Scene. _Sitting room of Howard Knox--dimly lighted. Time, eight
o'clock in the evening.
Entrance from hallway at side to right. At right rear is locked
door leading to a room which dees not belong to Knox's suite.
At rear center is fireplace. At left rear door leading to Knox's
bedroom. At left are windows facing on street. Near these
windows is a large library table littered with books, magazines,
government reports, etc. To the right of center, midway forward,
is a Hat-top desk. On it is a desk telephone. Behind it, so that
one sitting in it faces audience, is revolving desk-chair. Also,
on desk, are letters in their envelopes, etc. Against clear
wall-spaces are bookcases and filing cabinets. Of special note
is bookcase, containing large books, and not more than five
feet high, which is against wall between fireplace and door to
bedroom.
Curtain discloses empty stage._
(_After a slight interval, door at right rear is shaken and
agitated. After slight further interval, door is opened inward
upon stage. A Man's head appears, cautiously looking around_).
(_Man enters, turns up lights, is followed by second Man. Both
are clad decently, in knock-about business suits and starched
collars, cuffs, etc. They are trim, deft, determined men_).
(_Following upon them, enters Hubbard. He looks about room,
crosses to desk, picks up a letter, and reads address_).
{Hubbard}
This is Knox's room all right
{First Man}
Trust us for that.
{Second Man}
We were lucky the guy with the whiskers moved out of that other
room only this afternoon.
{First Man}
His key hadn't come down yet when I engaged it.
{Hubbard}
Well, get to work. That must be his bedroom.
(_He goes to door of bedroom, opens, and peers in, turns on
electric lights of bedroom, turns them out, then turns back to
men._) You know what it is--a bunch of documents and letters.
If we find it there is a clean five hundred each for you, in
addition to your regular pay.
(_While the conversation goes on, all three engage in a careful
search of desk, drawers, filing cabinets, bookcases, etc._)
{Second Man}
Old Starkweather must want them bad.
{Hubbard}
Sh-h. Don't even breathe his name.
{Second Man}
His nibs is damned exclusive, ain't he?
{First Man}
I've never got a direct instruction from him, and I've worked for
him longer than you.
{Second Man}
Yes, and you worked for him for over two years before you knew
who was hiring you.
{Hubbard}
(_To First Man._) You'd better go out in the hall and keep a watch
for Knox. He may come in any time.
(_First Man produces skeleton keys and goes to door at right. The
first key opens it. Leaving door slightly ajar, he makes exit._)
(_Desk telephone rings and startles Hubbard._)
{Second Man}
(_Grinning at Hubbard's alarm._)
It's only the phone.
{Hubbard}
(_Proceeding with search._) I suppose you've done lots of work for
Stark--
{Second Man}
(_Mimicking him._) Sh-h. Don't breathe his name.
(_Telephone rings again and again, insistently, urgently._)
{Hubbard}
(_Disguising his voice._) Hello--Yes.
(_Shows surprise, seems to recognize the voice, and smiles
knowingly._)
No, this is not Knox. Some mistake. Wrong number--
(_Hanging up receiver and speaking to Second Man in natural
voice._) She did hang up quick.
{Second Man}
You seemed to recognize her.
{Hubbard}
No, I only thought I did.
(_A pause, while they search._)
{Second Man}
I've never spoken a word to his nibs in my life. And I've drawn
his pay for years too.
{Hubbard}
What of it?
{Second Man}
(_Complainingly._) He don't know I exist.
{Hubbard}
(_Pulling open a desk drawer and examining contents._)
The pay's all right, isn't it?
{Second Man}
It sure is, but I guess I earn every cent of it. (_First Man
enters through door at right He moves hurriedly but cautiously.
Shuts door behind him, but neglects to re-lock it._)
{First Man}
Somebody just left the elevator and is coming down the hall.
(_Hubbard, First Man, and Second Man, all start for door at right
rear._)
(_First Man pauses and looks around to see if room is in order.
