Rosmer (starting half up from his chair). What do you mean by
that?
Kroll. You must listen to me quietly, Rosmer--because now I can
speak of it. During the last year of her life she came twice to
see me, to tell me what she suffered from her fears and her
despair.
Rosmer. On that point?
Kroll. No. The first time she came she declared that you were on
the high road to apostasy--that you were going to desert the faith
that your father had taught you.
Rosmer (eagerly). What you say is impossible, Kroll!--absolutely
impossible! You must be wrong about that.
Kroll. Why?
Rosmer. Because as long as Beata lived I was still doubting and
fighting with myself. And I fought out that fight alone and in
the completest secrecy. I do not imagine that even Rebecca--
Kroll. Rebecca?
Rosmer. Oh, well--Miss West. I call her Rebecca for the sake of
convenience.
Kroll. So I have observed.
Rosmer. That is why it is so incomprehensible to me that Beata
should have had any suspicion of it. Why did she never speak to
me about it?--for she never did, by a single word.
Kroll. Poor soul--she begged and implored me to speak to you.
Rosmer. Then why did you never do so?
Kroll. Do you think I had a moment's doubt, at that time, that
her mind was unhinged? Such an accusation as that, against a man
like you! Well, she came to see me again, about a month later.
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