perately.] I know what you mean... you have me at your mercy!
You have your guards--I am in a trap! And you mean force... I have felt
it in all your actions... behind all your words. Very well! There is a
way of escape, even from that; and I will take it! You can compel me to
kill myself; but you can never compel me to marry you! Not with all the
power you can summon... not with all the wealth of the world! Do you
understand me? [They stare at each other.] I have heard you talk with my
brother, and I know what are your ideas. You came to our civilization,
and tried it, and found it a lie. Virtue and honor... justice and
mercy... all these things were pretenses... snares for the unwary. There
was no one you could not frighten with your gold! That is your creed,
and so far it has served you... but no farther! There is one thing in
the world you cannot get... one thing that is beyond the reach of all
your cunning! And that is a woman's soul. [With a gesture of exultant
triumph.] You cannot buy me!

HAGEN. Estelle!

EST. Go!

HAGEN. [Stretching out his arms to her.] I love you!

EST. You love me! The slave driver... with his golden whip!

HAGEN. Even so... I love you.

EST. What do you know of love? What does the word mean to you?
Before love must come justice and honor, with it come mercy and
self-sacrifice... all things that you deride and trample on. What have
you to do with love?

HAGEN. [With intensity.] I love you! More than anything else in all the
world... I love you!

EST. [Stares at him.] More than your power?

HAGEN. Estelle! Listen to me! You do not know what my life has been! But
I can say this for myself... I have sought the best that I know. I have
sought Reality. [A pause.] I seek your love! I seek those things which
you have, and which I have not. [Fiercely.] Do you think that I have not
felt the difference?

EST. [In a startled whisper.] No!

HAGEN. That which you have, and which I have not, has become all the
world to me! I love you... I cannot live without you. I will follow you
wherever you command. Only teach me how to win your love.

EST. I cannot make terms with you. I will not hear of love from you
while you have force in your hands.

HAGEN. I will leave your home. I will set you free. I will humble myself
before you. What else can I do?

EST. You can lay down your power.

HAGEN. Estelle! Those are mere words.

EST. No!

HAGEN. Who is to take up the power? Shall I hand it back