reformers are； it will thrust you first into religion； where you
will sprinkle water on babies to save their souls from me； then
it will drive you from religion into science； where you will
snatch the babies from the water sprinkling and inoculate them
with disease to save them from catching it accidentally； then you
will take to politics； where you will become the catspaw of
corrupt functionaries and the henchman of ambitious humbugs； and
the end will be despair and decrepitude； broken nerve and
shattered hopes； vain regrets for that worst and silliest of
wastes and sacrifices； the waste and sacrifice of the power of
enjoyment： in a word； the punishment of the fool who pursues the
better before he has secured the good。
DON JUAN。 But at least I shall not be bored。 The service of the
Life Force has that advantage； at all events。 So fare you well；
Senor Satan。
THE DEVIL。 ＇amiably＇ Fare you well； Don Juan。 I shall often think
of our interesting chats about things in general。 I wish you
every happiness： Heaven； as I said before； suits some people。 But
if you should change your mind； do not forget that the gates are
always open here to the repentant prodigal。 If you feel at any
time that warmth of heart； sincere unforced affection； innocent
enjoyment； and warm； breathing； palpitating reality
DON JUAN。 Why not say flesh and blood at once； though we have
left those two greasy commonplaces behind us？
THE DEVIL。 ＇angrily＇ You throw my friendly farewell back in my
teeth； then； Don Juan？
DON JUAN。 By no means。 But though there is much to be learnt from
a cynical devil； I really cannot stand a sentimental one。 Senor
Commander： you know the way to the frontier of hell and heaven。
Be good enough to direct me。
THE STATUE。 Oh； the frontier is only the difference between two
ways of looking at things。 Any road will take you across it if
you really want to get there。
DON JUAN。 Good。 ＇saluting Dona Ana＇ Senora： your servant。
ANA。 But I am going with you。
DON JUAN。 I can find my own way to heaven； Ana； but I cannot find
yours ＇he vanishes＇。
ANA。 How annoying！
THE STATUE。 ＇calling after him＇ Bon voyage； Juan！ ＇He wafts a
final blast of his great rolling chords after him as a parting
salute。 A faint echo of the first ghostly melody comes back in
acknowledgment＇。 Ah！ there he goes。 ＇Puffing a long breath out
through his lips＇ Whew！ How he does talk！ They'll never stand it
in heaven。
THE DEVIL。 ＇gloomily＇ His going is a political defeat。 I cannot
keep these Life Worshippers： they all go。 This is the greatest
loss I have had since that Dutch painter wenta fellow who would
paint a hag of 70 with as much enjoyment as a Venus of 20。
THE STATUE。 I remember： he came to heaven。 Rembrandt。
THE DEVIL。 Ay； Rembrandt。 There a something unnatural about these
fellows。 Do not listen to their gospel； Senor Commander： it is
dangerous。 Beware of the pursuit of the Superhuman： it leads to
an indiscriminate contempt for the Human。 To a man； horses and
dogs and cats are mere species； outside the moral world。 Well； to
the Superman； men and women are a mere species too； also outside
the moral world。 This Don Juan was kind to women and courteous to
men as your daughter here was kind to her pet cats and dogs； but
such kindness is a denial of the exclusively human character of
the soul。
THE STATUE。 And who the deuce is the Superman？
THE DEVIL。 Oh； the latest fashion among the Life Force fanatics。
Did you not meet in Heaven； among the new arrivals； that German
Polish madmanwhat was his name？ Nietzsche？
THE STATUE。 Never heard of him。
THE DEVIL。 Well； he came here first； before he recovered his
wits。 I had some hopes of him； but he was a confirmed Life Force
worshipper。 It was he who raked up the Superman； who is as old as
Prometheus； and the 20th century will run after this newest of
the old crazes when it gets tired of the world； the flesh； and
your humble servant。
THE STATUE。 Superman is a good cry； and a good cry is half the
battle。 I should like to see this Nietzsche。
THE DEVIL。 Unfortunately he met Wagner here； and had a quarrel
with him。
THE STATUE。 Quite right； too。 Mozart for me！
THE DEVIL。 Oh； it was not about music。 Wagner once drifted into
Life Force worship； and invented a Superman called Siegfried。 But
he came to his senses afterwards。 So when they met here；
Nietzsche denounced him as a renegade； and Wagner wrote a pamphlet
to prove that Nietzsche was a Jew； and it ended in Nietzsche's
going to heaven in a huff。 And a good riddance too。 And now； my
friend； let us hasten to my palace and celebrate your arrival with
a grand musical service。
THE STATUE。 With pleasure： you're most kind。
THE DEVIL。 This way； Commander。 We go down the old trap ＇he
places himself on the grave trap＇。
THE STATUE。 Good。 ＇Reflectively＇ All the same； the Superman is a
fine conception。 There is something statuesque about it。 ＇He
places himself on the grave trap beside The Devil。 It begins to
descend slowly。 Red glow from the abyss＇。 Ah； this reminds me of
old times。
THE DEVIL。 And me also。
