_Adr._ How can I now? The struggle is over. For a heavenly motive I refused to join you; I can not consent now for an earthly one. O, if you had not told me! If you had pleaded a little longer--[_Realizes what he is saying, and looks at Korelenko with a bitter smile_] You see it is impossible. _Kore._ [_Raging_] I will kill you! _Adr._ Do, Sasha. _Kore._ [_Turning from him_] Vera! My little girl! _Adr._ [_Rising suddenly_] O, I have not told you---- _Kore._ What? Quick! _Adr._ Vera is free. Read this--where--Vasil, the letter! [_Vasil, who sits by the small table, silently lays the letter upon it. Korelenko crosses and snatches it up_] _Adr._ [_As Korelenko reads_] You see they will wait for you on the Petoff road until two o'clock. You must go at once. The princess has arranged for you to journey with Vera if you wish, and you must now, for to remain here means imprisonment on the Yaltowa charge. [_Korelenko is dumb, looking at the letter_] Don't lose hope, Sasha. You can still help us in America--perhaps do more for the cause there than here--and you will have Vera---- _Kore._ [_Strangely_] You _must_ save her now, Adrian. _Adr._ She is saved. Haven't you read? Don't you see? _Kore._ Not Vera, the princess. It was I who betrayed her. And it was Vera she saved. I was so sure of you. You said---- _Adr._ I am sorry for you, Korelenko. You have sold the angel in your service. _Kore._ No! You did it! You deceived me! You swore you loved her! _Adr._ I swore the truth. _Kore._ Bah! Such love! Prove it! Prove it! [_Hurries to the little cabinet in wall, rear, unlocks it, takes out a bomb from his pocket, places it in the cabinet, locks the door and returns to Adrian with key_] Prove it! I am going to Vera. Gregorief will wait at Breshloff's. Send him this key within an hour and he will know what to do. [_Offers key to Adrian, who looks at him silently. Korelenko throws key to the floor_] There it is! Send it, or her fate will be on your soul, not mine! [_Exit_] _Adr._ O, Infinite Love, why didst make us as men to try us as gods?... And I might have saved her. Might? ... [_Goes slowly to the key, stoops and picks it up. As he raises his head his glance falls on the portrait of the Saviour on wall in front of him_] Unto seventy times seven. [_He drops the key and takes a step or two toward the picture_] Thou too wert man!... [_As he gazes at the portrait Vasil comes softly forward, takes up the key, returns to table, and sits looking at the key as if fascinated. Curtain_] ACT III SCENE 1. _Same room. Vasil asleep on bench, rear, left. Adrian watching by him._ _Adr._ If I had saved him this day ... this night! But now ... what peace can heal him? [_Rises and walks_] Lord, Lord, from out these burning days, let one, just one, go free! As thou lovest thy world, let him be spared, let him be spared! [_Enter Sophie, street door. Adrian looks at her uncomprehendingly. She crosses to him_]