Rita.
Retribution?
Allmers.
[With more self-control.] Yes. Judgment upon you and me. Now, as we stand here, we have our deserts. While he lived, we let ourselves shrink away from him in secret, abject remorse. We could not bear to see it—the thing he had to drag with him——
Rita.
[Whispers.] The crutch.
Allmers.
Yes, that. And now, what we now call sorrow and heartache—is really the gnawing of conscience, Rita. Nothing else.
Rita.
[Gazing helplessly at him.] I feel as if all this must end in despair—in madness for both of us. For we can never—never make it good again.