Sees desk-drawer which Hubbard has neglected to close, goes back
and closes it._)
(_Hubbard and Second Man make exit._)
(_First Man turns lights low and makes exit._)
(_Sound of locking door is heard._)
(_A pause._)
(_A knocking at door to right. A pause. Then door opens and
Gilford enters. He turns up lights, strolls about room, looks at
watch, and sits down in chair near right of fireplace._) (_Sound of
key in lock of door to right._) (_Door opens, and Knox enters, key
in hand. Sees Gifford._)
{Knox}
(_Advancing to meet him at fireplace and shaking hands._) How did
you get in?
{Gifford}
I let myself in. The door was unlocked.
{Knox}
I must have forgotten it.
{Gifford}
(_Drawing bundle of documents from inside breast pocket and
handing them to Knox._) Well, there they are.
{Knox}
(_Fingering them curiously._) You are sure they are originals?
(_Gifford nods._)
I can't take any chances, you know. If Gherst changed his mind
after I gave my speech and refused to show the originals--such
things have happened.
{Gifford}
That's what I told him. He was firm on giving duplicates, and
for awhile it looked as if my trip to New York was wasted. But I
stuck to my guns. It was originals or nothing with you, I said,
and he finally gave in.
{Knox}
(_Holding up documents._) I can't tell you what they mean to me,
nor how grateful--
{Gifford}
(_Interrupting._) That's all right. Don't mention it. Gherst is
wild for the chance. It will do organized labor a heap of good.
And you are able to say your own say at the same time. How's that
compensation act coming on?
{Knox}
(_Wearily._) The same old story. It will never come before the
House. It is dying in committee. What can you expect of the
Committee of Judiciary?--composed as it is of ex-railroad judges
and ex-railroad lawyers.
{Gifford}
The railroad brotherhoods are keen on getting that bill through.
{Knox}
Well, they won't, and they never will until they learn to vote
right. When will your labor leaders quit the strike and boycott
and lead your men to political action?
{Gifford}
(_Holding out hand._) Well, so long. I've got to trot, and I
haven't time to tell you why I think political action would
destroy the trade union movement.
(_Knox tosses documents on top of low bookcase between fireplace
and bedroom door, and starts to shake hands._) You're damn
careless with those papers. You wouldn't be if you knew how much
Gherst paid for them.
{Gifford}
You don't appreciate that other crowd. It stops at nothing.
{Knox}
I won't take my eyes off of them. And I'll take them to bed with
me to-night for safety. Besides, there is no danger. Nobody but
you knows I have them.
{Gifford}
(_Proceeding toward door to right._) I'd hate to be in
Starkweather's office when he discovers what's happened. There'll
be some bad half hours for somebody. (_Pausing at door._) Give them
hell to-morrow, good and plenty. I'm going to be in a gallery. So
long. (_Makes exit._)
(_Knox crosses to windows, which he opens, returns to desk,
seats himself in revolving chair, and begins opening his
correspondence. _) (_A knock at door to right._)
{Knox}
Come in.
(_Hubbard enters, advances to desk, but does not shake hands.
They greet each other, and Hubbard sits down in chair to left of
desk._) (_Knox, still holding an open letter, re-volves chair so as
to face his visitor. He waits for Hubbabd to speak._)
{Hubbard}
There is no use beating about the bush with a man like you. I
know that. You are direct, and so am I. You know my position well
enough to be assured that I am empowered to treat with you.
{Knox}
Oh, yes; I know.
{Hubbard}
What we want is to have you friendly.
{Knox}
That is easy enough. When the Interests become upright and
honest--
{Hubbard}
Save that for your speech. We are talking privately. We can make
it well worth your while--
{Knox} (_Angrily._) If you think you can bribe me--
{Hubbard} (_Suavely._) Not at all. Not the slightest suspicion of
it. The point is this. You are a congressman. A congressman's
career depends on his membership in good committees. At the
present you are buried in the dead Committee on Coinage, Weights,
and Measures. If you say the word you can be appointed to the
livest committee--
{Knox}
(_Interrupting._) You have these appointments to give?
