Have no fear, there will be no battle or bombardment in this direction; and while the occupation lasts I shall be able to protect the house of my wife and my father-in-law, or at least to see that it is protected.

Here is Isabelle.

(Enter Isabelle.)

(Pausing for one moment on the threshold and then rushing into Otto’s arms.) You! Is that you? You here; and I did not know!

(Embracing her.) Isabelle!

You’re not wounded? You haven’t been ill?

No; and you? I heard you were not very well.

It’s nothing; it was the horror of everything that has happened and the anxiety of knowing you to be constantly in danger from the enemy....

What enemy? It’s he and his friends that are the enemy; and he runs no danger in the midst of them. But I will leave you to yourselves. Call me when you want me. (Exit.)

It’s true. I no longer know where I am. I call enemies all who wish you ill; and that means all the people I love. It is too much for a woman’s heart to bear. But it is over now, I hope; and the worst is ended.

No, the worst is beginning. But I was sure of you and that you at least would not condemn me unheard.

I condemn the others, but I know that you are no more to blame than I am. Besides, what does it all matter, when I find you the same as you were? But shall I have you with me for a few days? That will be something to set against this awful war!

I have no idea. I may have to go away to-morrow.

Are you in the firing-line?

It’s all firing-line at the moment. We are advancing like a torrent. I did not dare tell your father, but the whole of Belgium is invaded. Antwerp will fall to-morrow and Paris in a week.

And after that?

After that, victory; and we shall settle down here, unless you would rather go with me to Germany.

I shall go where you go.

(Enter Floris.)

Isn’t dad here?

Good-morning, Floris! Come and shake hands.

(Recoiling in horror.) Shake hands with you!

Floris!

Where’s dad?

In the next room. But you might at least be civil and shake hands with Otto, who wishes us no harm and who has come here to protect us.

I don’t want his protection, thank you!

(Exit, slamming the door behind him.)

You see the hatred! Amazing! It’s the same everywhere, all the time, wherever we go. They simply will not listen, they will not understand. I was conscious of its existence even in the heart of your father, who is the best-natured, fairest and most tranquil-minded man I know. What can we do, when they treat us like that?... But we must keep an eye on the boy. So long as he confines his offensive remarks to me, there’s no great harm done, but it would be a bad look out for him if he took it into his head to treat the Major or Lieutenant von Schaunberg in this way, for they are neither of them very patient. (A shot is fired in the distance.) That’s a shot!

Yes, at the bottom of the garden, near the wood.

(Enter hurriedly the Burgomaster and Floris.)

Did you hear? A rifle-shot!

(Between his teeth.) One less.

What do you say?

Nothing. I can say what I like.

(Anxiously.) But who fired the shot? It can only have been one of your men. There’s not a fire-arm left in this house, or anywhere in the town.

It’s probably my brother-officer, Lieutenant von Schaunberg, taking a stroll in the wood. He’s very fond of shooting; and I told him he’d find rabbits there.

Yes, the shot came from that side; but there wasn’t a single gun in the house.

He always carries his own among his kit. In any case, if all the arms are at the Town-hall, you have no cause for alarm. Do you answer for your servants? Are there no disaffected ones among them?

What do you call disaffected? They are irritated, incensed, indignant, exasperated, that’s natural enough; but they know how to restrain themselves and are not such fools as to attempt a useless murder, which would entail the destruction of the town and the death of hundreds of innocent victims, as at Dinant, Andenne, Louvain and Aerschot. I know them; they will be patient and bide their time.

What time?

The time that will come later.

I don’t understand you. Here you are talking like our worst enemies!

Do you expect me to be one of your friends? Would you insult me by numbering me among those who.... But I won’t say what I was going to say, it’s better not.... This incident has unnerved me. For I know that I am responsible and that if any unpleasantness occurs, it will be on my head.

I hear footsteps outside the house. (Going to the balcony-window and opening it.) Is that you, Sergeant Hartung? What is it?

(In the garden below, unseen.) I don’t know, sir. I saw Lieutenant von Schaunberg go that way.

When?

A quarter of an hour ago.

(To the Burgomaster.) It’s what I told you: he has gone shooting in the wood.

Beg pardon, sir, he had no gun with him.

Are you sure? That’s odd. Well, run and see what it is, instead of standing there gaping!

Very good, sir. I was just going when you stopped me. But a lot of my men are there already.

I hear shouts. There’s something I don’t like about this. But here’s one of your men coming back; he’ll tell us what has happened.

Hurry up, there! What was it?

(Also in the garden, unseen.) The Lieutenant? Where’s the Lieutenant?

Here. What’s the matter? Why don’t you speak?

Sir! Lieutenant von Schaunberg! He’s been murdered.

What? Who? Come nearer! What are you saying?

He’s dead.

When? How? Send for a doctor. I’ll come down. Perhaps he’s only wounded.

No, sir, he has a bullet through his head. They found him lying in the bracken.

Have they arrested the murderer?

They’re hunting in the wood. They’ve seen nobody.

(To the Sergeant.) Have sentries posted at all the gates. Quick! quick! Shoot any one at sight who attempts to leave the grounds. He can’t escape. Where’s the Major?

I don’t know, sir.

He’s probably in his room, on the other side of the house. He won’t have heard.

Send and tell him.

This forebodes no good.

Don’t be afraid. The criminal can’t escape; and, when we’ve caught him, he shall serve as an example that will make them think twice before they do it again. Stay here, all of you. Let no one leave the room, or I won’t answer for the consequences. It’s a serious matter, a very serious matter.