bit of intelligence acquired by hard work and effort.  He declared a mute war on me.  I have defended myself.  With what?  With the arms which nature has given me.  When you step on a worm you must not take it amiss if the worm bites you; he cannot defend himself otherwise.  It is the law of nature.  I placed everything on one card, and I won—­or rather it is not I, but intelligence which has conquered.  This force—­the new times—­have conquered the old centuries.  And you take that amiss?  What do you want?  I am faithful, to the principle.  You are retreating.  I am not!  That woman is necessary for my happiness because I love her.  I need her wealth and her social position for my aims.  Give me such weapons and I will accomplish anything.  Do you know what an enormous work and what important aims I have before me?  You wish me to tear down the wall of darkness, prejudice, laziness, you wish me to breathe new life into that which is dead.  I cry:  “Give me the means.”  You do not have the means, therefore I wish to get them, or I shall perish.  But what now?  Across the road to my plans, to my future—­not only mine but everybody’s—­there stands a lord, a wandering knight, whose whole merit lies in the fact that he was born with a coat of arms.  And have I not the right to crush him?  And you wish me to fall down on my knees before him?  Before his lordship—­to give up everything for his sake?  No!  You do not know me.  Enough of sentiment.  A certain force is necessary and I have it, and I shall make a road for myself and for all of you even if I should be obliged to trample over a hundred such as Pretwic.

Anton.—­No, Jozwowicz, you have always done as you wanted with me, but now you cannot do it.  As long as there was a question of convictions I was with you, but you have attacked some principles which are bigger than either you or I, more stable and immutable.  You cannot explain this to me, and you yourself must be careful.  At the slightest opportunity you will fall down with all your energy as a man.  The force you are attacking is more powerful than you are.  Be careful, because you will lose.  One cannot change a principle:  straight honesty is the same always.  Do what you please, but be careful.  Do you know that human blood must always be avenged?  It is only a law of nature.  You ask me whether I am going to leave you?  Perhaps you would like to be given the right to fire on the people from behind a fence when it will suit you.  No, sir.  From to-day there must be kept between us a strict account.  You will be a member of parliament, but if you think we are going to serve you, and not you us, you are greatly mistaken.  You thought that the steps of the ladder on which you will ascend are composed of rascals?  Hold on!  We, who have elected you—­we, in whose probity you do not believe—­we will watch you and judge you.  If you are guilty we will crush you.  We have elected you; now you must serve.

Doctor (passionately).—­Anton!