LAURA. You talk so much, you must have a bad conscience. Accuse me
if you can!
PASTOR. I cannot.
LAURA. You see! You cannot, and therefore I am innocent. You take
care of your ward, and I will take care of mine! Here's the doctor.
[Doctor comes in.]
LAURA [Rising]. Good evening, Doctor. You at least will help me,
won't you? But unfortunately there is not much that can be done. Do
you hear how he is carrying on up there? Are you convinced now?
DOCTOR. I am convinced that an act of violence has been committed,
but the question now is whether that act of violence can be
considered an outbreak of passion or madness.
PASTOR. But apart from the actual outbreak, you must acknowledge
that he has "fixed ideas."
DOCTOR. I think that your ideas, Pastor, are much more fixed.
PASTOR. My settled views about the highest things are--
DOCTOR. We'll leave settled views out of this. Madam, it rests with
you to decide whether your husband is guilty to the extent of
imprisonment and fine or should be put in an asylum! How do you
class his behavior?
LAURA. I cannot answer that now.
DOCTOR. That is to say you have no decided opinion as to what will
be most advantageous to the interests of the family? What do you
say, Pastor?
PASTOR. Well, there will be a scandal in either case. It is not
easy to say.
LAURA. But if he is only sentenced to a fine for violence, he will
be able to repeat the violence.
DOCTOR. And if he is sent to prison he will soon be out again.
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