ALVA. Why do you flatter me so? It is true that perhaps there is no man living, so bad as I—who has brought about so much good.
LULU. In any case you're the only man in the world who's protected me without lowering me in my own eyes!
ALVA. Do you think that so easy? (Schön appears in the gallery cautiously parting the hangings between the middle pillars. He starts, and whispers, "My own son!") With gifts from God like yours, one turns those around one to criminals without ever dreaming of it. I, too, am only flesh and blood, and if we hadn't grown up with each other like brother and sister—
LULU. That's why, too, I give myself to you alone quite without reserve. From you I have nothing to fear.
ALVA. I assure you there are moments when one expects to see one's whole inner self cave in. The more self-restraint a man loads onto himself, the easier he breaks down. Nothing will save him from that except— (Stops to look under the table.)
LULU. (Quickly.) What are you looking for?
ALVA. I conjure you, let me keep my confession of faith to myself! As an inviolable sanctity you were more to me than with all your gifts you could be to anyone else in your life!
LULU. How do you come to think on that so entirely differently from your father? (Ferdinand enters, rear, changes the plates and serves broiled chicken with salad.)
ALVA. (To him.) Are you sick?
LULU. (To Alva.) Let him be!