Why do you say such things to me? I have absolutely nothing to do with what has happened. Like the rest of us, I am compelled to obey an authority which no one can resist. I am a wheel in the machine. I cannot act otherwise than I do. But my feelings, my affections are just the same as they were before the war! I persuaded my superiors to send me here, so that I might prove how grateful I am to you.... THE BURGOMASTER And because you know the country so well! OTTO Please don’t continue in that tone: it is not fair and it is extremely painful to me. I simply wished, as I have told you, to prove my gratitude by doing all I could to save you, and the town of which you are the chief authority, from the inconveniences and dangers of an occupation which I was unable to prevent. THE BURGOMASTER Very well, we won’t talk about it. How long do you reckon to stay here with your men? OTTO We don’t know: perhaps two hours, perhaps two months. It all depends on events and on the orders which we receive. THE BURGOMASTER And the Major, what sort of a man is he? He does not look easy to deal with. OTTO He is severe, rather hard, rather dictatorial, rather domineering, a strict disciplinarian, but absolutely just; taken all round, a good sort. I repeat, you have nothing to fear, if your people behave themselves. Besides, in the case of any conflict or misunderstanding, I hope to use my influence and to smooth matters down. And now let us be friends, if you will, and allow me to embrace you as I used to. THE BURGOMASTER (_Stepping back._) Forgive me.... Excuse me.... I can’t just now. OTTO That’s strange; I simply can’t understand it. After all, this war is no business of ours; it’s over our heads; it’s beyond us. However, I mustn’t take it ill of you; and I can only say, like Antigone, “I take part in love and not in hatred.” But what’s the time? Eleven o’clock? Perhaps we might let Isabelle know, if she really isn’t ill? You can imagine how eager I am to see her after this long separation and after all that has happened. THE BURGOMASTER I will send the maid up to her. (_He rings. Enter the_ FOOTMAN, _who takes the_ BURGOMASTER’S _orders and exit._) Have you any news of my son? OTTO Of Odilon? No, isn’t he here? THE BURGOMASTER No, they did not let us know of their plans, as they did you; _we_ weren’t told what they were going to do; and so he stopped at Cologne. We are rather uneasy about him. OTTO