{Hubbard}
Surely. Else why should I be here? It can be managed.
{Knox}
(_Meditatively._) I thought our government was rotten enough, but
I never dreamed that House appointments were hawked around by the
Interests in this fashion.
{Hubbard}
You have not given your answer.
{Knox}
You should have known my answer in advance.
{Hubbard}
There is an alternative. You are interested in social problems.
You are a student of sociology. Those whom I represent are
genuinely interested in you. We are prepared, so that you may
pursue your researches more deeply--we are prepared to send you
to Europe. There, in that vast sociological laboratory, far from
the jangling strife of politics, you will have every opportunity
to study. We are prepared to send you for a period of ten years.
You will receive ten thousand dollars a year, and, in addition,
the day your steamer leaves New York, you will receive a lump sum
of one hundred thousand dollars.
{Knox}
And this is the way men are bought
{Hubbard}
It is purely an educational matter.
{Knox}
Now it is you who are beating about the bush.
{Hubbard}
(_Decisively._) Very well then. What price do you set on yourself?
{Knox}
You want me to quit--to leave politics, everything? You want to
buy my soul?
{Hubbard}
More than that. We want to buy those documents and letters.
{Knox}
(_Showing a slight start._) What documents and letters?
{Hubbard}
You are beating around the bush in turn. There is no need for an
honest man to lie even--
{Knox}
(_Interrupting._) To you.
{Hubbard}
(_Smiling._) Even to me. I watched you closely when I mentioned
the letters. You gave yourself away. You knew I meant the letters
stolen by Gherst from Starkweather's private files--the letters
you intended using to-morrow.
{Knox}
Intend using to-morrow.
{Hubbard}
Precisely. It is the same thing. What is the price? Set it.
{Knox}
I have nothing to sell. I am not on the market.
{Hubbard}
One moment. Don't make up your mind hastily. You don't know with
whom you have to deal. Those letters will not appear in your
speech to-morrow. Take that from me. It would be far wiser to
sell for a fortune than to get nothing for them and at the same
time not use them.
(_A knock at door to right startles Hubbard._)
{Knox}
(_Intending to say, "Come in"_) Come--
{Hubbard}
(_Interrupting._) Hush. Don't. I cannot be seen here.
{Knox}
(_Laughing._) You fear the contamination of my company. (_The knock
is repeated._)
{Hubbard}
(_In alarm, rising, as Knox purses his lips to bid them enter._)
Don't let anybody in. I don't want to be seen here--with you.
Besides, my presence will not put you in a good light.
{Knox}
(_Also rising, starting toward door._) What I do is always open
to the world. I see no one whom I should not permit the world to
know I saw.
(_Knox starts toward door to open it._) (_Hubbabd, looking about him
in alarm, flees across stage and into bedroom, closing the door.
During all the following scene, Hubbard, from time to time, opens
door, and peers out at what is going on._)
{Knox}
(_Opening door, and recoiling._) Margaret! Mrs. Chalmers!
(_Margaret enters, followed by Tommy and Linda. Margaret is in
evening dress covered by evening cloak._)
{Margaret}
(_Shaking hands with Knox._) Forgive me, but I had to see you. I
could not get you on the telephone. I called and called, and the
best I could do was to get the wrong number.
{Knox}
(_Recovering from his astonishment._) Yes. I am glad.
(_Seeing Tommy._) Hello, Tommy.
(_Knox holds out his hand, and Tommy shakes it gravely. Linda
stays in back-ground. Her face is troubled._)
{Tommy}
How do you do?
{Margaret}
There was no other way, and it was so necessary for me to warn
you. I brought Tommy and Linda along to chaperon me.
(_She looks curiously around room, specially indicating filing
cabinets and the stacks of government reports on table._) Your
laboratory.
