You’re a Christian, Claus, you’re a religious man; and I’ve always respected you for it. Do you swear that what you have told me is the exact truth and that you are keeping nothing from me? CLAUS I swear it, Mr. Burgomaster, as I hope to be saved. THE BURGOMASTER I believe you, my dear old Claus, and there was no need for you to take that oath. But the fact is that all this is very important to me, for my life depends upon it.... CLAUS Your life? How do you mean, Mr. Burgomaster? THE BURGOMASTER I may as well tell you that, if I declare you to be innocent and if I don’t produce the criminal, it’s I who will be shot in your place this evening. CLAUS You, Mr. Burgomaster? Why? You’ve done nothing! It’s impossible; people don’t do such things! THE BURGOMASTER Yes, they do, my dear Claus: it’s what they did at Aerschot, what they’ve done everywhere and what they mean to do here as well. Otto himself told me that nothing could prevent it. CLAUS It can’t be possible, Mr. Burgomaster, it would be too unjust!... We shall find the man who did it, or the man himself when he hears, will feel ashamed and will give himself up.... Or else you will be able to escape: Mr. Otto will help you. Something will happen; and I am sure that God will not permit.... THE BURGOMASTER He permits plenty of other things, my poor Claus; He is permitting everything to-day. The only thing that will happen is my death; and we may think ourselves lucky if nothing worse happens. You know as I do that escape is quite impossible. Otto might try and help me, as a last resort; but then he would be shot in my place; and that would not be fair either. But all hope is not lost. Otto is at this moment making enquiries among his men; that may lead to something. You, in your turn, must collect our labourers and speak to them. You have great influence with them; they will listen to you. Explain the position to them; and, if one of them knows the guilty man, you must arrange things among yourselves. I do not ask them to betray him or to surrender him. I will not mix myself up in it. They must settle among themselves what is the right thing to do. CLAUS I will speak to them, Mr. Burgomaster; and you may be sure that, if the man who did it is one of them, he will do his duty. THE BURGOMASTER Get them to come to the palm-house; say there’s some urgent work to be done because of the damage last night. I will ask Otto to let you come and go freely. Ah, here he is! (_Enter_ OTTO.) THE BURGOMASTER