Home > Authors Index > Jack London > Theft: A Play In Four Acts > This page
Theft: A Play In Four Acts, a play by Jack London |
||
Act 3 |
||
| < Previous |
Table of content |
Next > |
|
________________________________________________
_ ACT III Scene. The library, used as a sort of semi-office by Starkweather at such times when he is in Washington. Door to right; also, door to right rear. At left rear is an alcove, without hangings, which is dark. To left are windows. To left, near windows, a fiat-top desk, with desk-chair and desk-telephone. Also, on desk, conspicuously, is a heavy dispatch box. At the center rear is a large screen. Extending across center back of room are heavy, old-fashioned bookcases, with swinging glass doors. The bookcases narrow about four feet from the floor, thus forming a ledge. Between left end of bookcases and alcove at left rear, high up on wall, hangs a large painting or steel engraving of Abraham Lincoln. In design and furnishings, it is a simple chaste room, coldly rigid and slightly old-fashioned. It is 9:30 in the morning of the day succeeding previous act. Curtain discloses Starkweather seated at desk, and Dobleman, to right of desk, standing.
DOBLEMAN. (_Making note on pad._) Very well, sir. Two thousand. (_He consults his notes._) Then there is _Vanderwater's Magazine_. Your subscription is due. STARKWEATHER. How much? DOBLEMAN. You have been paying fifteen thousand. STARKWEATHER. It is too much. What is the regular subscription? DOBLEMAN. A dollar a year. STARKWEATHER. (_Shaking his head emphatically._) It is too much. DOBLEMAN. Professor Vanderwater also does good work with his lecturing. He is regularly on the Chautauqua Courses, and at that big meeting of the National Civic Federation, his speech was exceptionally telling. STARKWEATHER. (_Doubtfully, about to give in._) All right-- (_He pauses, as if recollecting something._) (_Dobleman has begun to write down the note._) No. I remember there was something in the papers about this Professor Vanderwater--a divorce, wasn't it? He has impaired his authority and his usefulness to me. DOBLEMAN. It was his wife's fault. STARKWEATHER. It is immaterial. His usefulness is impaired. Cut him down to ten thousand. It will teach him a lesson. DOBLEMAN. Very good, sir. STARKWEATHER. And the customary twenty thousand to _Cartwrights_. DOBLEMAN. (_Hesitatingly._) They have asked for more. They have enlarged the magazine, reorganized the stock, staff, everything. STARKWEATHER. Hubbard's writing for it, isn't he? DOBLEMAN. Yes, sir. And though I don't know, it is whispered that he is one of the heavy stockholders. STARKWEATHER. A very capable man. He has served me well. How much do they want? DOBLEMAN. They say that Nettman series of articles cost them twelve thousand alone, and that they believe, in view of the exceptional service they are prepared to render, and are rendering, fifty thousand-- STARKWEATHER. (_Shortly._) All right. How much have I given to University of Hanover this year? DOBLEMAN. Seven--nine millions, including that new library. STARKWEATHER. (_Sighing._) Education does cost. Anything more this morning? DOBLEMAN. (_Consulting notes._) Just one other--Mr. Rutland. His church, you know, sir, and that theological college. He told me he had been talking it over with you. He is anxious to know. STARKWEATHER. He's very keen, I must say. Fifty thousand for the church, and a hundred thousand for the college--I ask you, candidly, is he worth it? DOBLEMAN. The church is a very powerful molder of public opinion, and Mr. Rutland is very impressive. (_Running over the notes and producing a clipping._) This is what he said in his sermon two weeks ago: "God has given to Mr. Starkweather the talent for making money as truly as God has given to other men the genius which manifests itself in literature and the arts and sciences." STARKWEATHER. (_Pleased._) He says it well. DOBLEMAN. (_Producing another clipping._) And this he said about you in last Sunday's sermon: "We are to-day rejoicing in the great light of the consecration of a great wealth to the advancement of the race. This vast wealth has been so consecrated by a man who all through life has walked in accord with the word, The love of Christ constraineth me.'" STARKWEATHER. (_Meditatively._) Dobleman, I have meant well. I mean well. I shall always mean well. I believe I am one of those few men, to whom God, in his infinite wisdom, has given the stewardship of the people's wealth. It is a high trust, and despite the abuse and vilification heaped upon me, I shall remain faithful to it. (_Changing his tone abruptly to businesslike briskness._) Very well. See that Mr. Rutland gets what he has asked for. DOBLEMAN. Very good, sir. I shall telephone him. I know he is anxious to hear. (_Starting to leave the room._) Shall I make the checks out in the usual way? STARKWEATHER. Yes: except the Rutland one. I'll sign that myself. Let the others go through the regular channels. We take the 2:10 train for New York. Are you ready? DOBLEMAN. (_Indicating dispatch box._) All, except the dispatch box. STARKWEATHER. I'll take care of that myself. (_Dobleman starts to make exit to left, and Starkweather, taking notebook from pocket, glances into it, and looks up._) Dobleman. DOBLEMAN. (_Pausing._) Yes, sir. STARKWEATHER. Mrs. Chalmers is here, isn't she? DOBLEMAN. Yes, sir. She came a few minutes ago, with her little boy. They are with Mrs. Starkweather. STARKWEATHER. Please tell Mrs. Chalmers I wish to see her. DOBLEMAN. Yes, sir. (_Dobleman makes exit._) (_Maidservant enters from right rear, with card tray._) STARKWEATHER. (_Examining card._) Show him in. (_Maidservant makes exit right rear_). (_Pause, during which Starkweather consults notebook._) (_Maidservant re-enters, showing in Hubbard._) (_Hubbard advances to desk._) (_Starkweather is so glad to see him that he half rises from his chair to shake hands._) STARKWEATHER. (_Heartily._) I can only tell you that what you did was wonderful. Your telephone last night was a great relief. Where are they? HUBBARD. (_Drawing package of documents from inside breast pocket and handing them over._) There they are--the complete set. I was fortunate. STARKWEATHER. (_Opening package and glancing at a number of the documents while he talks._) You are modest, Mr. Hubbard.--It required more--than fortune.--It required ability--of no mean order.--The time was short.