Dollarson
To whom will it belong?
The Crowd:
Doesn’t it belong to all?
Vandergold:
But the Land of Hopes isn’t on the moon. It exists to-day; it is the centre of the most diverse interests and conflicting purposes, and it is located within the spheres of authority of the interested Continents of States throughout the world. It has become the subject of mutual negotiations. Well, these negotiations have not attained their purpose.
The Crowd:
What does that matter to us? It belongs to us all.
Vandergold:
Oh yes. Why not? Let’s suppose it’ll be yours. But first of all the Land of Hopes will have to be redeemed.
The Crowd:
Redeemed?
Eighth Man from the Crowd:
Tell us more clearly how we are to understand this.
Dollarson:
Redeemed? By what?
Vandergold:
By blood and suffering.
6
