[BORIS raises the pistol.]
BORIS. I—
ALEXIS. Pull the trigger, man!
BORIS. I can’t. There’s a chance that what you have said may be true after all. [He lays down the pistol.] And yet, I can’t live if it’s false. And, by God, I can’t live if it’s true!
ALEXIS. In either case, we must both die.
BORIS. Aye, you speak the truth there, but I dare not kill you. I tell, you, I dare not! There must be some way out! Some other way!
ALEXIS. Are you brave enough to take poison? Yes! Good! Do you see this ring? I press a spring, so. There is a fine powder under the stone, so! I drop a few grains into one of these glasses. We draw lots. One of us drinks the wine and the other still has your pistol to use! It is very simple after all.
BORIS. [Rises.] Yah! Now, by God, I see the trick! Lies! Lies! Every word of it was lies! I can see through you now. You’re devilishly cunning with your sleight-of-hand, but I draw no lots for poison with the like of you.
ALEXIS. Have it your own way. See, there’s more than enough for both. Take the glass in your own hands, divide it yourself, pour the wine yourself, and then, to satisfy you, I’ll drink first.