GENERAL. Do you know why they put up new buildings? Because some millionaire who sells worthless things for five and ten cents wishes to make money renting offices; because some railroad or insurance company wishes to get advertising space in the papers without paying for it. Do you know why the clergymen preach honesty? So that business conditions may not be disturbed! Do you know for what purpose the magazines accept stories and articles? So that they may gain the largest possible public to offer up to their advertising men! Whenever an artist appears, he is either ignored or scoffed at by that bestial monster, the majority! It is like a prehistoric animal taking up the whole earth with his vast bulk, seizing everything beautiful for food with which to stuff his maw, and poisoning the air with the breath of his indigestion. (_He rises and goes to the sideboard, where he busies himself selecting a cigar. As his back is turned, Marya quickly empties a powder into his glass. As he comes back and seats himself, she lifts her glass._) MARYA. Then let us toast Russia, General! (_They drain their glasses._) GENERAL. Would you mind telling me, Marya, how long I have to live? (_He lights his cigar._) You are surprised? But that does not suit you. You should have known me better than to think I did not know what you would do when I turned my back tonight. MARYA (_rising, pale_): About a minute, General. GENERAL. Then let us use the time well. Now we can be perfectly frank. Why have you—(_He waves his hand in the direction of the empty glass._) MARYA. Because I am true to my cause! Because you are the scourge of Germany; you represent everything we hate, every cruelty, every oppression, every evil thing of the past. I have lived for this moment for years! GENERAL. Ah, you are beautiful! In you is my reward! And do you renounce your love, too? MARYA. I have loved you—more than I knew how to bear. Do not think I shall live after you. And yet—I had to kill you! GENERAL. Now I am ready to die. My work is done. I have produced the beauty I desired! MARYA. You? What do you mean? GENERAL. You, who know how to kill what you love, can ask that? To produce the rebellion in Germany, to make heroes with the scourge—that has been my life! I, too, have lived for this moment! To be loved by a woman with a flaming soul, a woman who is greater than her love! MARYA (_Springing to him as he weakens_): Stay with me! Come back to me! O Heinrich, Heinrich, I have wronged you! GENERAL. No, Marya, you would have wronged me if you had not carried your faith to its end. I—I—am the greatest anarchist of you all! (_He dies. She looks at him a moment, puts her arms across her eyes, then rises and speaks levelly to the servant who enters._)