_Adr._ Humanity has dropped the club. It will drop the gun. Even the soldiers are throwing it down. And shall I pick it up---- _Kore._ Only for a day! Petrizoff alone stands between us and the army. Vitelkin, the next in power, is ready to join us. But he is suspected already, and must soon resign--or be poisoned. If we remove Petrizoff _now_ thirty regiments will come to us with Vitelkin, and others will follow until the Czar is without an army. In a month--a fortnight--the revolutionists will be masters of the nation---- _Adr._ _Masters_ of the nation! [_Walks away, and returns, much calmer, to Korelenko_] If it is true that only the life of Petrizoff stands between the revolutionists and triumph, he can not long be the sole barrier. He must see his folly and change his---- _Kore._ [_Furious]_ Were he to turn angel now, he should die for his past sins! _Adr._ [_Sadly_] I see. We should unfetter the avenging lion, not loosen the dove of peace, with Petrizoff's death. _Kore._ I did not mean that. You know it was the anger of a moment. [_Kneeling_] For the last time I beg you--in the name of all that redeems man from the beast---- _Adr._ [_Very pale_] Rise, Korelenko. Heal ye first yourselves. Out of your differences, your divisions, you make your master. If for one day enmity should sleep, if for one day every lover of freedom should love his neighbor, in that day the oppressor would fall. Rise! I will not do it. _Kore._ [_Springing up_] You will! _Adr._ Will? _Kore._ Yes. The princess Sophie Travinski is betrayed to Petrizoff. I hoped to prevail without telling you, and spare your heart what mine suffers. _Adr._ Betrayed? _Kore._ She has aided to-night in the escape of a prisoner taken by Petrizoff's order. He will know all by morning _if he lives_. _Adr._ This lie will not tempt me, Sasha. I can hardly believe you have uttered it. [_Fearfully_] I might have believed you. _Kore._ I am prepared for your doubt. Gregorief waits outside. He will support my word [_going to door_]. _Adr._ No! I will not see him again. It is true. [_Crosses uncertainly and sits on bench before loom_] O, is there no end to this night? _Kore._ A princess Ghedimin went to Yakutsk for a lesser offence. _Adr._ Don't--don't speak. _Kore._ [_After watching him a moment_] If Petrizoff dies he will never know. _Adr._ There is no time to warn her. _Kore._ Then the evidence will go to Petrizoff at once. _Adr._ You would do that? _Kore._ No, but Gregorief would. He is waiting for your answer. _Adr._ My answer? _Kore._ You know how to save her. _Adr._ [_Rising_] How? _Kore._ Join us. _Adr._ [_Sinking down again_] You might be merciful now, Korelenko. _Kore._ [_Unbelievingly_] You will not save her? _Adr._ Not that way. _Kore._ There is no other. _Adr._ Then she---- _Kore._ Adrian, I can not believe you. You will save her!