I must hurry to my father. I think it my duty to let him know what I have just learned from you. SALA (_nods_) FELIX (_to Julian_) Good-by. (_He goes out_) [_Julian and Sala start to leave together._ JULIAN (_as Sala suddenly stops_) Why do you tarry? Let's get away. SALA It is a strange thing to _know_. A veil seems to spread in front of everything.... "Away with you!"--But I don't care to submit to it as long as I am still here--if it be only for another hour.... JULIAN Do you believe it then? SALA (_looking long at Julian_) Do I believe it...? He behaved rather nicely, that son of yours.... "We shall not have to sleep in the same tent."... Not bad! I might have said it myself.... JULIAN But why don't you come? Have you perhaps something more to tell after all? SALA That's the question I must put to you, Julian. JULIAN Sala? SALA Because I didn't say anything about a peculiar hallucination I experienced just before coming here. I imagine it was.... JULIAN Please, speak out! SALA What do you think of it? Before I left my house--just after Felix had gone--I went down into my garden--that is to say, I ran through it--in a remarkable state of excitement, as you may understand. And as I passed by the pool, it was exactly as if I had seen on the bottom of it.... JULIAN Sala! SALA There is a blue-greenish glitter on the water, and besides, the shadow of the beech tree falls right across it early in the morning. And by a strange coincidence Johanna said yesterday: "The water can no more hold my image...." That was, in a way, like challenging fate.... And as I passed by the pool, it was as if ... the water had retained her image just the same. JULIAN Is that true? SALA True ... or untrue ... what is that to me? It could be of interest to me only if I were to remain in this world another year--or another hour at least. JULIAN You mean to...? SALA Of course, I do. Would you expect me to wait for it? That would be rather painful, I think. (_To Julian, with a smile_) From whom are you now going to get your cues, my dear friend? Yes, it's all over now.... And what has become of it?... Where are the _thermae_ of Caracalla? Where is the park at Lugano?... Where is my nice little house?... No nearer to me, and no farther away, than those marble steps leading down to mysterious depths.... Veils in front of everything.... Perhaps your son will discover if the three-hundred and twelfth be the last one--and if not, it won't give him much concern anyhow.... Don't you think he has been acting rather nicely?... I have somehow the impression that a better generation is growing up--with more poise and less brilliancy.--Send your regards to heaven, Julian. JULIAN (_makes a movement to accompany him_) SALA (_gently but firmly_) You stay here, Julian. This is the end of our dialogue. Farewell. (_He goes out quickly_) FELIX (_entering rapidly_)