--You had to think--and act--with too great immediacy to be merely fortunate. (_Hubbard bows, while Starkweather rearranges package._) There is no need for me to tell you how I appreciate your service. I have increased my subscription to _Cartwright's_ to fifty thousand, and I shall speak to Dobleman, who will remit to you a more substantial acknowledgment than my mere thanks for the inestimable service you have rendered. (_Hubbard bows._) You--ah--you have read the documents? HUBBARD. I glanced through them. They were indeed serious. But we have spiked Knox's guns. Without them, that speech of his this afternoon becomes a farce--a howling farce. Be sure you take good care of them. (_Indicating documents, which Starkweather still holds._) Gherst has a long arm. STARKWEATHER. He cannot reach me here. Besides, I go to New York to-day, and I shall carry them with me. Mr. Hubbard, you will forgive me-- (_Starting to pack dispatch box with papers and letters lying on desk._) I am very busy. HUBBARD. (_Taking the hint._) Yes, I understand. I shall be going now. I have to be at the Club in five minutes. STARKWEATHER. (_In course of packing dispatch box, he sets certain packets of papers and several medium-sized account books to one side in an orderly pile. He talks while he packs, and Hubbard waits._) I should like to talk with you some more--in New York. Next time you are in town be sure to see me. I am thinking of buying the _Parthenon Magazine_, and of changing its policy. I should like to have you negotiate this, and there are other important things as well. Good day, Mr. Hubbard. I shall see you in New York--soon. (_Hubbard and Starkweather shake hands._) (_Hubbard starts to make exit to right rear._) (_Margaret enters from right rear._) (_Starkweather goes on packing dispatch box through following scene._) HUBBARD. Mrs. Chalmers. (_Holding out hand, which Margaret takes very coldly, scarcely inclining her head, and starting to pass on._) (_Speaking suddenly and savagely._) You needn't be so high and lofty, Mrs. Chalmers. MARGARET. (_Pausing and looking at him curiously as if to ascertain whether he has been drinking._) I do not understand. HUBBARD. You always treated me this way, but the time for it is past. I won't stand for your superior goodness any more. You really impressed me with it for a long time, and you made me walk small. But I know better now. A pretty game you've been playing--you, who are like any other woman. Well, you know where you were last night. So do I. MARGARET. You are impudent. HUBBARD. (_Doggedly._) I said I knew where you were last night. Mr. Knox also knows where you were. But I'll wager your husband doesn't. MARGARET. You spy! (_Indicating her father._) I suppose you have told--him. HUBBARD. Why should I? MARGARET. You are his creature. HUBBARD. If it will ease your suspense, let me tell you that I have not told him. But I do protest to you that you must treat me with more--more kindness. (_Margaret makes no sign but passes on utterly oblivious of him._) (_Hubbard stares angrily at her and makes exit_) (_Starkweather, who is finishing packing, puts the documents last inside box, and closes and locks it. To one side is the orderly stack of the several account books and packets of papers._) STARKWEATHER. Good morning, Margaret. I sent for you because we did not finish that talk last night. Sit down. (_She gets a chair for herself and sits down._) You always were hard to manage, Margaret. You have had too much will for a woman. Yet I did my best for you. Your marriage with Tom was especially auspicious--a rising man, of good family and a gentleman, eminently suitable-- MARGARET. (_Interrupting bitterly._) I don't think you were considering your daughter at all in the matter. I know your views on woman and woman's place. I have never counted for anything with you. Neither has mother, nor Connie, when business was uppermost, and business always is uppermost with you. I sometimes wonder if you think a woman has a soul. As for my marriage--you saw that Tom could be useful to you. He had the various distinctive points you have mentioned. Better than that he was pliable, capable of being molded to perform your work, to manipulate machine politics and procure for you the legislation you desired. You did not consider what kind of a husband he would make for your daughter whom you did not know. But you gave your daughter to him--sold her to him--because you needed him-- (_Laughs hysterically._) In your business. STARKWEATHER. (_Angrily._) Margaret! You must not speak that way. (_Relaxing._) Ah, you do not change. You were always that way, always bent on having your will-- MARGARET. Would to God I had been more successful in having it. STARKWEATHER. (_Testily._) This is all beside the question. I sent for you to tell you that this must stop--this association with a man of the type and character of Knox--a dreamer, a charlatan, a scoundrel-- MARGARET. It is not necessary to abuse him. STARKWEATHER. It must stop--that is all. Do you understand? It must stop. MARGARET. (_Quietly._) It has stopped. I doubt that I shall ever see him again. He will never come to my house again, at any rate. Are you satisfied? STARKWEATHER. Perfectly. Of course, you know I have never doubted you--that--that way. MARGARET. (_Quietly._) How little you know women. In your comprehension we are automatons, puppets, with no hearts nor heats of desire of our own, with no springs of conduct save those of the immaculate and puritanical sort that New England crystallized a century or so ago. STARKWEATHER. (_Suspiciously._) You mean that you and this man--? MARGARET. I mean nothing has passed between us. I mean that I am Tom's wife and Tommy's mother. What I did mean, you have no more understood than you understand me--or any woman. STARKWEATHER. (_Relieved._) It is well. MARGARET. (_Continuing._) And it is so easy. The concept is simple. A woman is human. That is all. Yet I do believe it is news to you. (_Enters Dobleman from right carrying a check in his hand. Starkweather, about to speak, pauses._) (_Dobleman hesitates, and Starkweather nods for him to advance._) DOBLEMAN. (_Greeting Margaret, and addressing Starkweather._) This check. You said you would sign it yourself. STARKWEATHER. Yes, that is Rutland's. (_Looks for pen._) (_Dobleman offers his fountain pen._) No; my own pen. (_Unlocks dispatch box, gets pen, and signs check. Leaves dispatch box open._) (_Dobleman takes check and makes exit to right._) STARKWEATHER. (_Picking up documents from top of pile in open box._) This man Knox. I studied him yesterday. A man of great energy and ideals. Unfortunately, he is a sentimentalist. He means right--I grant him that. But he does not understand practical conditions. He is more dangerous to the welfare of the United States than ten thousand anarchists. And he is not practical. (_Holding up documents._) Behold, stolen from my private files by a yellow journal sneak thief and turned over to him. He thought to buttress his speech with them this afternoon. And yet, so hopelessly unpractical is he, that you see they are already back in the rightful owner's hands. MARGARET. Then his speech is ruined? STARKWEATHER. Absolutely. The wheels are all ready to turn. The good people of the United States will dismiss him with roars of laughter--a good phrase, that: Hubbard's, I believe. (_Dropping documents on the open cover of dispatch box, picking up the pile of several account books and packets of papers, and rising._) One moment. I must put these away. (_Starkweather goes to alcove at left