[Nods.] And has made its father famous too.—That was your dream.

[More softly, with emotion.] It is to you I owe everything, everything, Irene—and I thank you.

[Lost in thought for a moment.] If I had then done what I had a right to do, Arnold—

Well? What then?

I should have killed that child.

Killed it, you say?

[Whispering.] Killed it—before I went away from you. Crushed it—crushed it to dust.

[Shakes his head reproachfully.] You would never have been able to, Irene. You had not the heart to do it.

No, in those days I had not that sort of heart.

But since then? Afterwards?