Our follies and rascalities may remain hidden to others--but never to ourselves. In our innermost souls we always know what to think of ourselves.--It's getting cold, Julian. Let's go indoors. (_They begin to ascend the steps to the terrace_) JULIAN All that may be true, Sala. But this much you have to grant me. If there be anybody in the world who has no right to make us pay for the mistakes of our lives, it is a person who has us to thank for his own life. SALA There is no question of payment in this. Your son has a mind for essentials, Julian. You have said so yourself. And he feels that to have done nothing for a man but to put him into the world, is to have done very little indeed. JULIAN Then, at least, everything must become as it was before he knew anything at all. Once more I shall become to him a human being like anybody else. Then he will not dare to leave me.... I cannot bear it. How have I deserved that he should run away from me?... And even if all that I have held for good and true within myself--even if, in the end, my very fondness for this young man, who is my son--should prove nothing but self-delusion--yet I love him now.... Do you understand me, Sala? I love him, and all I ask is that he may believe it before I must lose him forever.... [_It grows dark. The two men pass across the terrace and enter the drawing-room. The stage stands empty a little while. In the meantime the wind has risen somewhat. Johanna enters by the avenue of trees from the right and goes past the pool toward the terrace. The windows of the drawing-room are illumined. Sala has seated himself at a table. The valet enters the room and serves him a glass of wine. Johanna stops. She is apparently much excited. Then she ascends two of the steps to the terrace. Sala seems to hear a noise and turns his head slightly. When she sees this, Johanna hurries down again and stops beside the pool. There she stands looking down into the water._ CURTAIN THE FIFTH ACT _The garden at the Wegrats'._ REUMANN (_sits at a small table and writes something in his notebook_) JULIAN (_enters quickly by way of the veranda_) Is it true, Doctor? REUMANN (_rising_) Yes, it's true. JULIAN She has disappeared? REUMANN Yes, she has disappeared. She has been gone since yesterday afternoon. She has left no word behind, and she has taken nothing at all with her--she has simply gone away and never returned. JULIAN But what can have happened to her? REUMANN We have not been able to guess even. Perhaps she has lost her way and will come back. Or she has suddenly made up her mind--if we only knew to what! JULIAN Where are the others? REUMANN We agreed to meet here again at ten. I visited the various hospitals and other places where it might be possible to find some trace.... I suppose the professor has made a report to the police by this time. FELIX (_enters quickly_) Nothing new? REUMANN Nothing. JULIAN (_shakes hands with Felix_) REUMANN