My dear and honored master! We would not have dared to take from you even a drop of your health, if--if it were not for the assurance that serving your people may give new strength to your heroic soul! Yesterday, it was resolved at our council to break the dams and flood part of our kingdom, but I could not, I dared not, give my full consent before I knew what you had to say to this plan. I did not sleep all night long, thinking--oh, how terrible, how inexpressibly sad my thoughts were! We are the body, we are the hands, we are the head--while you, Grelieu, you are the conscience of our people. Blinded by the war, we may unwillingly, unwittingly, altogether against our will, violate man-made laws. Let your noble heart tell us the truth. My friend! We are driven to despair, we have no Belgium any longer, it is trampled by our enemies, but in your breast, Emil Grelieu, the heart of all Belgium is beating--and your answer will be the answer of our tormented, blood-stained, unfortunate land! _He turns away to the window. Maurice is crying, looking at his father._ LAGARD _Softly._ Bravo, Belgium! _Silence. The sound of cannonading is heard._ JEANNE _Softly, to Maurice._ Sit down, Maurice, it is hard for you to stand. MAURICE Oh, mamma! I am so happy to stand here now-- LAGARD Now I shall add a few words. As you know, Grelieu, I am a man of the people. I know the price the people pay for their hard work. I know the cost of all these gardens, orchards and factories which we shall bury under the water. They have cost us sweat and health and tears, Grelieu. These are our sufferings which will be transformed into joy for our children. But as a nation that loves and respects liberty above its sweat and blood and tears--as a nation, I say, I would prefer that sea waves should seethe here over our heads rather than that we should have to black the boots of the Prussians. And if nothing but islands remain of Belgium they will be known as "honest islands," and the islanders will be Belgians as before. _All are agitated._ EMIL GRELIEU And what do the engineers say? GENERAL _Respectfully waiting for the Count's answer._ Monsieur Grelieu, they say this can be done in two hours. LAGARD _Grumbles._ In two hours! In two hours! How many years have we been building it! GENERAL The engineers were crying when they said it, Monsieur. LAGARD The engineers were crying? But how could they help crying? Think of it, Grelieu! _Suddenly he bursts into sobs, and slowly takes a handkerchief from his pocket._ COUNT CLAIRMONT We are awaiting your answer impatiently, Grelieu. You are charged with a grave responsibility to your fatherland--to lift your hand against your own fatherland. EMIL GRELIEU Have we no other defence? _Silence. All stand in poses of painful anxiety. Lagard dries his eyes and slowly answers with a sigh_. LAGARD No. GENERAL No. JEANNE _Shaking her head._ No. COUNT CLAIRMONT _Rapidly._