _Kore._ [_Turning back quickly_] Well? _Adr._ You have chosen? _Kore._ Between my friends and my enemies? Yes. _Adr._ Between the body and the soul. _Kore._ Soul! There is none in Russia. When we get possession of our bodies we may be permitted to cultivate souls! _Adr._ If you would wait a little, Sasha. Reforms are coming. The Czar will grant a constitution---- _Kore._ He will grant what we take, no more. And what do we gain if he gives us a constitution and keeps his army? If he gives us schools and exiles the teachers? If he gives us freedom and denies it to the men who have won it--our brothers in the dungeons? No, we want _our_ constitution, not the Czar's--a constitution with law and justice behind it, not an army. _Adr._ Is it time? There is so much ignorance yet---- _Kore._ Ignorance! Where is it greater than among our masters? We suffer as much from their stupidity as their oppression. I hate the ass's head more than the tyrant's! _Adr._ But the poor, illiterate peasants. Are they ready---- _Kore._ Viatka and Perm answer that! There, where they have been let alone, they have established the best governed provinces in Russia. But here, where ignorance is _protected_--do you know what will happen if Yaltowa is burnt? The peasants of Karitz will be led into the town to pillage and slaughter in the name of Christ. _Adr._ [_In horror_] Karitz! My poor people! I must go there at once. _Kore._ There? It is only because you are here that Lonz will not be led into it. [_Ironically_] Since you can't be everywhere, hadn't we better devise some other means for the protection of the people? _Adr._ O, it is horrible! _Kore._ More horrible than you dream. A good man can not know how bad the world is, for he can never get away from himself. [_Re-enter Manlief_] _Manl._ Come, Korelenko. We shall be too late. _Adr._ He is not going. _Manl._ No? I'll stiffen his heart. You don't know, do you, that your little Vera has been taken to Petrizoff? _Kore._ [_Stares in amazement, and clutches Adrian_] Is this a lie? _Adr._ She has been arrested. _Kore._ You let her be taken? _Adr._ I had no choice. _Kore._ There is always a choice. You could have killed her. [_Breaks down_] _Manl._ [_Touching him_] Come. _Kore._ Yes! Go on! I'll come! _Manl._ At Breshloff's. [_Exit_] _Kore._ [_Savagely, starting up_] You would save his life knowing that! _Adr._ What has Vera's misfortune--yours--mine--to do with an eternal principle?