SCHÖN--This is the reward for all I’ve done for him! In one second he wrecks my whole life for me! ALVA--Control yourself, please! LULU--[_On the couch._] There’s no one here but us! ALVA--But look at =us=! SCHÖN--[_To_ LULU.] What do you want to tell the police? LULU--Nothing. ALVA--He didn’t want to remain a debtor to his destiny. LULU--He always had thoughts of death immediately. SCHÖN--He had thoughts that an ordinary human can only dream of. LULU--He had paid dearly for it. ALVA--He had what we don’t have! SCHÖN--[_Suddenly violent._] I know your motives! I have no cause to consider you! If you try every means to prevent having any brothers and sisters, that’s all the more reason why I should get more children. ALVA--You’ve a poor knowledge of men. LULU--You get out an extra yourself! SCHÖN--[_With passionate indignation._] He had no moral sense! [_Suddenly controlling himself again._] Paris in revolution----? ALVA--Our editors act as though they’d been struck. Everything has stopped dead. SCHÖN--That’s got to help me over this!--Now if only the police would come. The minutes are worth more than gold. [_The bell rings in the corridor._] ALVA--There they are---- [SCHÖN _starts to the door_. LULU _jumps up_.] LULU--Wait, you’ve got blood---- SCHÖN--Where? LULU--Wait, I’ll wipe it. [_Sprinkles her handkerchief with heliotrope and wipes the blood from_ SCHÖN’S _hand_.] SCHÖN--It’s your husband’s blood. LULU--It leaves no trace. SCHÖN--Monster! LULU--You will marry me, all the same. [_The bell rings in the corridor._] Only have patience, children. [SCHÖN _goes out and returns with_ ESCHERICH, _a reporter_.] ESCHERICH--[_Breathless._] Allow me to--to introduce myself---- SCHÖN--You’ve run? ESCHERICH--[_Giving him his card._] From police headquarters. A suicide, I understand. SCHÖN--[_Reads._] “Fritz Escherich, correspondent of the ‘News and Novelties.’” Come along. ESCHERICH--One moment. [_Takes out his notebook and pencil, looks around the parlor, writes a few words, bows to_ LULU, _writes, turns to the broken door, writes_.] A kitchen-ax. [_Starts to lift it._] SCHÖN--[_Holding him back._] Excuse me. ESCHERICH--[_Writing._] Door broken open with a kitchen-ax. [_Examines the lock._] SCHÖN--[_His hand on the door._] Look before you, my dear sir. ESCHERICH--Now if you will have the kindness to open the door---- [SCHÖN _opens it_. ESCHERICH _lets book and pencil fall, clutches at his hair_.] Merciful Heaven! God! SCHÖN--Look it all over carefully. ESCHERICH--I can’t look at it! SCHÖN--[_Snorting scornfully._] Then what did you come here for? ESCHERICH--To--to cut up--to cut up his throat with a razor! SCHÖN--Have you seen it all? ESCHERICH--That must feel---- SCHÖN--[_Draws the door to, steps to the writing-table._] Sit down. Here is paper and pen. Write. ESCHERICH--[_Mechanically taking his seat._] I can’t write---- SCHÖN--[_Behind his chair._] Write! Persecution--mania....