LOUISE. For Heaven's sake, no!
MASTER. But I fear it isn't the first time she gave him trouble.
LOUISE. He never speaks of her.
MASTER. It's horrible! I wonder if we'll get to the end of it soon? [The telephone rings again] Now it's ringing again. Don't answer. I don't want to hear anything.—My child—in such company! An adventurer and a strumpet!—It's beyond limit!—Poor Gerda!
LOUISE. It's better to have certainty. I'll go in—You must do something!
MASTER. I cannot move—I can receive blows, but to strike back—no!
LOUISE. But if you don't repel a danger, it will press closer; and if you don't resist, you'll be destroyed.
MASTER. But if you refuse to be drawn in, you become unassailable.
LOUISE. Unassailable?
MASTER. Things straighten out much better if you don't mess them up still further by interference. How can you want me to direct matters where so many passions are at play? Do you think I can suppress anybody's emotions, or give them a new turn?