{Knox}
Ah, if I were only as great a sociological wizard as Edison is a
wizard in physical sciences.
{Margaret}
But you are. You labor more mightily than you admit--or dare to
think. Oh, I know you--better than you do yourself.
{Tommy}
Do you read all those books?
{Knox}
Yes, I am still going to school and studying hard. What are you
going to study to be when you grow up?
(_Tommy meditates but does not answer._)
President of these great United States?
{Tommy}
(_Shaking his head._) Father says the President doesn't amount to
much.
{Knox}
Not a Lincoln?
(_Tommy is in doubt._)
{Margaret}
But don't you remember what a great good man Lincoln was? You
remember I told you?
{Tommy}
(_Shaking his head slowly._) But I don't want to be killed.--I'll
tell you what!
{Knox}
What?
{Tommy}
I want to be a senator like father. He makes them dance.
(_Margaret is shocked, and Knox's eyes twinkle._)
{Knox}
Makes whom dance?
{Tommy} (_Puzzled._) I don't know.
(_With added confidence._) But he makes them dance just the same.
(_Margaret makes a signal to Linda to take Tommy across the room._)
{Linda}
(_Starting to cross stage to left._) Come, Tommy. Let us look out
of the window.
{Tommy}
I'd rather talk with Mr. Knox.
{Margaret}
Please do, Tommy. Mamma wants to talk to Mr. Knox.
(_Tommy yields, and crosses to right, where he joins Linda in
looking out of the window._)
{Margaret}
You might ask me to take a seat
{Knox}
Oh! I beg pardon.
(_He draws up a comfortable chair for her, and seats himself in
desk-chair, facing her._)
{Margaret}
I have only a few minutes. Tom is at father's, and I am to pick
him up there and go on to that dinner, after I've taken Tommy
home.
{Knox}
But your maid?
{Margaret}
Linda? Wild horses could not drag from her anything that she
thought would harm me. So intense is her fidelity that it almost
shames me. I do not deserve it. But this is not what I came to
you about.
(_She speaks the following hurriedly._) After you left this
afternoon, something happened. Father received a telegram. It
seemed most important. His secretary followed upon the heels of
the telegram. Father called Tom and Mr. Hubbard to him and they
held a conference. I think they have discovered the loss of the
documents, and that they believe you have them. I did not hear
them mention your name, yet I am absolutely certain that they
were talking about you. Also, I could tell from father's face
that something was terribly wrong. Oh, be careful! Do be careful!
{Knox}
There is no danger, I assure you.
{Margaret}
But you do not know them. I tell you you do not know them. They
will stop at nothing--at nothing. Father believes he is right in
all that he does.
{Knox}
I know. That is what makes him so formidable. He has an ethical
sanction.
{Margaret}
(_Nodding._) It is his religion.
{Knox}
And, like any religion with a narrow-minded man, it runs to
mania.
{Margaret}
He believes that civilization rests on him, and that it is his
sacred duty to preserve civilization.
{Knox}
I know. I know.
{Margaret}
But you? But you? You are in danger.
{Knox}
No; I shall remain in to-night. To-morrow, in the broad light of
midday, I shall proceed to the House and give my speech.
{Margaret}
(_Wildly._) Oh, if anything should happen to you!
{Knox}
(_Looking at her searchingly._) You do care?
(_Margaret nods, with eyes suddenly downcast._) For Howard Knox,
the reformer? Or for me, the man?
{Margaret}
(_Impulsively._) Oh, why must a woman forever remain quiet? Why
should I not tell you what you already know?--what you
must already know? I do care for you--for man and reformer,
both--for--
(_She is aflame, but abruptly ceases and glances across at Tommy
by the window, warned instinctively that she must not give way to
love in her child's presence._)
Linda! Will you take Tommy down to the machine--
{Knox}
(_Alarmed, interrupting, in low voice._) What are you doing?
