Lucas.  You shall not speak of her so!  You shall not.

St. Olpherts. [Unconcernedly.] Each of you bearing a pole of the soiled banner of Free Union.  Free Union for the People!  Ho, my dear Lucas!

Lucas.  Good heavens, Duke, do you imagine, now that I am in sound health and mind again, that I don’t see the hideous absurdity of these views of hers?

St. Olpherts.  Then why the deuce don’t you listen a little more patiently to my views?

Lucas.  No, no.  I tell you I intend to keep faith with her, as far as I am able.  She’s so earnest, so pitiably earnest.  If I broke faith with her entirely, it would be too damnably cowardly.

St. Olpherts.  Cowardly!

Lucas. [Pacing the room agitatedly.] Besides, we shall do well together, after all, I believe—­she and I. In the end we shall make concessions to each other and settle down, somewhere abroad, peacefully.

St. Olpherts.  Ha!  And they called you a Coming Man at one time, didn’t they?

Lucas.  Oh, I—­I shall make as fine a career with my pen as that other career would have been.  At any rate, I ask you to leave me to it all—­ to leave me!

[Fortune enters.  The shades of evening have now deepened; the glow of sunset comes into the room.]

Fortune.  I beg your pardon, sir.

Lucas.  Well?

Fortune.  It is pas’ ze time for you to dress for dinner.

Lucas.  I’ll come. [Fortune goes out.]

St. Olpherts.  When do we next meet, dear fellow?

Lucas.  No, no—­please not again.

[Nella enters, excitedly.]

Nella [ Speaking over her shoulder.] Si, Signora; ecco il Signore.  (Yes, Signora; her is the Signor.) [To Cleeve.] Scusi, Signore.  Quando la vendra come e cara—! (Pardon, Signor, when you see her you’ll see how sweet she looks—!) [Agnes’s voice is heard.]

Agnes. [Outside.] Am I keeping you waiting, Lucas?

[She enters, handsomely gowned, her throat and arms bare, the fashion of her hair roughly altered.  She stops abruptly upon seeing st. Olpherts; a strange light comes into her eyes; her voice, manner, bearing, all express triumph.  The two men stare at her blankly.  She appears to be a beautiful woman.]

Agnes. [To Nella.] Un petit chale noir tricote—­cher-chez-le. [Nella withdraws.] Ah, you’re not dressed, Lucas dear.

Lucas.  What—­what time is it? [He goes towards the door, still staring at Agnes.]

St. Olpherts. [Looking at her, and speaking in an altered tone.] I fear my gossiping has delayed him.  You—­you dine out?

Agnes.  At the Grunwald.  Why don’t you join us? [Turning to Lucas, lightly.] Persuade him, Lucas. [Lucas pauses at the door.]