PIERRE
You are greatly agitated, father.
EMIL GRELIEU
I have always thought, I have always been convinced that words were at my command, but here I stand before this monstrous, inexplicable—I don't know, I don't know what to call them. My heart is crying out, I hear its voice, but the word! Pierre, you are a student, you are young, your words are direct and pure—Pierre, find the word!
PIERRE
You want me to find it, father? Yes, I was a student, and I knew certain words: Peace, Right, Humanity. But now you see! My heart is crying too, but I do not know what to call these scoundrels. Scoundrels? That is not sufficient.
In despair.
Not sufficient.
EMIL GRELIEU
That is not strong enough. Pierre, I have decided—