{Margaret}
(_Hushing Knox with a gesture._) I'll follow you right down.
(_Linda and Tommy proceed across stage toward right exit._)
{Tommy}
(_Pausing before Knox and gravely extending his hand._) Good
evening, Mr. Knox.
{Knox}
(_Awkwardly._) Good evening, Tommy. You take my word for it, and
look up this Lincoln question.
{Tommy}
I shall. I'll ask father about it.
{Margaret}
(_Significantly._) You attend to that, Linda. Nobody must
know--this.
(_Linda nods._)
(_Linda and Tommy make exit to right._)
(_Margaret, seated, slips back her cloak, revealing herself
in evening gown, and looks at Knox sumptuously, lovingly, and
willingly._)
{Knox}
(_Inflamed by the sight of her._) Don't! Don't! I can't stand it.
Such sight of you fills me with madness.
(_Margaret laughs low and triumphantly._) I don't want to think of
you as a woman. I must not. Allow me.
(_He rises and attempts to draw cloak about her shoulders, but she
resists him. Yet does he succeed in partly cloaking her._)
{Margaret}
I want you to see me as a woman. I want you to think of me as a
woman. I want you mad for me.
(_She holds out her arms, the cloak slipping from them._)
I want--don't you see what I want?----
(_Knox sinks back in chair, attempting to shield his eyes with his
hand._)
(_Slipping cloak fully back from her again._)
Look at me.
{Knox}
(_Looking, coming to his feet, and approaching her, with extended
arms, murmuring softly._) Margaret. Margaret.
(_Margaret rises to meet him, and they are clasped in each other's
arms._)
(_Hubbard, peering forth through door, looks at them with an
expression of cynical amusement. His gaze wan-ders, and he sees
the documents, within arm's reach, on top of bookcase. He picks
up documents, holds them to the light of stage to glance at them,
and, with triumphant expression on face, disappears and closes
door._)
{Knox}
(_Holding Margaret from him and looking at her._) I love you. I do
love you. But I had resolved never to speak it, never to let you
know.
{Margaret}
Silly man. I have known long that you loved me. You have told me
so often and in so many ways. You could not look at me without
telling me.
{Knox}
You saw?
{Margaret}
How could I help seeing? I was a woman. Only, with your voice you
never spoke a word. Sit down, there, where I may look at you, and
let me tell you. I shall do the speaking now.
(_She urges him back into the desk-chair, and reseats herself._)
(_She makes as if to pull the cloak around 'her._) Shall I?
{Knox}
(_Vehemently._) No, no! As you are. Let me feast my eyes upon you
who are mine. I must be dreaming.
{Margaret}
(_With a low, satisfied laugh of triumph._) Oh, you men! As of
old, and as forever, you must be wooed through your senses. Did
I display the wisdom of an Hypatia, the science of a Madam Curie,
yet would you keep your iron control, throttling the voice of
your heart with silence. But let me for a moment be Lilith, for
a moment lay aside this garment constructed for the purpose of
keeping out the chill of night, and on the instant you are fire
and aflame, all voluble with love's desire.
{Knox}
(_Protestingly._) Margaret! It is not fair!
{Margaret}
I love you--and--you?
{Knox}
(_Fervently and reverently._) I love you.
{Margaret}
Then listen. I have told you of my girlhood and my dreams. I
wanted to do what you are so nobly doing. And I did nothing. I
could do nothing. I was not permitted. Always was I compelled
to hold myself in check. It was to do what you are doing, that I
married. And that, too, failed me. My husband became a henchman
of the Interests, my own father's tool for the perpetuation of
the evils against which I desired to fight.
