Yes, but you know enough to say--. You see, Pierre, I must not burden our little army with a single superfluous sick or weak man. Isn't that so? I must bring with me strength and power, not shattered health. Isn't that so? And I am asking you, Pierre, to examine me, simply as a physician, as a young physician. But I feel somewhat embarrassed with you--. Must I take this off, or can you do it without removing this? PIERRE It can be done this way. EMIL GRELIEU I think so, too. And--must I tell you everything, or--? At any rate, I will tell you that I have not had any serious ailments, and for my years I am a rather strong, healthy man. You know what a life I am leading. PIERRE That is unnecessary, father. EMIL GRELIEU It is necessary. You are a physician. I want to say that in my life there were none of those unwholesome--and bad excesses. Oh, the devil take it, how hard it is to speak of it. PIERRE Papa, I know all this. _Quickly kisses his father's hand. Silence._ EMIL GRELIEU But it is necessary to take my pulse, Pierre, I beg of you. PIERRE _Smiling faintly._ It isn't necessary to do even that. As a physician, I can tell you that you are healthy, but--you are unfit for war, you are unfit for war, father! I am listening to you and I feel like crying, father. EMIL GRELIEU _Thoughtfully._ Yes, yes. But perhaps it is not necessary to cry. Do you think, Pierre, that I should not kill? Pierre, you think, that I, Emil Grelieu, must not kill under any circumstances and at any time? PIERRE _Softly._ I dare not touch upon your conscience, father. EMIL GRELIEU Yes, that is a terrible question for a man. I must kill, Pierre. Of course, I could take your gun, but not to fire--no, that would have been disgusting, a sacrilegious deception! When my humble people are condemned to kill, who am I that I should keep my hands clean? That would be disgusting cleanliness, obnoxious saintliness. My humble nation did not desire to kill, but it was forced, and it has become a murderer. So I, too, must become a murderer, together with my nation. Upon whose shoulders will I place the sin--upon the shoulders of our youths and children? No, Pierre. And if ever the Higher Conscience of the world will call my dear people to the terrible accounting, if it will call you and Maurice, my children, and will say to you: "What have you done? You have murdered!" I will come forward and will say: "First you must judge me; I have also murdered--and you know that I am an honest man!" _Pierre sits motionless, his face covered with his hands. Enter Jeanne, unnoticed._ PIERRE _Uncovering his face._ But you must not die! You have no right! EMIL GRELIEU _Loudly, and with contempt._ Oh, death! _They notice Jeanne, and grow silent. Jeanne sits down and speaks in the same tone of strange, almost cheerful calm._ JEANNE Emil, she is here again. EMIL GRELIEU Yes? She is here again. Where has she been the last two nights? JEANNE