rear. He presses a button and alcove is lighted by electricity, discovering the face of a large safe. During the following scene he does not look around, being occupied with working the combination, opening the safe, putting away account books and packets of papers, and with examining other packets which are in safe._) (_Margaret looks at documents lying on open cover of dispatch box and glancing quickly about room, takes a sudden resolution. She seizes documents, makes as if to run wildly from the room, stops abruptly to reconsider, and changes her mind. She looks about room for a hiding place, and her eyes rest on portrait of Lincoln. Moving swiftly, picking up a light chair on the way, she goes to corner of bookcase nearest to portrait, steps on chair, and from chair to ledge of bookcase where, clinging, she reaches out and up and drops documents behind portrait. Stepping quickly down, with handkerchief she wipes ledge on which she has stood, also the seat of the chair. She carries chair back to where she found it, and reseats herself in chair by desk._) (_Starkweather locks safe, emerges from alcove, turns off alcove lights, advances to desk chair, and sits down. He is about to close and lock dispatch box when he discovers documents are missing. He is very quiet about it, and examines contents of box care-fully._) STARKWEATHER. (_Quietly._) Has anybody been in the room? MARGARET. No. STARKWEATHER. (_Looking at her searchingly._) A most unprecedented thing has occurred. When I went to the safe a moment ago, I left these documents on the cover of the dispatch box. Nobody has been in the room but you. The documents are gone. Give them to me. MARGARET. I have not been out of the room. STARKWEATHER. I know that. Give them to me. (_A pause._) You have them. Give them to me MARGARET. I haven't them. STARKWEATHER. That is a lie. Give them to me. MARGARET. (_Rising._) I tell you I haven't them-- STARKWEATHER. (_Also rising._) That is a lie. MARGARET. (_Turning and starting to cross room._) Very well, if you do not believe me-- STARKWEATHER. (_Interrupting._) Where are you going? MARGARET. Home. STARKWEATHER. (_Imperatively._) No, you are not. Come back here. (_Margaret comes back and stands by chair._) You shall not leave this room. Sit down. MARGARET. I prefer to stand. STARKWEATHER. Sit down. (_She still stands, and he grips her by arm, forcing her down into chair._) Sit down. Before you leave this room you shall return those documents. This is more important than you realize. It transcends all ordinary things of life as you have known it, and you will compel me to do things far harsher than you can possibly imagine. I can forget that you are a daughter of mine. I can forget that you are even a woman. If I have to tear them from you, I shall get them. Give them to me. (_A pause._) What are you going to do? (_Margaret shrugs her shoulders._) What have you to say? (_Margaret again shrugs her shoulders._) What have you to say? MARGARET. Nothing. STARKWEATHER. (_Puzzled, changing tactics, sitting down, and talking calmly._) Let us talk this over quietly. You have no shred of right of any sort to those documents. They are mine. They were stolen by a sneak thief from my private files. Only this morning--a few minutes ago--did I get them back. They are mine, I tell you. They belong to me. Give them back. MARGARET. I tell you I haven't them. STARKWEATHER. You have got them about you, somewhere, concealed in your breast there. It will not save you. I tell you I shall have them. I warn you. I don't want to proceed to extreme measures. Give them to me. (_He starts to press desk-button, pauses, and looks at her._) Well? (_Margaret shrugs her shoulders._) (_He presses button twice._) I have sent for Dobleman. You have one chance before he comes. Give them to me. MARGARET. Father, will you believe me just this once? Let me go. I tell you I haven't the documents. I tell you that if you let me leave this room, I shall not carry them away with me. I tell you this on my honor. Do you believe me? Tell me that you do believe me. STARKWEATHER. I do believe you. You say they are not on you. I believe you. Now tell me where they are--you have them hidden somewhere--(_Glancing about room._)--And you can go at once. (_Dobleman enters from right and advances to desk. Starkweather and Margaret remains silent._) DOBLEMAN. You rang for me. STARKWEATHER. (_With one last questioning glance at Margaret, who remains impassive._) Yes, I did. Have you been in that other room all the time? DOBLEMAN. Yes, sir. STARKWEATHER. Did anybody pass through and enter this room? DOBLEMAN. No, sir. STARKWEATHER. Very well. We'll see what the maid has to say. (_He presses button once._) Margaret, I give you one last chance. MARGARET. I have told you that if I leave this room, I shall not take them with me. (_Maid enters from right rear and advances._) STARKWEATHER. Has anybody come into this room from the hall in the last few minutes? {Maid} No, sir; not since Mrs. Chalmers came in. STARKWEATHER. How do you know? {Maid} I was in the hall, sir, dusting all the time. STARKWEATHER. That will do. (_Maid makes exit to right rear._) Dobleman, a very unusual thing has occurred. Mrs. Chalmers and I have been alone in this room. Those letters stolen by Gherst had been returned to me by Hubbard but the moment before. They were on my desk. I turned my back for a moment to go to the safe. When I came back they were gone. DOBLEMAN. (_Embarrassed._) Yes, sir. STARKWEATHER. Mrs. Chalmers took them. She has them now. DOBLEMAN. (_Attempts to speak, stammers._) Er--er--yes, sir STARKWEATHER. I want them back. What is to be done? (_Dobleman remains in hopeless confusion._) Well! DOBLEMAN. (_Speaking hurriedly and hopefully._) S-send for Mr. Hubbard. He got them for you before. STARKWEATHER. A good suggestion. Telephone for him. You should find him at the Press Club. (_Dobleman starts to make exit to right._) Don't leave the room. Use this telephone. (_Indicating desk telephone._) (_Dobleman moves around to left of desk and uses telephone standing up._) From now on no one leaves the room. If my daughter can be guilty of such a theft, it is plain I can trust no one--no one. DOBLEMAN. (_Speaking in transmitter._) Red 6-2-4. Yes, please. (_Waits._) STARKWEATHER. (_Rising._) Call Senator Chalmers as well. Tell him to come immediately. DOBLEMAN. Yes, sir--immediately. STARKWEATHER. (_Starting to cross stage to center and speaking to Margaret._) Come over here. (_Margaret follows. She is obedient, frightened, very subdued--but resolved._) Why have you done this? Were you truthful when you said there was nothing between you and this man Knox? MARGARET. Father; don't discuss this before the-- (_Indicating Dobleman._)--the servants. STARKWEATHER. You should have considered that before you stole the documents. (_Dobleman, in the meantime, is telephoning in a low voice._) MARGARET. There are certain dignities-- STARKWEATHER. (_Interrupting._) Not for a thief. (_Speaking