RICHARD.
[Nods his head.] I see. You have driven her away from me now, as you drove everyone else from my side—every friend I ever had, every human being that ever tried to approach me. You hate her.
BERTHA.
[Warmly.] No such thing! I think you have made her unhappy as you have made me and as you made your dead mother unhappy and killed her. Womankiller! That is your name.
RICHARD.
[Turns to go.] Arrivederci!
BERTHA.
[Excitedly.] She is a fine and high character. I like her. She is everything that I am not—in birth and education. You tried to ruin her but you could not. Because she is well able for you—what I am not. And you know it.
RICHARD.
[Almost shouting.] What the devil are you talking about her for?
BERTHA.
[Clasping her hands.] O, how I wish I had never met you! How I curse that day!
RICHARD.
[Bitterly.] I am in the way, is it? You would like to be free now. You have only to say the word.
BERTHA.
[Proudly.] Whenever you like I am ready.
RICHARD.
So that you could meet your lover—freely?
BERTHA.
Yes.