(_She pauses._) It has been a long fight, and I have been very
tired, for always did I confront failure. My husband--I did not
love him. I never loved him. I sold myself for the Cause, and the
cause profited nothing. (_Pause._) Often, I have lost faith--faith
in everything, in God and man, in the hope of any righteousness
ever prevailing. But again and again, by what you are doing, have
you awakened me. I came to-night with no thought of self. I came
to warn you, to help the good work on. I remained--thank God!--I
remained to love you--and to be loved by you. I suddenly found
myself, looking at you, very weary. I wanted you--you, more than
anything in the world.
(_She holds out her arms._) Come to me. I want you--now.
(_Knox, in an ecstacy, comes to her. He seats himself on the broad
arm of the chair and is drawn into her arms._)
{Knox}
But I have been tired at times. I was very tired to-night--and
you came. And now I am glad, only glad.
{Margaret}
I have been wanton to-night. I confess it. I am proud of it.
But it was not--professional. It was the first time in my life.
Almost do I regret--almost do I regret that I did not do it
sooner--it has been crowned with such success. You have held me
in your arms--your arms. Oh, you will never know what that first
embrace meant to me. I am not a clod. I am not iron nor stone. I
am a woman--a warm, breathing woman--.
(_She rises, and draws him to his feet._)
Kiss me, my dear lord and lover. Kiss me. (_They embrace._)
{Knox}
(_Passionately, looking about him wildly as if in search of
something._) What shall we do?
(_Suddenly releasing her and sinking back in his own chair almost
in collapse._) No. It cannot be. It is impossible. Oh, why could
we not have met long ago? We would have worked together. What a
comradeship it would have been.
{Margaret}
But it is not too late.
{Knox}
I have no right to you.
{Margaret}
(_Misunderstanding. _) My husband? He has not been my husband
for years. He has no rights. Who, but you whom I love, has any
rights?
{Knox}
No; it is not that.
(_Snapping his fingers._) That for him.
(_Breaking down._) Oh, if I were only the man, and not the
reformer! If I had no work to do!
{Margaret}
(_Coming to the back of his chair and caressing his hair._) We can
work together.
{Knox}
(_Shaking his head under her fingers._) Don't! Don't!
(_She persists, and lays her cheek against his._) You make it so
hard. You tempt me so.
(_He rises suddenly, takes her two hands in his, leads her gently
to her chair, seats her, and reseats himself in desk-chair._)
Listen. It is not your husband. But I have no right to you. Nor
have you a right to me.
{Margaret}
(_Interrupting, jealously._) And who but I has any right to you?
{Knox}
(_Smiling sadly._) No; it is not that. There is no other woman.
You are the one woman for me. But there are many others who have
greater rights in me than you. I have been chosen by two hundred
thousand citizens to represent them in the Congress of the United
States. And there are many more--
(_He breaks off suddenly and looks at her, at her arms and
shoulders._) Yes, please. Cover them up. Help me not to forget.
(_Margaret does not obey._) There are many more who have rights in
me--the people, all the people, whose cause I have made mine. The
children--there are two million child laborers in these United
States. I cannot betray them. I cannot steal my happiness from
them. This afternoon I talked of theft. But would not this, too,
be theft?
{Margaret}
(_Sharply._) Howard! Wake up! Has our happiness turned your head?
{Knox}
(_Sadly._) Almost--and for a few wild moments, quite. There are all
the children. Did I ever tell you of the tenement child, who when
asked how he knew when spring came, answered: When he saw the
saloons put up their swing doors.
{Margaret}
(_Irritated._) But what has all that to do with one man and one
woman loving?
{Knox}
Suppose we loved--you and I; suppose we loosed all the reins
of our love. What would happen? You remember Gorki, the Russian
patriot, when he came to New York, aflame with passion for the
Russian revolution. His purpose in visiting the land of liberty
was to raise funds for that revolution. And because his marriage
to the woman he loved was not of the essentially legal sort
worshiped by the shopkeepers, and because the newspapers made a
sensation of it, his whole mission was brought to failure. He
was laughed and derided out of the esteem of the American people.
That is what would happen to me. I should be slandered and
laughed at. My power would be gone.