intensely and in a low voice._) Margaret, it is not too late. Give them back, and no one shall know. (_A pause, in which Margaret is silent, in the throes of indecision._) DOBLEMAN. Mr. Hubbard says he will be here in three minutes. Fortunately, Senator Chalmers is with him. (_Starkweather nods and looks at Margaret._) (_Door at left rear opens, and enter Mrs. Starkweather and Connie. They are dressed for the street and evidently just going out._) MRS. STARKWEATHER. (_Speaking in a rush._) We are just going out, Anthony. You were certainly wrong in making us attempt to take that 2:10 train. I simply can't make it. I know I can't. It would have been much wiser-- (_Suddenly apprehending the strain of the situation between Starkweather and Margaret._)--Why, what is the matter? STARKWEATHER. (_Patently disturbed by their entrance, speaking to Dobleman, who has finished with the telephone._) Lock the doors. (_Dobleman proceeds to obey._) MRS. STARKWEATHER. Mercy me! Anthony! What has happened? (_A pause._) Madge! What has happened? STARKWEATHER. You will have to wait here a few minutes, that is all. MRS. STARKWEATHER. But I must keep my engagements. And I haven't a minute to spare. (_Looking at Dobleman locking doors._) I do not understand. STARKWEATHER. (_Grimly,_) You will, shortly. I can trust no one any more. When my daughter sees fit to steal-- MRS. STARKWEATHER. Steal!--Margaret! What have you been doing now? MARGARET. Where is Tommy? (_Mrs. Starkwater is too confounded to answer, and can only stare from face to face._) (_Margaret looks her anxiety to Connie._) CONNIE. He is already down in the machine waiting for us. You are coming, aren't you? STARKWEATHER. Let him wait in the machine. Margaret will come when I get done with her. (_A knock is heard at right rear._) (_Starkweather looks at Dobleman and signifies that he is to open door._) (_Dobleman unlocks door, and Hubbabd and Chalmers enter. Beyond the shortest of nods and recognitions with eyes, greetings are cut short by the strain that is on all. Dobleman relocks door._) STARKWEATHER. (_Plunging into it._) Look here, Tom. You know those letters Gherst stole. Mr. Hubbard recovered them from Knox and returned them to me this morning. Within five minutes Margaret stole them from me--here, right in this room. She has not left the room. They are on her now. I want them. CHALMERS. (_Who is obviously incapable of coping with his wife, and who is panting for breath, his hand pressed to his side._) Madge, is this true? MARGARET. I haven't them. I tell you I haven't them. STARKWEATHER. Where are they, then? (_She does not answer._) If they are in the room we can find them. Search the room. Tom, Mr. Hubbard, Dobleman. They must be recovered at any cost. (_While a thorough search of the room is being made, Mrs. Starkweather, overcome, has Connie assist her to seat at left. Margaret also seats herself, in same chair at desk._) CHALMERS. (_Pausing from search, while others continue._) There is no place to look for them. They are not in the room. Are you sure you didn't mislay them? STARKWEATHER. Nonsense. Margaret took them. They are a bulky package and not easily hidden. If they aren't in the room, then she has them on her. CHALMERS. Madge, give them up. MARGARET. I haven't them. (_Chalmers, stepping suddenly up to her, starts feeling for the papers, running his hands over her dress._) MARGARET. (_Springing to her feet and striking him in the face with her open palm._) How dare you! (_Chalmers recoils, Mrs. Starkweather is threatened with hysteria and is calmed by the frightened Connie, while Starkweather looks on grimly._) HUBBARD. (_Giving up search of room._) Possibly it would be better to let me retire, Mr. Starkweather. STARKWEATHER. No; those papers are here in this room. If nobody leaves there will be no possible chance for the papers to get out of the room. What would you recommend doing, Hubbard? HUBBARD. (_Hesitatingly._) Under the circumstances I don't like to suggest-- STARKWEATHER. Go on. HUBBARD. First, I would make sure that she--er--Mrs. Chalmers has taken them. STARKWEATHER. I have made that certain. CHALMERS. But what motive could she have for such an act? (_Hubbard looks wise._) STARKWEATHER. (_To Hubbard._) You know more about this than would appear. What is it? HUBBARD. I'd rather not. It is too-- (_Looks significantly at Mrs. Starkweather and Connie._)--er--delicate. STARKWEATHER. This affair has gone beyond all delicacy. What is it? MARGARET. No! No! (_Chalmers and Starkweather look at her with sudden suspicion._) STARKWEATHER. Go on, Mr. Hubbard. HUBBARD. I'd--I'd rather not. STARKWEATHER. (_Savagely._) I say go on. HUBBARD. (_With simulated reluctance._) Last night--I saw--I was in Knox's rooms-- MARGARET. (_Interrupting._) One moment; please. Let him speak, but first send Connie away. STARKWEATHER. No one shall leave this room till the documents are produced. Margaret, give me the letters, and Connie can leave quietly, and even will Hubbard's lips remain sealed. They will never breathe a word of whatever shameful thing his eyes saw. This I promise you. (_A pause, wherein he waits vainly for Margaret to make a decision._) Go on, Hubbard. MARGARET. (_Who is terror-stricken, and has been wavering._) No! Don't! I'll tell. I'll give you back the documents. (_All are expectant She wavers again, and steels herself to resolution._) No; I haven't them. Say all you have to say. STARKWEATHER. You see. She has them. She said she would give them back. (_To Hubbard._) Go on. HUBBARD. Last night-- CONNIE. (_Springing up._) I won't stay! (_She rushes to left rear and finds door locked._) Let me out! Let me out! MRS. STARKWEATHER. (_Moaning and lying back in chair, legs stretched out and giving preliminary twitches and jerks of hysteria._) I shall die! I shall die! I know I shall die! STARKWEATHER. (_Sternly, to Connie._) Go back to your mother. CONNIE. (_Returning reluctantly to side of Mrs. Starkweather, sitting down beside her, and putting fingers in her own ears._) I won't listen! I won't listen! STARKWEATHER. (_Sternly._) Take your fingers down. HUBBARD. Hang it all, Chalmers, I wish I were out of this. I don't want to testify. STARKWEATHER. Take your fingers down. (_Connie reluctantly removes her fingers._) Now, Hubbard. HUBBARD. I protest. I am being dragged into this. CHALMERS. You can't help yourself now. You have cast black suspicions on my wife. HUBBARD. All right. She--Mrs. Chalmers visited Knox in his rooms last night. MRS. STARKWEATHER. (_Bursting out._) Oh! Oh! My Madge! It is a lie! A lie! (_Kicks violently with her legs._) (_Connie soothes her._) CHALMERS. You've got to prove that, Hubbard. If you have made any mistake it will go hard with you. HUBBARD. (_Indicating Margaret._) Look at her. Ask her. (_Chalmers looks at Margaret with growing suspicion._) MARGARET. Linda was with me. And Tommy. I had to see Mr. Knox on a very important matter. I went there in the machine. I took Linda and Tommy right into Mr. Knox's