(_He says this without looking round, with solemnity, like one who pronounces a sentence: gazing forward and motioning with his arm towards_ LAZARUS. _The latter cowers in his chair and looks at_ BERMUDEZ _with horror_.)
LAZ. Ah! No! What? My father! I! A lie! A lie! It is a lie! (_Hides his face in his hands._)
BERM. What’s this? Lazarus! Señor de Mejia! Are you ill? What do you say? (_Rising and approaching_ LAZARUS.) I don’t understand! Can it be? What?
LAZ. That I am the madman? Silence! That I am the idiot? Silence! That I am such--I? Look at me well: study me well: strengthen your judgment: meditate, examine, give sentence!
BERMUDEZ _standing_, LAZARUS _seated and clutching the doctor by the arm_.
BERM. But this is not fair, Señor de Mejia! This is not just! By God--by the Holy God!
LAZ. Fairness, justice, in a man such as I? Bermudez, Bermudez, I did wrong, I confess--(_with a mixture of courtesy, sadness, and some sarcasm_)--An idiot who presents his most humble excuses to a wise man! Be generous, pardon me.
BERM. You have not understood me. I am sorry for you, Lazarus, because I have given you--a shock--a bad time of it, without cause--believe me, without any cause. God help me, these dramatic authors--no, one is not safe with them! (_Wishing to turn the matter off with a laugh._)
LAZ. Let us be calm, let us be calm. I want the truth; there still remains to me some glimmer of reason, and I can understand what you say to me. Ha! the truth--Bermudez, the truth! It is the last truth that I can understand, and I wish to enjoy it. (_Rising._) Out with it! I still understand--yes--still!
BERM. Friend Lazarus! By all the saints of the heavenly court!----
LAZ. No, I still keep my senses; I shall explain to you all that has passed. My mother, pretending to inquire about another, inquired about me; I, pretending to be interested on another’s account, was interested on my own, and a poor mother and a lost wretch have between them cajoled a wise man. Ah! cajoled--no: pardon. We wished to know the truth--nothing more; but as the truth is treacherous, it is necessary at times to drag it forth by treason. I humbly beg that you will pardon us--my mother--and myself.
BERM. I tell you that I cannot recover from my surprise; that I am cut to the heart for having spoken with such levity. I have already told you that my opinion was haphazard--quite haphazard--without examination of the patient. (_Seeking where to go._)