Baron Ludwig.
Isn't your Highnesses scepticism a little overdone? Surely society has made us the natural protectors of the social order. The order may change with the times--all we ask is that it should maintain the moral balance of power. (Beata laughs.) You are amused, Countess?
Beata (still laughing).
I was only laughing to think how often I'd heard it before--the moral balance of power, and all the rest! I'm sure our ancestors sang the same song when they threw their victims to Moloch. And our souls are still thrown by the million to the Moloch of social expediency. We are all expected to sacrifice our personal happiness to the welfare of the race! (She laughs excitedly.)
Kellinghausen (almost threateningly).
Beata!
Baron Ludwig.
Countess, you are conjuring up a phantom.
Beata.
It may be a phantom, but it has us by the throat.--(To Richard.) What are you thinking of, Völkerlingk? You are not going to refuse our celebrated game-pie?