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62 [More calmly.] I will speak to him quietly. [Appealing.] Bertha, believe me, dear! It is not jealousy. You have complete liberty to do as you wish—you and he. But not in this way. He will not despise you. You don't wish to deceive me or to pretend to deceive me—with him, do you?

No, I do not. [Looking full at him.] Which of us two is the deceiver?

Of us? You and me?

[In a calm decided tone.] I know why you have allowed me what you call complete liberty.

Why?

To have complete liberty with—that girl.

[Irritated.] But, good God, you knew about that this long time. I never hid it.

You did. I thought it was a kind of friendship between you—till we came back, and then I saw.

So it is, Bertha.

[Shakes her head.] No, no. It is much more; and that is why you give me complete liberty. All those things you sit up at night to write about [pointing to the study] in there—about her. You call that friendship?