room. CHALMERS. (_Relieved._) Ah, that puts a different complexion on it. HUBBARD. That is not all. Mrs. Chalmers sent the maid and the boy down to the machine and remained. MARGARET. (_Quickly._) But only for a moment HUBBARD. Much longer--much, much longer. I know how long I was kicking my heels and waiting. MARGARET. (_Desperately._) I say it was but for a moment--a short moment. STARKWEATHER. (_Abruptly, to Hubbard._) Where were you? HUBBARD. In Knox's bedroom. The fool had forgotten all about me. He was too delighted with his--er--new visitor. STARKWEATHER. You said you saw. HUBBARD. The bedroom door was ajar. I opened it. STARKWEATHER. What did you see? MARGARET. (_Appealing to Hubbard._) Have you no mercy? I say it was only a moment. (_Hubbard shrugs his shoulders._) STARKWEATHER. We'll settle the length of that moment Tommy is here, and so is the maid. Connie, Margaret's maid is here, isn't she? (_Connie does not answer._) Answer me! CONNIE. Yes. STARKWEATHER. DOBLEMAN.. Ring for a maid and tell her to fetch Tommy and Mrs. Chalmer's maid. (_Dobleman goes to desk and pushes button once._) MARGARET. No! Not Tommy! STARKWEATHER. (_Looking shrewdly at Margaret, to Dobleman._) Mrs. Chalmer's maid will do. (_A knock is heard at left rear. Dobleman opens door and talks to maid. Closes door._) STARKWEATHER. Lock it. (_Dobleman locks door._) CHALMERS. (_Coming over to Margaret._) So you, the immaculate one, have been playing fast and loose. MARGARET. You have no right to talk to me that way, Tom-- CHALMERS. I am your husband. MARGARET. You have long since ceased being that. CHALMERS. What do you mean? MARGARET. I mean just what you have in mind about yourself right now. CHALMERS. Madge, you are merely conjecturing. You know nothing against me. MARGARET. I know everything--and without evidence, if you please. I am a woman. It is your atmosphere. Faugh! You have exhaled it for years. I doubt not that proofs, as you would call them, could have been easily obtained. But I was not interested. I had my boy. When he came, I gave you up, Tom. You did not seem to need me any more. CHALMERS. And so, in retaliation, you took up with this fellow Knox. MARGARET. No, no. It is not true, Tom. I tell you it is not true. CHALMERS. You were there, last night, in his rooms, alone--how long we shall soon find out-- (_Knock is heard at left rear. Dobleman proceeds to unlock door._) And now you have stolen your father's private papers for your lover. MARGARET. He is not my lover. CHALMERS. But you have acknowledged that you have the papers. For whom, save Knox, could you have stolen them? (_Linda enters. She is white and strained, and looks at Margaret for some cue as to what she is to do._) STARKWEATHER. That is the woman. (_To Linda._) Come here. (_Linda advances reluctantly._) Where were you last night? You know what I mean. (_She does not speak._) Answer me. LINDA. I don't know what you mean, sir--unless-- STARKWEATHER. Yes, that's it. Go on. LINDA. But I don't think you have any right to ask me such questions. What if I--if I did go out with my young man-- STARKWEATHER. (_To Margaret._) A very faithful young woman you've got. (_Briskly, to the others._) There's nothing to be got out of her. Send for Tommy. Dobleman, ring the bell. (_Dobleman starts to obey._) MARGARET. (_Stopping Dobleman._) No, no; not Tommy. Tell them, Linda. (_Linda looks appealingly at her._) (_Kindly._) Don't mind me. Tell them the truth. CHALMERS. (_Breaking in._) The whole truth. MARGARET. Yes, Linda, the whole truth. (_Linda, looking very woeful, nerves herself for the ordeal._) STARKWEATHER. Never mind, Dobleman. (_To Linda._) Very well. You were at Mr. Knox's rooms last night, with your mistress and Tommy. LINDA. Yes, sir. STARKWEATHER. Your mistress sent you and Tommy out of the room. LINDA. Yes, sir. STARKWEATHER. You waited in the machine. LINDA. Yes, sir. STARKWEATHER. (_Abruptly springing the point he has been working up to._) How long? (_Linda perceives the gist of the questioning just as she is opening her mouth to reply, and she does not speak._) MARGARET. (_With deliberate calmness of despair._) Half an hour--an hour--any length of time your shameful minds dictate. That will do, Linda. You can go. STARKWEATHER. No you don't. Stand over there to one side. (_To the others._) The papers are in this room, and I shall keep my mind certain on that point. HUBBARD. I think I have shown the motive. CONNIE. You are a beast! CHALMERS. You haven't told what you saw. HUBBARD. I saw them in each other's arms--several times. Then I found the stolen documents where Knox had thrown them down. So I pocketed them and closed the door. CHALMERS. How long after that did they remain together? HUBBARD. Quite a time, quite a long time. CHALMERS. And when you last saw them? HUBBARD. They were in each other's arms--quite enthusiastically, I may say, in each other's arms. (_Chalmers is crushed._) MARGARET. (_To Hubbard._) You coward. (_Hubbard smiles._) (_To Starkweather._) When are you going to call off this hound of yours? STARKWEATHER. When I get the papers. You see what you've been made to pay for them already. Now listen to me closely. Tom, you listen, too. You know the value of these letters. If they are not recovered they will precipitate a turn-over that means not merely money but control and power. I doubt that even you would be re-elected. So what we have heard in this room must be forgotten--absolutely forgotten. Do you understand? CHALMERS. But it is adultery. STARKWEATHER. It is not necessary for that word to be mentioned. The point is that everything must be as it was formerly. CHALMERS. Yes, I understand. STARKWEATHER. (_To Margaret._) You hear. Tom will make no trouble. Now give me the papers. They are mine, you know. MARGARET. It seems to me the people, who have been lied to, and cajoled, and stolen from, are the rightful owners, not you. STARKWEATHER. Are you doing this out of love for this--this man, this demagogue? MARGARET. For the people, the children, the future. STARKWEATHER. Faugh! Answer me. MARGARET. (_Slowly._) Almost I do not know. Almost I do not know. (_A knock is heard at left rear. Dobleman answers._) DOBLEMAN. (_Looking at card Maid has given him, to Starkweather._) Mr. Rutland. STARKWEATHER. (_Making an impatient gesture, then abruptly changing his mind, speaking grimly._) Very well. Bring him in. I've paid a lot for the Church, now we'll see what the Church can do for me. CONNIE. (_Impulsively crossing stage to Margaret, putting arms around her, and weeping._) Please, please, Madge, give up the papers, and everything will be hushed up. You heard what father said. Think what it means to me if this scandal comes out. Father will hush it up. Not a soul will dare to breathe a word of it. Give him the papers. MARGARET. (_Kissing her, shaking head, and setting her aside._) No; I can't. But Connie, dearest-- (_Connie pauses._) It is not true, Connie. He--he is not my lover. Tell me that you believe me. CONNIE. (_Caressing her._) I do