Have mercy on me! Sit down and judge me! Sit down and judge me!
[Rupert slowly comes and sits down L.
Rupert. Well?
[Brandon paces up towards window before sitting down. Sits down C. Thinks. Puts face in hands.
Brandon. Rupert. You’re an enlightened man, aren’t you?
Rupert. I profess to be. Yes.
Brandon. And it is in your power to have me—hanged.
Rupert. So it seems.
Brandon. And Granillo too.
Rupert. And Granillo too.
Brandon. Rupert.
Rupert. Yes.
Brandon. You remember our talk to-night—about the Old Bailey and justice?
Rupert. Yes. Well.
Brandon. And the difference between the two. You made the point.
Rupert. Yes.
Brandon. Yes. Well. Remember that. You wouldn’t be giving us up to justice. And now I want to ask you something else. You are not a man of morals, are you?
Rupert. No. I’m not.
Brandon. And you do not rate life as a very precious thing, do you?
Rupert. No.
Brandon. Now listen, Rupert. Listen. I have done this thing. I and Granno. We have done it together. We have done it for—for adventure. For adventure and danger. For danger. You read Nietzsche, don’t you, Rupert?
Rupert. Yes.
[ 83 ]
