_Ger._ I'm glad of that.--I feel as if--(_putting his hand to his head_). William! what could you do for a man--if he was your friend?--no, I mean, if he was your enemy? _Col. G._ I daren't say, sir. _Ger._ Is the sun shining? _Col. G._ Yes, sir. It's a lovely day. _Ger._ What a desert the sky is!--so dreary and wide and waste!--Ah! if I might but creep into a hole in a tree, and feel it closing about me! How comfortable those toads must feel! _Col. G._ (_aside_). He's getting light-headed again! I must send for the doctor. _Exit_. _Ger._ But the tree would rot, and the walls grow thin, and the light come through. It is crumbling now! And I shall have to meet _her_! And then the wedding! Oh my God! (_Starts up and paces about the room_.)--It _is_ the only way! My pistols, I think--yes.--(_Goes to a table, finds his keys, and unlocks a case_.)--There they are! I may as well have a passport at hand! (_Loading one_.)--The delicate thunder-tube! (_Turns it over lovingly_.) Solitude and silence! One roar and then rest! No--no rest!--still the demon to fight! But no eyes to meet and brave!--Who is that in the street?--She is at the door--with him! _Enter_ COL. G. _and seizes his arm_. _Ger._ (_with a cry_). You've killed my Psyche! (_Goes to the clay, and lifts the cloth_.) There's the bullet-hole through her heart! _Col. G._ It might have been worse, sir. _Ger._ Worse! I've killed her! See where she flies! She's gone! She's gone! (_Bursts into tears_. COL. G. _leads him to the couch_.) Thank you, William. I couldn't help it. _That_ man was with her. I meant it for myself. _Col. G._ Who did you say was with her? _Ger._ You mustn't heed what I say. I am mad. (_A knock. He starts up_.) Don't let them in, William. I shall rave if you do. COL. G. _catches up the pistols and exit hurriedly_. GER. _throws himself on the couch_. _Re-enter_ COL. G. _Col. G._ (_aside_). He is in love with her! Everything proves it. My boy! My boy! _Ger._ Father! father!--Oh, William! I was dreaming, and took you for my father! I _must_ die, William--somehow. There must be some way out of this! The doors can't _all_ be locked. _Col. G._ There's generally a chance to be had, sir. There's always a right and a wrong fighting it out somewhere. There's Garibaldi in the field again! Die by the hand of an enemy--if you _will_ die, sir. _Ger._ (_smiling_) That I couldn't, William: the man that killed me would be my best friend.--Yes--Garibaldi!--I don't deserve it, though: he fights for his country; I should fight but for death. Only a man doesn't stop when he dies--does he, William? _Col. G._ I trust not, sir. But he may hope to be quieter--that is, if he dies honestly. It's grand for a soldier! He sweeps on the roaring billows of war into a soundless haven! Think of that, sir!