believe you. But won't you return the papers--for my sake? (_A knock at door._) MARGARET. I can't. (_Enter Rutland._) (_Connie returns to take care of Mrs. Starkweather._) RUTLAND. (_Advances beamingly upon Starkweather._) My, what a family gathering. I hastened on at once, my dear Mr. Starkweather, to thank you in person, ere you fled away to New York, for your generously splendid--yes, generously splendid--contribution-- (_Here the strained situation dawns upon him, and he remains helplessly with mouth open, looking from one to another._) STARKWEATHER. A theft has been committed, Mr. Rutland. My daughter has stolen something very valuable from me--a package of private papers, so important--well, if she succeeds in making them public I shall be injured to such an extent financially that there won't be any more generously splendid donations for you or anybody else. I have done my best to persuade her to return what she has stolen. Now you try. Bring her to a realization of the madness of what she is doing. RUTLAND. (_Quite at sea, hemming and hawing._) As your spiritual adviser, Mrs. Chalmers--if this be true--I recommend--I suggest--I--ahem--I entreat-- MARGARET. Please, Mr. Rutland, don't be ridiculous. Father is only making a stalking horse out of you. Whatever I may have done, or not done, I believe I am doing right. The whole thing is infamous. The people have been lied to and robbed, and you are merely lending yourself to the infamy of perpetuating the lying and the robbing. If you persist in obeying my father's orders--yes, orders--you will lead me to believe that you are actuated by desire for more of those generously splendid donations. (_Starkweather sneers._) RUTLAND. (_Embarrassed, hopelessly at sea._) This is, I fear--ahem--too delicate a matter, Mr. Starkweather, for me to interfere. I would suggest that it be advisable for me to withdraw--ahem-- STARKWEATHER. (_Musingly._) So the Church fails me, too. (_To Rutland._) No, you shall stay right here. MARGARET. Father, Tommy is down in the machine alone. Won't you let me go? STARKWEATHER. Give me the papers. (_Mrs. Starkweather rises and totters across to Margaret, moaning and whimpering._) MRS. STARKWEATHER. Madge, Madge, it can't be true. I don't believe it. I know you have not done this awful thing. No daughter of mine could be guilty of such wickedness. I refuse to believe my ears-- (_Mrs. Starkweather sinks suddenly on her knees before Margaret, with clasped hands, weeping hysterically._) STARKWEATHER. (_Stepping to her side._) Get up. (_Hesitates and thinks._) No; go on. She might listen to you. MARGARET. (_Attempting to raise her mother._) Don't, mother, don't. Please get up. (_Mrs. Starkweather resists her hysterically._) You don't understand, mother. Please, please, get up. MRS. STARKWEATHER. Madge, I, your mother, implore you, on my bended knees. Give up the papers to your father, and I shall forget all I have heard. Think of the family name. I don't believe it, not a word of it; but think of the shame and disgrace. Think of me. Think of Connie, your sister. Think of Tommy. You'll have your father in a terrible state. And you'll kill me. (_Moaning and rolling her head._) I'm going to be sick. I know I am going to be sick. MARGARET. (_Bending over mother and raising her, while Connie comes across stage to help support mother._) Mother, you do not understand. More is at stake than the good name of the family or--(_Looking at Rutland._)--God. You speak of Connie and Tommy. There are two millions of Connies and Tommys working as child laborers in the United States to-day. Think of them. And besides, mother, these are all lies you have heard. There is nothing between Mr. Knox and me. He is not my lover. I am not the--the shameful thing--these men have said I am. CONNIE. (_Appealingly._) Madge. MARGARET. (_Appealingly._) Connie. Trust me. I am right. I know I am right. (_Mrs. Starkweather, supported by Connie, moaning incoherently, is led back across stage to chair._) STARKWEATHER. MARGARET., a few minutes ago, when you told me there was nothing between you and this man, you lied to me--lied to me as only a wicked woman can lie. MARGARET. It is clear that you believe the worst. STARKWEATHER. There is nothing less than the worst to be believed. Besides, more heinous than your relations with this man is what you have done here in this room, stolen from me, and practically before my very eyes. Well, you have crossed your will with mine, and in affairs beyond your province. This is a man's game in which you are attempting to play, and you shall take the consequences. Tom will apply for a divorce. MARGARET. That threat, at least, is without power. STARKWEATHER. And by that means we can break Knox as effectually as by any other. That is one thing the good stupid people will not tolerate in a chosen representative. We will make such a scandal of it-- MRS. STARKWEATHER. (_Shocked._) Anthony! STARKWEATHER. (_Glancing irritably at his wife and continuing._) Another thing. Being proven an adulterous woman, morally unfit for companionship with your child, your child will be taken away from you. MARGARET. No, no. That cannot be. I have done nothing wrong. No court, no fair-minded judge, would so decree on the evidence of a creature like that. (_Indicating Hubbard._) HUBBARD. My evidence is supported. In an adjoining room were two men. I happen to know, because I placed them there. They were your father's men at that. There is such a thing as seeing through a locked door. They saw. MARGARET. And they would swear to--to anything. HUBBARD. I doubt not they will know to what to swear. STARKWEATHER. Margaret, I have told you some, merely some, of the things I shall do. It is not too late. Return the papers, and everything will be forgotten. MARGARET. You would condone this--this adultery. You, who have just said that I was morally unfit to have my own boy, will permit me to retain him. I had never dreamed, father, that your own immorality would descend to such vile depths. Believing this shameful thing of me, you will forgive and forget it all for the sake of a few scraps of paper that stand for money, that stand for a license to rob and steal from the people. Is this your morality--money? STARKWEATHER. I have my morality. It is not money. I am only a steward; but so highly do I conceive the duties of my stewardship-- MARGARET. (_Interrupting, bitterly._) The thefts and lies and all common little sins like adulteries are not to stand in the way of your high duties--that the end hallows the means. STARKWEATHER. (_Shortly._) Precisely. MARGARET. (_To Rutland._) There is Jesuitism, Mr. Rutland. I would suggest that you, as my father's spiritual adviser-- STARKWEATHER. Enough of this foolery. Give me the papers. MARGARET. I haven't them. STARKWEATHER. What's to be done, Hubbard? HUBBARD. She has them. She has as much as acknowledged that they are not elsewhere in the room. She has not been out of the room. There is nothing to do but search