ANA。 Stop！ ＇The trap stops＇。
THE DEVIL。 You； Senora； cannot come this way。 You will have an
apotheosis。 But you will be at the palace before us。
ANA。 That is not what I stopped you for。 Tell me where can I find
the Superman？
THE DEVIL。 He is not yet created； Senora。
THE STATUE。 And never will be； probably。 Let us proceed： the red
fire will make me sneeze。 ＇They descend＇。
ANA。 Not yet created！ Then my work is not yet done。 ＇Crossing
herself devoutly＇ I believe in the Life to Come。 ＇Crying to the
universe＇ A fathera father for the Superman！
She vanishes into the void； and again there is nothing： all
existence seems suspended infinitely。 Then； vaguely； there is a
live human voice crying somewhere。 One sees； with a shock； a
mountain peak showing faintly against a lighter background。 The
sky has returned from afar； and we suddenly remember where we
were。 The cry becomes distinct and urgent： it says Automobile；
Automobile。 The complete reality comes back with a rush： in a
moment it is full morning in the Sierra； and the brigands are
scrambling to their feet and making for the road as the goatherd
runs down from the hill； warning them of the approach of another
motor。 Tanner and Mendoza rise amazedly and stare at one another
with scattered wits。 Straker sits up to yawn for a moment before
he gets on his feet； making it a point of honor not to show any
undue interest in the excitement of the bandits。 Mendoza gives a
quick look to see that his followers are attending to the alarm；
then exchanges a private word with Tanner。
MENDOZA。 Did you dream？
TANNER。 Damnably。 Did you？
MENDOZA。 Yes。 I forget what。 You were in it。
TANNER。 So were you。 Amazing
MENDOZA。 I warned you。 ＇a shot is heard from the road＇。 Dolts！
they will play with that gun。 ＇The brigands come running back
scared＇。 Who fired that shot？ ＇to Duval＇ Was it you？
DUVAL。 ＇breathless＇ I have not shoot。 Dey shoot first。
ANARCHIST。 I told you to begin by abolishing the State。 Now we
are all lost。
THE ROWDY SOCIAL…DEMOCRAT。 ＇stampeding across the amphitheatre＇
Run； everybody。
MENDOZA。 ＇collaring him； throwing him on his back； and drawing a
knife＇ I stab the man who stirs。 ＇He blocks the way。 The stampede
it checked＇。 What has happened？
THE SULKY SOCIAL…DEMOCRAT； A motor
THE ANARCHIST。 Three men
DUVAL。 Deux femmes
MENDOZA。 Three men and two women！ Why have you not brought them
here？ Are you afraid of them？
THE ROWDY ONE。 ＇getting up＇ Thyve a hescort。 Ow； de…ooh lut's ook
it； Mendowza。
THE SULKY ONE。 Two armored cars full o soldiers at the end o the
valley。
ANARCHIST。 The shot was fired in the air。 It was a signal。
Straker whistles his favorite air； which falls on the ears of the
brigands like a funeral march。
TANNER。 It is not an escort； but an expedition to capture you。 We
were advised to wait for it； but I was in a hurry。
THE ROWDY ONE。 ＇in an agony of apprehension＇ And Ow my good Lord；
ere we are； wytin for em！ Lut's tike to the mahntns。
MENDOZA。 Idiot； what do you know about the mountains？ Are you a
Spaniard？ You would be given up by the first shepherd you met。
Besides； we are already within range of their rifles。
THE ROWDY ONE。 Bat
MENDOZA。 Silence。 Leave this to me。 ＇To Tanner＇ Comrade： you will
not betray us。
STRAKER。 Oo are you callin comrade？
MENDOZA。 Last night the advantage was with me。 The robber of the
poor was at the mercy of the robber of the rich。 You offered your
hand： I took it。
TANNER。 I bring no charge against you； comrade。 We have spent a
pleasant evening with you： that is all。
STRAKER。 I gev my and to nobody； see？
MENDOZA。 ＇turning on him impressively＇ Young man； if I am tried；
I shall plead guilty； and explain what drove me from England； home
and duty。 Do you wish to have the respectable name of Straker
dragged through the mud of a Spanish criminal court？ The police
will search me。 They will find Louisa's portrait。 It will be
published in the illustrated papers。 You blench。 It will be your
doing； remember。
STRAKER。 ＇with baffled rage＇ I don't care about the court。 It's
avin our name mixed up with yours that I object to； you
blackmailin swine； you。
MENDOZA。 Language unworthy of Louisa's brother！ But no matter：
you are muzzled： that is enough for us。 ＇He turns to face his own
men； who back uneasily across the amphitheatre towards the cave
to take refuge behind him； as a fresh party； muffled for
motoring； comes from the road in riotous spirits。 Ann； who makes
straight for Tanner； comes first； then Violet； helped over the
rough ground by Hector holding her right hand and Ramsden her
left。 Mendoza goes to his presidential block and seats himself
calmly with his rank and file grouped behind him； and his Staff；
consisting of Duval and the Anarchist on his right and the two
Social…Democrats on his left； supporting him in flank＇。
ANN。 It's Jack！
TANNER。 Caught！
HECTOR。 Why； certainly it is。 I said it was you； Tanner； We've
just been stopped by a puncture： the road is full of nails。
VIOLET。 What are you doing here with all these men？
ANN。 Why did you