of the women of the lower classes is deplorable."

"No, I can't see that their position is any worse than the position of
the men. Deliver the men from their exploiters and the women too will
be free."

"But the unfortunates who have to sell themselves, and the scoundrels
who--"

"The scoundrels who pay! Has ever a man taken payment for a pleasure
which both enjoy?"

"That is not the question! The question is whether it is just that the
law of the land should punish the one and let the other go scotfree."

"There is no injustice in that. The one has degraded herself until she
has become a source of infection, and therefore the State treats her
as
it treats a mad dog. Whenever you find a man, degraded to that
degree, well, put him under police control, too. Oh, you pure angels,
who despise men and look upon them as unclean beasts!..."

"Well, what is it? What do you want me to do?"

He noticed that she had taken a manuscript from the sideboard and held
it in her hand. Without waiting for a reply, he took it from her and
began to examine it. "A bill to be introduced into Parliament! I'm to
be the man of straw who introduces it! Is that moral? Strictly speaking,
is it honest?"