_Adr._ Why have you come? _Soph._ To warn you! _Adr._ The boy--do not wake him. [_Sophie crosses to left, rear, Adrian following. She looks down, at Vasil, stoops and tenderly kisses him, then moves away with Adrian. Vasil opens his eyes and looks after them_] _Adr._ The last two hours have been terrible, but he rests now. _Soph._ You must take him with you. _Adr._ With me? _Soph._ I have come from the ball. _Adr._ I see. _Soph._ Orloff is a very weak man. I found out that you are to be arrested to-night. _Adr._ It has come then. _Soph._ Is Korelenko going with Vera? _Adr._ I hope so. He has gone to meet her. _Soph._ Then you can't take his place. We must think of some other way--and quickly. _Adr._ Not for me. It is you who must go. You are betrayed to Petrizoff. _Soph._ I hoped you wouldn't hear that. I am in no danger. _Adr._ [_Between fear and relief_] No danger? _Soph._ [_With a half smile_] By and by you will believe that I can take care of myself. [_Enter Korelenko with Vera_] _Soph._ Not gone? _Adr._ You are lost. _Soph._ Why did you bring her back? You have no right to destroy _her_ life! _Vera._ I would not go. My place is with Alexander. [_Softly_] You ought to understand that, princess. _Soph._ [_To Korelenko_] She is a child. She did not know. You should have gone with her. _Kore._ Your highness, that was impossible. _Soph._ It was not! All was prepared---- _Kore._ [_To Adrian_] Does she know? _Soph._ That I am betrayed? Yes, but the man entrusted with the evidence happened to be a devoted servant of my own--[_Alexander groans_] He will fall! And you--Adrian--what is the matter? _Kore._ [_Steadying himself against the loom and clasping Vera_] I have thrown our lives away--mine and Vera's--that is all. _Soph._ Why couldn't you go with her? _Kore._ Because it was I who betrayed you. And could I accept life and love at your hands? _Soph._ [_Shrinking_] You? But why---- _Kore._ I can not answer. Come, Vera, to your grandmother. [_Exeunt Korelenko and Vera, right, centre_] _Soph._ O, why did he do it? _Adr._ I can tell you. _Soph._ Then why? _Adr._ Because he believed--O, Sophie, beloved, before I speak, look at me with the love in your eyes as I saw it first. I did not know it was for me then. Let me see it now while I know you are mine--mine! Yes, yes, you love me! _Soph._ Ah, Adrian, I am afraid I love nothing else. [_Vasil covers his eyes with his arm_] _Adr._ And you will kiss me once? _Soph._ Once? _Adr._ As if we were parting forever, Sophie. [_She embraces and kisses him. He moves away from her_] Now I will tell you why Alexander could not answer you, and why I can. He betrayed you believing that I could and would save you. _Soph._ And you---- _Adr._ Could, but would not. _Soph._ [_Moving back_] What are you saying, Adrian? _Adr._ I could have saved you but I would not. Isn't it clear? _Soph._ [_Moving back till she stands in dim light_] No--I don't----