PAUL (stands in deep thought and murmurs to himself). Why did you _allow_ yourself to be cheated? Terrible! Terrible! Why must this conviction come too late? HELLA (in a lurking manner). I suppose you are going to the other woman now? PAUL (breathes a deep sigh of relief). We are going together! HELLA (with a sudden inspiration). If I _release_ you, you mean! PAUL (quite calmly). I suppose you will be _compelled_ to! HELLA (triumphantly). Who can compel me? PAUL (starts up). Hella, then ... Then ... HELLA. Well? Then? PAUL (controls himself, with a strange expression). Then we shall see who is the stronger. (The door in the background has been opened.) ANTOINETTE (has entered quickly, starts at seeing HELLA, stops in the background and sags, in a subdued voice). Paul! PAUL (turns around frightened, exclaims passionately). Antoinette! (He rushes up to her, about to embrace her. She turns him aside gently and looks at HELLA. The two press each other's hands firmly and look into each other's eyes.) ANTOINETTE (softly). I am here, Paul. PAUL. Thank you, thank you, dear! HELLA (has recovered from her astonishment and starts for Antoinette, savagely). Who _are_ you, and what do you want here? PAUL (steps between them, very seriously). Hella ... If you please ... ANTOINETTE (restrains PAUL, with a quiet, distinguished bearing). I am not afraid, Paul. Just continue, madam. HELLA (furiously). Who has given you the right to intrude here? [PAUL has retreated a little in response to ANTOINETTE'S entreating glance.] ANTOINETTE. Ask yourself, madam. Who was here earlier, you or I? HELLA (turns away abruptly). I shall not quarrel with you, I shall simply show you the door! PAUL. Well, well. We are standing on _my_ soil now, Hella! Remember that! HELLA (infuriated). Oh, I suppose you are insisting upon your rights! PAUL, Why I simply must. You are forcing me to do so! HELLA. Very well. I am doing that very thing! PAUL (clenches his fists). Really now! You will not change your mind? HELLA. I will not change my mind. I shall not release you. Now do as you please! PAUL. You will not release me? HELLA. No! PAUL, (beside himself). You!... You!... ANTOINETTE. Be quiet, dear! No mortal can interfere with us. HELLA. How affectionate! You probably suppose that you have him _already_? That I shall simply go and your happiness is complete! Don't deceive yourself! You shall not enjoy happiness when I am compelled to battle. ANTOINETTE. Did I not battle? HELLA. Your little battle. Simply because you did not happen to get the man that you wanted! We have had battles of quite other dimensions! ANTOINETTE. Do not believe for a moment that you have a right to look down upon me! I shall pick up your gauntlet in the things that really count. HELLA. You? My gauntlet? Ha, ha! ANTOINETTE. You _too_ are only a woman, just as I am, and although you may rate yourself ever so much higher, you will remain a woman nevertheless!