her. STARKWEATHER. Nothing else remains to be done. Dobleman, and you, Hubbard, take her behind the screen. Strip her. Recover the papers. (_Dobleman is in a proper funk, but Hubbard betrays no unwillingness._) CHALMERS. No; that I shall not permit. Hubbard shall have nothing to do with this. MARGARET. It is too late, Tom. You have stood by and allowed me to be stripped of everything else. A few clothes do not matter now. If I am to be stripped and searched by men, Mr. Hubbard will serve as well as any other man. Perhaps Mr. Rutland would like to lend his assistance. CONNIE. Oh, Madge! Give them up. (_Margaret shakes her head._) (_To Starkweather._) Then let me search her, father. STARKWEATHER. You are too willing. I don't want volunteers. I doubt that I can trust you any more than your sister. CONNIE. Let mother, then. STARKWEATHER. (_Sneering._) Margaret could smuggle a steamer-trunk of documents past her. CONNIE. But not the men, father! Not the men! STARKWEATHER. Why not? She has shown herself dead to all shame. (_Imperatively._) Dobleman! DOBLEMAN. (_Thinking his time has come, and almost dying._) Y-y-yes, sir. STARKWEATHER. Call in the servants. MRS. STARKWEATHER. (_Crying out in protest._) Anthony! STARKWEATHER. Would you prefer her to be searched by the men? MRS. STARKWEATHER. (_Subsiding._) I shall die, I shall die. I know I shall die. STARKWEATHER. Dobleman. Ring for the servants. (_Dobleman, who has been hesitant, crosses to desk and pushes button, then returns toward door._) Send in the maids and the housekeeper. (_Linda, blindly desiring to be of some assistance, starts impulsively toward Margaret._) Stand over there--in the corner. (_Indicating right front._) (_Linda pauses irresolutely and Margaret nods to her to obey and smiles encouragement. Linda, protesting in every fiber of her, goes to right front._) (_A knock at right rear and Dobleman unlocks door, confers with maid, and closes and locks door._) STARKWEATHER. (_To Margaret._) This is no time for trifling, nor for mawkish sentimentality. Return the papers or take the consequences. (_Margaret makes no answer._) CHALMERS. You have taken a hand in a man's game, and you've got to play it out or quit. Give up the papers. (_Margaret remains resolved and impassive._) HUBBARD. (_Suavely._) Allow me to point out, my dear Mrs. Chalmers, that you are not merely stealing from your father. You are playing the traitor to your class. STARKWEATHER. And causing irreparable damage. MARGARET. (_Firing up suddenly and pointing to Lincoln's portrait_) I doubt not he caused irreparable damage when he freed the slaves and preserved the Union. Yet he recognized no classes. I'd rather be a traitor to my class than to him. STARKWEATHER. Demagoguery. Demagoguery. (_A knock at right rear. Dobleman opens door. Enter Mrs. Middleton who is the housekeeper, followed by two Housemaids. They pause at rear. Housekeeper to the fore and looking expectantly at Starkweather. The Maids appear timid and frightened._) HOUSEKEEPER. Yes, sir. STARKWEATHER. Mrs. Middleton, you have the two maids to assist you. Take Mrs. Chalmers behind that screen there and search her. Strip all her clothes from her and make a careful search. (_Maids show perturbation._) HOUSEKEEPER. (_Self-possessed. _) Yes, sir. What am I to search for? STARKWEATHER. Papers, documents, anything unusual. Turn them over to me when you find them. MARGARET. (_In a sudden panic._) This is monstrous! This is monstrous! STARKWEATHER. So is your theft of the documents monstrous. MARGARET. (_Appealing to the other men, ignoring Rutland and not considering Dobleman at all._) You cowards! Will you stand by and permit this thing to be done? Tom, have you one atom of manhood in you? CHALMERS. (_Doggedly._) Return the papers, then. MARGARET. Mr. Rutland-- RUTLAND. (_Very awkwardly and oilily._) My dear Mrs. Chalmers. I assure you the whole circumstance is unfortunate. But you are so palpably in the wrong that I cannot interfere--(_Margaret turns from him in withering scorn._)--That I cannot interfere. DOBLEMAN. (_Breaking down unexpectedly._) I cannot stand it. I leave your employ, sir. It is outrageous. I resign now, at once. I cannot be a party to this. (_Striving to unlock door._) I am going at once. You brutes! You brutes! (_Breaks into convulsive sobbings._) CHALMERS. Ah, another lover, I see. (_Dobleman manages to unlock door and starts to open it._) STARKWEATHER. You fool! Shut that door! (_Dobleman hesitates._) Shut it! (_Dobleman obeys._) Lock it! (_Dobleman obeys._) MARGARET. (_Smiling wistfully, benignantly._) Thank you, Mr. Dobleman. (_To Starkweather._) Father, you surely will not perpetrate this outrage, when I tell you, I swear to you-- STARKWEATHER. (_Interrupting._) Return the documents then. MARGARET. I swear to you that I haven't them. You will not find them on me. STARKWEATHER. You have lied to me about Knox, and I have no reason to believe you will not lie to me about this matter. MARGARET. (_Steadily._) If you do this thing you shall cease to be my father forever. You shall cease to exist so far as I am concerned. STARKWEATHER. You have too much of my own will in you for you ever to forget whence it came. Mrs. Middleton, go ahead. (_Housekeeper, summoning Maids with her eyes, begins to advance on Margaret._) CONNIE. (_In a passion._) Father, if you do this I shall never speak to you again. (_Breaks down weeping._) (_Mrs. Starkweather, during following scene, has mild but continuous shuddering and weeping hysteria._) STARKWEATHER. (_Briskly, looking at watch._) I've wasted enough time on this. Mrs. Middleton, proceed. MARGARET. (_Wildly, backing away from Housekeeper._) I will not tamely submit. I will resist, I promise you. STARKWEATHER. Use force, if necessary. (_The Maids are reluctant, but Housekeeper commands them with her eyes to close in on Margaret, and they obey._) (_Margaret backs away until she brings up against desk._) HOUSEKEEPER. Come, Mrs. Chalmers. (_Margaret stands trembling, but refuses to notice Housekeeper._) (_Housekeeper places hand on Margaret's arm._) MARGARET. (_Violently flinging the hand off, crying imperiously._) Stand back! (_Housekeeper instinctively shrinks back, as do Maids. But it is only for the moment. They close in upon Margaret to seise her._) (_Crying frantically for help._) Linda! Linda! (_Linda springs forward to help her mistress, but is caught and held struggling by Chalmers, who twists her arm and finally compels her to become quiet._) (_Margaret, struggling and resisting, is hustled across stage and behind screen, the Maids warming up to their work. One of them emerges from behind screen for the purpose of getting a chair, upon which Margaret is evidently forced to sit. The screen is of such height, that occasionally, when standing up and struggling, Margaret's bare arms are visible above the top of it. Muttered exclamations are heard, and the voice of Housekeeper trying to persuade Margaret to sub-mit._) MARGARET. (_Abruptly, piteously._) No! No! (_The