any sin, cover ourselves with infamy, become the pariahs and lepers of the earth to uphold the throne of this tyrant, this criminal.
Doctor.
[Indignantly.] Margaret!
Margaret.
Millions of mothers must lose their sons, millions
of wives must lose their husbands, and millions of
little children must lose their fathers; the whole
world must weep and bleed to death; but what
matter—[Laughing bitterly]—what matter if it adds
to his power and glory?
Doctor.
Margaret!
Margaret.
My father, too—my poor, dear father—must be
threatened—intimidated—starved——
Doctor.
Margaret!
Margaret.
[In a paroxysm of passion.] And now Otto—Otto
must commit this crime before God and man; and
I must help him! Or if I don't, if I refuse, you
and I and he and everybody . . . [Facing the portrait.] The devil ! The cruel, merciless, heartless
devil ! May the curse of every mother and wife
and sister in the world follow him to his grave!
[Snatching up ink-pot from table.] Damn him! Damn
him! Damn him!
[She flings the ink-pot at the portrait, smashing the glass, which falls with a crash.
CURTAIN
