LULU--Be a man! Look yourself in the face once:--you have no trace of a conscience; you shrink back from no wickedness; in the most cold-blooded way you are meaning to make the girl that loves you unhappy. You conquer half the world; you do what you please;--and you know as well as I that---- SCHÖN--[_Sunk in the chair, right centre, utterly exhausted._] Stop. LULU--That you are too weak--to tear yourself away from me. SCHÖN--[_Groaning._] Oh! Oh! You make me weep. LULU--This moment makes =me= I cannot tell you how glad. SCHÖN--My age! My position! LULU--He cries like a child--the terrible man of might. Now go so to your bride and tell her what kind of a girl I am at heart--not a bit jealous! SCHÖN--[_Sobbing._] The child! The innocent child! LULU--How can the incarnate devil get so weak all of a sudden!----But now go, please. You are nothing more now to me. SCHÖN--I cannot go to her. LULU--Out with you. Come to me again when you have got back your strength. SCHÖN--Tell me in God’s name what I must do. LULU--[_Gets up; her cloak remains on the chair. Shoving aside the costumes on the centre table._] Here is writing-paper---- SCHÖN--I can’t write.... LULU--[_Upright behind him, her arm on the back of his chair._] Write! “My dear Countess....” SCHÖN--[_Hesitating._] I call her Adelheid.... LULU--[_With emphasis._] “My dear Countess....” SCHÖN--My sentence of death! [_He writes._] LULU--“Take back your promise. I cannot reconcile it with my conscience----” [SCHÖN _drops the pen and glances up at her entreatingly_.] Write “conscience”! “--to fetter you to my unhappy lot....” SCHÖN--[_Writing._] You are right. You are right. LULU--“I give you my word that I am unworthy of your love----” [SCHÖN _turns round again_.] Write “love”! “These lines are the proof of it. For three years I have tried to tear myself free; I have not the strength. I am writing you at the side of the woman who commands me. Forget me. Dr. Ludwig Schön.” SCHÖN--[_Groaning._] O God! LULU--[_Half startled._] No, no O God! [_With emphasis._] “Dr. Ludwig Schön.” Postscript: “Do not attempt to save me.” SCHÖN--[_Having written to the end, quite collapses._] Now--comes the--execution. CURTAIN ACT IV