for, lad. Speak!
Make haste and call her, Fritz. [FREDERIK _takes several steps--then turns
back to the desk. He tears the letter in two, muttering to himself,_ "Damn
the woman," _and sinks into his chair._] Frederik Grimm, stand up before
me! [FREDERIK _starts to rise, but changes his mind._] Stand up! [FREDERIK
_rises--not knowing why he has risen._ PETER _points an accusing finger
at_ FREDERIK.] Liar to the dead! Cheat, thief, hypocrite! You sha'n't have
my little girl. You only want her for a week, a day, an hour. I refuse. I
have come back to take her from you and you cannot put me to rest.... I
have come back.... You cannot drive me from your thoughts--I am there....
[_Tapping his forehead, without touching it._] I am looking over your
shoulder ... in at the window ... under the door.... You are breathing me
in the air.... I am looking at your heart. [_He brings his clenched fist
down on the desk in answer to_ FREDERIK'S _gesture; but, despite the
seeming violence of the blow, he makes no sound._] Hear me! You shall hear
me! Hear me! [_Calling loudly._] Hear me! Hear me! Hear me! Will nobody
hear me? Is there no one in this house to hear me? No one? Has my journey
been in vain?... [_For the first time fully realizing the situation._] Oh,
must we stand or fall by the mistakes we made here and the deed we did? Is
there no second chance in this world?

FREDERIK. [_With a sneer on his lips as though trying to banish his
thoughts._] Psh!

MARTA _enters with a tray, containing a pot of coffee and a plate of small
cakes._ PETER, _who has watched her with appealing eyes, like a dog
craving attention, glances from her to the desk and from the desk back to_
MARTA--_trying to tempt her to look at the torn letter._ FREDERIK, _deep
in thought, does not notice her._ PETER _points to the desk as though to
say, "Look!" After a pause, she picks up the picture and the letter--
holding them in one hand to clear a spot for the tray which she is about
to set on the desk._

PETER. [_Speaking in a hushed voice._] Marta, see what you have in your
hand ... that letter ... there ... read it.... Run to Catherine with it.
Read it from the house-tops.... The letter ... Look! There you have the
story of Annamarie.... It is the one way to know the truth in this house--
the only way.... There in your hand--the letter.... He will never
speak.... The letter for Catherine.

MARTA _sets down the picture and the letter; but something prompts her