t to any verdict passed on me.--Must I alone
remain condemned forever? Should I alone, among all that have erred,
never dare to say: "It is atoned"?

FELIX

It is too late. Guilt can be wiped out by confession only while the
guilty one is still able to make restitution. You ought to know
yourself, that this respite expired long ago.

SALA (_enters_)

FELIX

Mr. von Sala!--Have you anything to tell us?

SALA

Yes.--Good morning, Julian.--No, stay, Julian. I am glad to have a
witness. (_To Felix_) Are you determined to join the expedition?

FELIX

I am.

SALA

So am I. But it is possible that one of us must change his mind.

FELIX

Mr. von Sala...?

SALA

It would be a bad thing to risk finding out that you have started on a
journey of such scope with one whom you would prefer to shoot dead if
you knew him completely.

FELIX

Where is my sister, Mr. von Sala?

SALA

I don't know. Where she is at this moment, I don't know. But last
evening, just before you arrived, she had left me for the last time.

FELIX

Mr. von Sala....

SALA

Her farewell words to me were: Until to-morrow. You can see that I had
every reason to be surprised this morning, when you appeared at my
house. Permit me furthermore to tell you, that yesterday, of all days,
I asked Johanna to become my wife--which seemed to agitate her very
much. In telling you this, I have by no means the intention of
smoothing over things. For my question implied no desire on my part to
make good any wrong I might have done. It was apparently nothing but a
whim--like so much else. There is here no question of anything but to
let you know the truth. This means that I am at your disposal in any
manner you may choose.--I thought it absolutely necessary to say all
this before we were brought to the point of having to descend into the
depths of the earth together, or, perhaps, to sleep in the same tent.

FELIX (_after a long pause_)

Mr. von Sala ... we shall not have to sleep in the same tent.

SALA

Why not?

FELIX

Your journey will not last that long.

[_A very long pause ensues._

SALA

Oh ... I understand. And are you sure of that?

FELIX

Perfectly. (_Pause_}

SALA

And did Johanna know it?

FELIX

Yes.

SALA

I thank you.--Oh, you can safely take my hand. The matter has been
settled in the most chivalrous manner possible.--Well?... It is not
customary to refuse one's hand to him who is already down.

FELIX (