ALVA--Do you think that so easy? [SCHÖN _appears in the gallery cautiously parting the hangings between the middle pillars. He starts, and whispers, “My own son!”_] With gifts from God like yours, one turns those around one to criminals without ever dreaming of it. I, too, am only flesh and blood, and if we hadn’t grown up with each other like brother and sister---- LULU--And that’s why I only give myself to you alone quite without reserve. From you I have nothing to fear. ALVA--I assure you there are moments when one expects to see one’s whole inner self cave in. The more self-suppression a man loads onto himself, the easier he breaks down. Nothing will save him from it except----[_Stops to look under the table._] LULU--[_Quickly._] What are you looking for? ALVA--I conjure you, let me keep my confession of faith to myself! As an inviolable sanctity you were more to me than with all your gifts you could be to anyone else in your life! LULU--How extraordinarily different your mind is, on that, from your father’s! [FERDINAND _enters, rear, changes the plates and serves broiled chicken with salad_.] ALVA--[_To him._] Are you sick? LULU--[_To_ ALVA.] Let him be! ALVA--He’s trembling as if he had fever. FERDINAND--I am not yet so used to waiting.... ALVA--You must have something prescribed for you. FERDINAND--[_Thru his teeth._] I’m a coachman usually----[_Exit._] SCHÖN--[_Whispering from the gallery._] So, he too. [_Seats himself behind the rail, able to cover himself with the hangings._] LULU--What sort of moments are those of which you spoke, where one expects to see his whole inner self tumble in? ALVA--I =didn’t want= to speak of them. I should not like to lose, in joking over a glass of champagne, what has been my highest happiness for ten years. LULU--I have hurt you. I don’t want to begin on that again. ALVA--Do you promise me that for always? LULU--My hand on it. [_Gives him her hand across the table._ ALVA _takes it hesitatingly, grips it in his, and presses it long and ardently to his lips_.] What are you doing? [RODRIGO _sticks his head out from the curtains, left_. LULU _darts an angry look at him across_ ALVA, _and he draws back_.] SCHÖN--[_Whispering from the gallery._] And there is still another! ALVA--[_Holding the hand._] A soul--that in the hereafter will rub the sleep out of its eyes.... Oh, this hand.... LULU--[_Innocently._] What do you find in it?... ALVA--An arm.... LULU--What do you find in it?... ALVA--A body.... LULU--[_Guilelessly._] What do you find in it?... ALVA--[_Stirred up._] Mignon! LULU--[_Wholly ingenuously._] What do you find in it?... ALVA--[_Passionately._] Mignon! Mignon! LULU--[_Throws herself on the ottoman._] Don’t look at me so--for God’s sake! Let us go before it is too late. You’re an infamous wretch! ALVA--I told you, didn’t I, I was the basest villain.... LULU--I see that! ALVA--I have no sense of honor, no pride.... LULU--You think I am your equal!