(He goes to one side. The PRIOR enters from the back. He is dressed
entirely in white and he has pulled up his hood. He is a tall man with
long white hair and along white beard-his head is like that of Jupiter.
His face is pale, but full and without wrinkles. His eyes are large,
surrounded by shadows and his eyebrows strongly marked. A quiet,
majestic calm reigns over his whole personality. The PRIOR is followed
by twelve Fathers, dressed in black and white, with black hoods, also
pulled up. All bow to the crucifix and then go to their places.)

PRIOR (after looking at the STRANGER for a moment.) What do you seek
here? (The STRANGER is confused and tries to find an answer, but cannot.
The PRIOR goes on, calmly, firmly, but indulgently.) Peace? Isn't that
so? (The STRANGER makes a sign of assent with head and mouth.) But if
the whole of life is a struggle, how can you find peace amongst the
living? (The STRANGER is not able to answer.) Do you want to turn your
back on life because you feel you've been injured, cheated?

STRANGER (in a weak voice). Yes.

PRIOR. So you've been defrauded, unjustly dealt with? And this injustice
began so early that you, an innocent child, couldn't imagine you'd
committed any crime that was worthy of punishment. Well, once you were
unjustly accused of stealing fruit; tormented into taking the offence
on yourself; tortured into telling lies about yourself and forced to beg
forgiveness for a fault you'd not committed. Wasn't it so?

STRANGER (with certainty). Yes. It was.

PRIOR. It was; and you've never been able to forget it. Never. Now
listen, you've a good memory; can you remember _The Swiss Family
Robinson_?

STRANGER (shrinking). _The Swiss Family Robinson_?

PRIOR. Yes. Those events that caused you such mental torture happened in
1857, but at Christmas 1856, that is the year before, you tore a copy
of that book and out of fear of punishment hid it under a chest in the
kitchen. (The STRANGER is taken aback.) The wardrobe was painted in oak
graining, and clothes hung in its upper part, whilst shoes stood below.
This wardrobe seemed enormously big to you, for you were a small child,
and you couldn't imagine it could ever be moved; but during spring
cleaning at Easter what was hidden was brought to light. Fear drove you
to put the blame on a schoolfellow. And now he had to endure torture,
because appearances were against him, for you were thought to be
trustworthy. After this the hi