I thank you as I would thank a snake that had entwined itself around me, and then left me of its own accord to follow other game. I know that I’ve been stung, and am only released because it doesn’t seem worth while to suck the bit of marrow out of my bones. But I thank you in spite of it, for now I shall have a quiet death. Yes, it is no mockery! I thank you. I feel as if I had seen through your heart into the abyss of hell, and whatever may be my lot in the terrors of eternity, I shall have no more to do with _you_, and that’s a comfort! And just as the unhappy creature bitten by a snake is not blamed for opening his veins in horror and disgust and letting his poisoned life well quickly away, so it may be that God of His grace will take pity on me when He sees you and what you’ve made of me.--If I had no _right_ ever to do such a thing, how should I be _able_ to do it?--One thing more: my father knows nothing of this, he doesn’t suspect, and in order that he may never know, I shall leave this world to-night. If I thought that _you_----(_Takes a step wildly towards him._) But that’s folly. Nothing could suit you better than to see them all stand and shake their heads and vainly ask why it happened! LEONARD. Such things do happen. What’s to be done? Clara! CLARA. Away, away! He can speak! (_Going._) LEONARD. Do you think I believe you? CLARA. No! LEONARD. If you kill yourself, you kill your child, too. CLARA. Rather both than kill my father! I know you can’t amend sin with sin. But what I do now, comes on my head alone. If I put the knife in his hand, it affects him as well as me. _I_ get it in any case. That gives me courage and strength in all my anguish. It’ll go well with you on this earth. (_Goes out._) SCENE 5 LEONARD (_alone_). I must marry her! Yet why must I? She’s going to do a mad trick to keep her father from doing a mad trick. What need is there for me to stop her by doing a madder trick still? I can’t agree to it, not until I see the man before me who’ll anticipate me by doing the maddest trick of all, and if he thinks as I do, there’ll be no end to the business. That sounds quite clear,--and yet--I must go after her! There’s some one at the door. Thank God! Nothing’s worse than quarrelling with your own thoughts. A rebellion in your head, when you beget snake after snake and each one devours the other or bites off its tail, is the worst kind of all. SCENE 6 SECRETARY (_enters_). Good-evening. LEONARD. The secretary! To what do I owe the honour of---- SEC. You’ll soon see, my boy.[21] LEONARD. You’re very familiar.[21] We _were_ at school together, of course---- SEC. And perhaps we shall die together. (_Producing pistols._) Do you know how to use these things? LEONARD. I don’t understand you.