You wish.... You want.... (Aside) Oh! That look! That look!

Ox: Leave us!

Eva: Don't go, Mr. Tartelet.

Ox (more imperiously than before, and looking Tartelet straight in the face): Do as I say!

Eva: No, no!

Ox (as before): Leave us! I want you to leave.

Tartelet: What is the matter with me? I try, but I can't.... I can't....

(He backs out)

Eva (calling): George, George!

Ox: George is far away. He can't hear you.

Eva: I'll find a way to get to him. (Calling) George!

Ox (blocking her way): I have to talk to you, Eva. Do you know why I used to follow you around wherever you went? Why I was always wandering around your home?

Eva: I don't want to know!

Ox: Because I love you.

Eva (sarcastically): You love me? You?

Ox: I didn't come to Andernak Castle for your grandmother or your fiance George. I came for you, and no one else. I wanted to be close to you. I wanted to see you and hear you, because I love you.

Eva: That's enough! Not another word!

Ox: And do you know why I told George who his father was, why I pushed him along this path, why I gave him the power to accomplish all these dreams? Because I don't want George to become your husband. (His voice rises.) And because I love you.

Eva: When George finds out what your intentions are, and why you're pushing him along toward this impossible world, he'll come to his senses and drive you away like an evil genie that has finally been unmasked.

Ox: You won't tell him, Eva. That would set us against each other, like two rivals. And you know very well that the struggle would be more dreadful for him than for me.

Eva: I will speak....

Ox: Then you'll kill him. I'll have no further reason to drive him mad. You will have driven him to his death.

Eva (terrified): My God! George! George! This man would kill you.

Ox: Understand what I'm saying, Eva. I love you. I love you!

Eva: Ah! Don't profane that word. Go ahead, threaten me! I prefer your anger to your threats.

Ox: Very well, so be it. Your pleading is a waste of time. But remember my final words. Soon you'll come yourself and implore me to have pity on George. You'll beg me to stop him on the road he's following. You'll ask me to spare his sanity ... his life. But it will be too late.

(He moves away from hey.)

Eva: Have pity. Have pity on him.

Ox (turning around): It will be too late. (Exit.)

(Enter Eva. She comes downstage, distraught and exhausted.)

Eva: My God! What shall I do? What will become of me? He'll kill him! Ah! I feel faint. I can't do anything more.