(Ceremoniously.) Madam, I have done your father the honour of myself taking command of the firing-party. All I wanted was that your husband should prove his respect for discipline to the end! I give him back to you; you have nothing to blame him for. Everything went off very well, in a most correct and satisfactory manner. Your father died like a hero.... And now, Lieutenant Hilmer, go and embrace your wife....
(Suddenly drawing herself to her full height.) Go away!... Go away, both of you!...
What, I too, Isabelle?... But you don’t understand....
I understand everything, I understand too much, it’s you who will never understand anything!...
(Coming towards her.) But, Isabelle!...
(Shrinking back.) Don’t touch me!... Go away!... Don’t touch me!... Go! It’s over ... for good!...
(Stamping his foot.) She’s right! She’s right! She’s right!... Kiss me, kiss me! Let me kiss you!... It’s we two now, you and I!...
(To Otto.) Let them be; I want you. I hear they’re attacking on the Oostwinkel side.... You’ve done your duty, Hilmer. This is incomprehensible. But they’re all more or less mad in this country....
Punctuation has been normalized.
Repeated titles in the front of the book have been deleted.
This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg™ License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.