_Kore._ Damn your principle! It will put us all into hell! _Adr._ The princess may be able to do something for her. She---- _Kore._ You still believe in that spy? [_Adrian is silent. Korelenko looks at him_] Forgive me. You love her. No! If you knew what love is you would help me! _Adr._ [_Going to him as he reaches the door_] Wait. I do know. I love her even as you love Vera, and I swear to you that if she stood in Vera's place my answer would be the same. _Kore._ [_Abstractedly_] You love her. [_Starts suddenly away_] _Adr._ You will stay now, Sasha? _Kore._ Now? No. There is something to do now. [_Exit_] _Adr._ Light, light, O my God! [_Door opens, right centre, and a woman appears_] _Woman._ Can you come to Catherine Vetrova now, sir? [_Adrian bows his head and follows her out. Vasil, who has been sitting behind the little table rear, at times listening eagerly, at times overcome, rises and moves slowly forward, carrying his violin_] _Vasil._ [_Repeats softly_] "As impersonal as the universe." [_Strikes two or three notes on the violin and stops, terrified. Dashes the instrument down and throws himself to the floor, sobbing_] O, Vera! Vera! Vera! [_Curtain_] SCENE 2. _The same. Vasil still lying on the floor. Adrian enters right, crosses and attempts to rouse him._ _Adr._ You must go to bed, my son. There is nothing for you to do. _Vasil._ [_Rising_] Nothing for me to do? Why am I in the world then? _Adr._ To be our light--our song--to find our angels for us. _Vasil._ [_Looking down at his violin_] It is broken. _Adr._ [_Picking it up_] You will mend it. _Vasil._ And the heart too? [_Goes to table, left front, and sits by it, despondent and thoughtful_] We were wrong to-day, Adrian. I was wrong. No one has a right to happiness while others are suffering because of things that are in the _power of man_ to help. The _good_ people who forget what is out of sight, as if misery--or duty--were a question of eyes and ears, they are the most to blame. [_Rises_] If they would all help--just all of the good. [_Goes to door, rear, and stands a moment looking out_] The princess dances at the ball to-night. _Adr._ My boy! _Vasil._ [_Coming back to Adrian_] But they will not all help--not yet. Perhaps the world of peace must come before the world of love, not out of it ... as war has come before peace. The law of Moses was once the best law. His race saved itself by it. Has the day of its necessity passed, Adrian? Are we sure? _Adr._ It has passed for the man. _Vasil._ But humanity is so far behind the man. _Adr._ [_Gently_] That is what made Christ. _Vasil._ And that is what killed him! [_Enter a priest, street door_] _Priest._ Blessed be this house. _Adr._ Welcome, father. _Priest._ Is death here? _Adr._ Yes, father. [_Crosses to right and opens door for priest to enter_] You have many visits to make to-night.