struggle becomes more violent, and the screen is overturned, disclosing Margaret seated on chair, partly undressed, and clutching an envelope in her hand which they are trying to force her to relinquish._) MRS. STARKWEATHER. (_Crying wildly._) Anthony! They are taking her clothes off! (_Renewed struggle of Linda with Chalmers at the sight._) (_Starkweather, calling Rutland to his assistance, stands screen up again, then, as an afterthought, pulls screen a little further away from Margaret._) MARGARET. No! No! (_Housekeeper appears triumphantly with envelope in her hand and hands it to Hubbard._) HUBBARD. (_Immediately._) That's not it. (_Glances at address and starts._) It's addressed to Knox. STARKWEATHER. Tear it open. Read it. (_Hubbard tears envelope open._) (_While this is going on, struggle behind screen is suspended._) HUBBARD. (_Withdrawing contents of envelope._) It is only a photograph--of Mrs. Chalmers. (_Reading._) "For the future--Margaret." CHALMERS. (_Thrusting Linda back to right front and striding up to Hubbard._) Give it to me. (_Hubbard passes it to him, and he looks at it, crumples it in his hand, and grinds it under foot._) STARKWEATHER. That is not what we wanted, Mrs. Middleton. Go on with the search. (_The search goes on behind the screen without any further struggling._) (_A pause, during which screen is occasionally agitated by the searchers removing Margaret's garments._) HOUSEKEEPER. (_Appearing around corner of screen._) I find nothing else, sir. STARKWEATHER. Is she stripped? HOUSEKEEPER. Yes, sir. STARKWEATHER. Every stitch? HOUSEKEEPER. (_Disappearing behind screen instead of answering for a pause, during which it is patent that the ultimate stitch is being removed, then reappearing._) Yes, sir. STARKWEATHER. Nothing? HOUSEKEEPER. Nothing. STARKWEATHER. Throw out her clothes--everything. (_A confused mass of feminine apparel is tossed out, falling near Dobleman's feet, who, in consequence, is hugely mortified and embarrassed._) (_Chalmers examines garments, then steps behind screen a moment, and reappears._) CHALMERS. Nothing. (_Chalmers, Starkweather, and Hubbard gaze at each other dumbfoundedly._) (_The two Maids come out from behind screen and stand near door to right rear._) (_Starkweather is loath to believe, and steps to Margaret's garments and overhauls them._) STARKWEATHER. (_To Chalmers, looking inquiringly toward screen._) Are you sure? CHALMERS. Yes; I made certain. She hasn't them. STARKWEATHER. (_To Housekeeper._) Mrs. Middleton, examine those girls. HOUSEKEEPER. (_Passing hands over dresses of Maids._) No, sir. MARGARET. (_From behind screen, in a subdued, spiritless voice._) May I dress--now? (_Nobody answers._) It--it is quite chilly. (_Nobody answers._) Will you let Linda come to me, please? (_Starkweather nods savagely to Linda, to obey._) (_Linda crosses to garments, gathers them up, and disappears behind screen._) STARKWEATHER. (_To Housekeeper._) You may go. (_Exit Housekeeper and the two Maids._) DOBLEMAN. (_Hesitating, after closing door._) Shall I lock it? (_Starkweather does not answer, and Dobleman leaves door unlocked._) CONNIE. (_Rising._) May I take mother away? (_Starkweather, who is in a brown study, nods._) (_Connie assists Mrs. Starkweather to her feet._) MRS. STARKWEATHER. (_Staggering weakly, and sinking back into chair._) Let me rest a moment, Connie. I'll be better. (_To Starkweather, who takes no notice._) Anthony, I am going to bed. This has been too much for me. I shall be sick. I shall never catch that train to-day. (_Shudders and sighs, leans head back, closes eyes, and Connie fans her or administers smelling salts._) CHALMERS. (_To Hubbard._) What's to be done? HUBBARD. (_Shrugging shoulders._) I'm all at sea. I had just left the letters with him, when Mrs. Chalmers entered the room. What's become of them? She hasn't them, that's certain. CHALMERS. But why? Why should she have taken them? HUBBARD. (_Dryly, pointing to crumpled photograph on floor._) It seems very clear to me. CHALMERS. You think so? You think so? HUBBARD. I told you what I saw last night at his rooms. There is no other explanation. CHALMERS. (_Angrily._) And that's the sort he is--vaunting his moral superiority--mouthing phrases about theft--our theft--and himself the greatest thief of all, stealing the dearest and sacredest things-- (_Margaret appears from behind screen, pinning on her hat. She is dressed, but somewhat in disarray, and Linda follows, pulling and touching and arranging. Margaret pauses near to Rutland, but does not seem to see him._) RUTLAND. (_Lamely._) It is a sad happening--ahem--a sad happening. I am grieved, deeply grieved. I cannot tell you, Mrs. Chalmers, how grieved I am to have been compelled to be present at this--ahem--this unfortunate-- (_Margaret withers him with a look and he awkwardly ceases._) MARGARET. After this, father, there is one thing I shall do-- CHALMERS. (_Interrupting._) Go to your lover, I suppose. MARGARET. (_Coldly._) Have it that way if you choose. CHALMERS. And take him what you have stolen-- STARKWEATHER. (_Arousing suddenly from brown study._) But she hasn't them on her. She hasn't been out of the room. They are not in the room. Then where are they? (_During the following, Margaret goes to the door, which Dobleman opens. She forces Linda to go out and herself pauses in open door to listen._) HUBBARD. (_Uttering an exclamation of enlightenment, going rapidly across to window at left and raising it._) It is not locked. It moves noiselessly. There's the explanation. (_To Starkweather._) While you were at the safe, with your back turned, she lifted the window, tossed the papers out to somebody waiting-- (_He sticks head and shoulders out of window, peers down, then brings head and shoulders back._)--No; they are not there. Somebody was waiting for them. STARKWEATHER. But how should she know I had them? You had only just recovered them? HUBBARD. Didn't Knox know right away last night that I had taken them? I took the up-elevator instead of the down when I heard him running along the hall. Trust him to let her know what had happened. She was the only one who could recover them for him. Else why did she come here so immediately this morning? To steal the package, of course. And she had some one waiting outside. She tossed them out and closed the window-- (_He closes window._)--You notice it makes no sound.--and sat down again--all while your back was turned. STARKWEATHER. Margaret, is this true? MARGARET. (_Excitedly._) Yes, the window. Why didn't you think of it before? Of course, the window. He--somebody was waiting. They are gone now--miles and miles away. You will never get them. They are in his hands now. He will use them in his speech this afternoon. (_Laughs wildly._) (_Suddenly changing her tone to mock meekness, subtle with defiance._) May I go--now? (_Nobody answers, and she makes exit._) (_A moments pause, during which Starkweather, Chalmers, and Hubbard look at each other in stupefaction._) _ |
||