And to think that this beast is my brother!

SAVVA

Whose cradle you rocked and whose diapers you changed.  Yes.  But to me it doesn’t seem in the least strange that you are my sister, or that this bundle there is my brother.  No, Tony!  They are going. (Tony turns his head and stares stupidly without making any answer) And it doesn’t seem in the least strange to me that any insignificant chit and piece of nothingness calling itself my brother or my sister should go to the chemist’s and buy a nickel’s worth of arsenic on finding out who I am.  You see, they have even attempted to poison me.  The girl who left me tried to do it, but she lost her nerve.  The point is that my sisters and brothers, among other things, have the characteristic of being cowards.

LIPA

I would have done it.

SAVVA

I don’t doubt it.  You are a little hysterical, and hysterical people are determined, unless they happen to burst into tears first.

LIPA

I hysterical?  All right, have it your way, have it your way.  And who are you, Savva?

SAVVA

That doesn’t interest me.

LIPA

They are going, they are going.  And they will find what they need.  And that is the work of an hysterical woman.  Do you hear how many of them there are?  And if they found out—­if I were to open the window this minute and cry out:  “This man here has tried to destroy your Christ”—­If you want it, I’ll do it this instant.  You need only say so.  Shall I? (She takes a step toward the window in a frenzy of rage) Shall I?

SAVVA

Yes, it’s a good way of escaping the crown of thorns.  Go ahead, shout.  But look out, don’t knock Tony down.

LIPA (turning back)

I am sorry for you.  You are beaten, and one doesn’t like to kick a man who is down.  But remember, remember, Savva, there are thousands, thousands of them coming in, and each one is your death!

SAVVA (smiling)

The tramp of death.

LIPA

Remember that each one of these would consider himself happy in killing you, in crushing you like a reptile.  Each one of these is your death.  Why, they beat a simple thief to death, a horse thief.  What would they not do to you!  You who wanted to steal their God.

SAVVA

Quite true.  That’s property too.

LIPA

You still have the brazenness to joke?  Who gave you the right to do such a thing?  Who gave you power over people?  How dare you meddle with what to them is right?  How dare you interfere with their life?