_Priest._ Many, my son. [_Stops before Adrian_] I have a message for the Shepherd of Lonz. _Adr._ [_Taking letter_] Thank you, father. _Priest._ Thank her that sent it, and God who made her heart. [_Passes into room, right_] _Adr._ [_After looking over letter_] The princess has danced to some purpose, my boy. Vera is free. She will be on her way to Odessa by morning. _Vasil._ Free? The princess saved her? My princess! Did she write it? [_Taking letter_] I will read it with kisses! _Adr._ It must be burnt. _Vasil._ No, let me keep it--a little while. _Adr._ We must be careful. Hush--some one is coming. [_Vasil retreats to table, rear. Enter Korelenko in great agitation_] _Kore._ Yaltowa is on fire! We are one night too late! They must have heard---- _Adr._ On fire? Now? _Kore._ I waited with Gregorief at Breshloff's, the others went on to Yaltowa, where---- _Adr._ You waited for Petrizoff? _Kore._ This ball was only to cover their scheme---- _Adr. You_ waited with Gregorief for Petrizoff? _Kore._ He will pass through the village about four o'clock. _Adr._ But now--O, you are saved from that thing! _Kore._ Yes. If we kill him now the fire will seem only a part of the deed. It will help them fix the lie upon us. _Adr._ Too late, thank God! _Kore._ You think of nothing but Petrizoff! What of the people now dying in Yaltowa? Dying because he lives? Go see the horrors there! The reactionists are everywhere in the streets, disguised as revolutionists, looting and murdering! Your Karitz peasants are being turned into beasts---- [_Adrian gives a deep groan and sits overcome, by table front, left_] _Kore._ It is not too late! Our friends--Russia--freedom--yet may live if you will help us! Your name will justify Petrizoff's death to the world. With the loss of their chief the reactionists will be in confusion, before they can recover you can organize the great leagues into a militia---- _Adr._ You are mad to think such power is in me. _Kore._ You don't know your power! You can do it--you only--and it must be done now--before the war in the East is over--before the Czar can make new promises--give us the mockery of a constitution, and fool half of us back to allegiance--before---- _Adr._ [_Rising, shaken_] It can not rest with me. One man can not make destiny. _Kore._ Yes, when that man is you--when the time is now! Absolutism is at its ebb. Will you wait till the tide gathers and flows over us again in waves of blood? _Adr._ [To _himself, walking_] Are there then two codes? One for the man, one for the race? And when they conflict, the man must yield? _Kore._ Codes! The question of a man's right to his breath is settled outside of ethics! O, Adrian, brother, be a man to-night and not a preacher! Never in the history of the world has there been a revolution so ripe, so terrible, without a leader to march at its head.