Have you no pity? ADAM. Pity? Am I prying into the old fellow's pockets? Am I forcing him to take off his stockings and turn his shoes inside out? I meant to start out with doing that--for I hate him like poison, ever since that time in the tavern when he--you know what I refer to, and you would feel insulted too, if you had any self respect about you! [_To CLARA._] Where is your brother's room? CLARA (_points_). Back there! [_Both Bailiffs, exeunt._] CLARA. Father, he is innocent! He must be innocent! He is your son, my brother! ANTONY. Innocent, and a matricide? [_Laughs._] A MAID (_enters with a letter to CLARA_). From the cashier, Mr. Leonard. ANTONY. You need not read it! He declares himself free of you! [_Claps his hands._] Bravo, scoundrel CLARA (_reads it_). Yes! Yes! Oh, my God ANTONY. Let him go! CLARA. Father, father, I cannot-- ANTONY. You cannot? Cannot? What do you mean? Are you?-- Both BAILIFFS reenter. ADAM (_spitefully_). Seek and ye shall find! SECOND BAILIFF (_to ADAM_). What do you mean by that? Did it turn out so today? ADAM. Hold your tongue! [_Exeunt both._] ANTONY. He is innocent--and you--you-- CLARA. Father, you are terrible! ANTONY (_grasps her hand very gently_). Dear daughter, Carl is only a bungler. He has killed his mother, and what does it mean? His father remains alive! So, come to his aid--you cannot ask him to do everything alone. You must make an end of me! The old trunk still looks rugged, doesn't it? But it has begun to totter already--it will not cost you much trouble to fell it! You need not reach for the ax. You have a pretty face--I have never praised you, but today I will tell you, so that you may acquire courage and confidence. Your eyes, nose, mouth are surely admired! Become--You understand me?--Or tell me, I have an idea that you are already-- CLARA (_almost crazy, throws herself with uplifted arms at the feet of her mother, and cries out like a child_). Mother! Mother! ANTONY. Take your mother's hand and swear to me that you are what you should be! CLARA. I--swear--that--I--will--never--bring--disgrace-on--you! ANTONY. Good! [_He puts on his hat._] It is beautiful weather! We will go out and run the gauntlet! Up the street! Down the street! [_Exeunt._] ACT II _A Room in the Master Joiner's House._ SCENE I ANTONY (_rises from the table_). CLARA (_starts to clear off the dishes_). ANTONY. Have you lost your appetite again? CLARA. Father, I have had enough. ANTONY. But you have taken nothing! CLARA. I ate out in the kitchen. ANTONY. A bad appetite means a guilty conscience. Oh, well, we shall see--or was there poison in the soup, as I dreamt yesterday? Perhaps some wild hemlock got in with the other vegetables by mistake, when they were gathered?--In that case you did well! CLARA. Great Heavens! ANTONY.