{Margaret}
And even if so--what of it? Be slandered and laughed at. We will
have each other. Other men will rise up to lead the people, and
leading the people is a thankless task. Life is so short. We must
clutch for the morsel of happiness that may be ours.
{Knox}
Ah, if you knew, as I look into your eyes, how easy it would be
to throw everything to the winds. But it would be theft.
{Margaret}
(_Rebelliously._) Let it be theft. Life is so short, dear. We are
the biggest facts in the world--to each other.
{Knox}
It is not myself alone, nor all my people. A moment ago you said
no one but I had any right to you. You were wrong. Your child--
{Margaret}
(_In sudden pain, pleadingly._) Don't!
{Knox}
I must. I must save myself--and you. Tommy has rights in you.
Theft again. What other name for it if you steal your happiness
from him?
{Margaret}
(_Bending her head forward on her hand and weeping._) I have been
so lonely--and then you--you came, and the world grew bright and
warm--a few short minutes ago you held me--in your arms--a few
short minutes ago and it seemed my dream of happiness had come
true--and now you dash it from me--
{Knox}
(_Struggling to control himself now that she is no longer looking
at him._) No; I ask you to dash it from yourself. I am not too
strong. You must help me. You must call your child to your aid in
helping me. I could go mad for you now--
(_Rising impulsively and coming to her with arms outstretched to
clasp her._) Right now--
{Margaret}
(_Abruptly raising her head, and with one outstretched arm
preventing the embrace._) Wait.
(_She bows her head on her hand for a moment, to think and to win
control of herself._)
(_Lifting her head and looking at him._) Sit down--please.
(_Knox reseats himself._)
(_A pause, during which she looks at him and loves him._) Dear, I
do so love you--
(_Knox loses control and starts to rise._) No! Sit there. I was
weak. Yet I am not sorry. You are right. We must forego each
other. We cannot be thieves, even for love's sake. Yet I am glad
that this has happened--that I have lain in your arms and had
your lips on mine. The memory of it will be sweet always.
(_She draws her cloak around her, and rises._)
(_Knox rises._) You are right. The future belongs to the children.
There lies duty--yours, and mine in my small way. I am going now.
We must not see each other ever again. We must work--and forget.
But remember, my heart goes with you into the fight. My prayers
will accompany every stroke.
(_She hesitates, pauses, draws her cloak thoroughly around her in
evidence of departure._) Dear--will you kiss me--once--one last
time? (_There is no passion in this kiss, which is the kiss of
renunciation. Margaret herself terminates the embrace._)
(_Knox accompanies her silently to the door and places hand on
knob._) I wish I had something of you to have with me always--a
photograph, that little one, you remember, which I liked so. (_She
nods._) Don't run the risk of sending it by messenger. Just mail
it ordinarily.
{Margaret}
I shall mail it to-morrow. I'll drop it in the box myself.
{Knox}
(_Kissing her hand._) Good-bye.
{Margaret}
(_lingeringly._) But oh, my dear, I am glad and proud for what has
happened. I would not erase a single line of it.
(_She indicates for Knox to open door, which he does, but which
he immediately closes as she continues speaking._) There must be
immortality. There must be a future life where you and I shall
meet again. Good-bye.
(_They press each other's hands._)
(_Exit Margaret._)
(_Knox stands a moment, staring at closed door, turns and looks
about him indecisively, sees chair in which Margaret sat, goes
over to it, kneels down, and buries his face._)
(_Door to bedroom opens slowly and Hubbard peers out cautiously.
He cannot see Knox._)
{Hubbard}
(_Advancing, surprised._) What the deuce? Everybody gone?
{Knox}
(_Startled to his feet._) Where the devil did you come from?
{Hubbard}
(_Indicating bedroom._) In there. I was in there all the time.
{Knox}
(_Endeavoring to pass it off._) Oh, I had forgotten about you.
Well, my callers are gone.
{Hubbard}
(_Walking over close to him and laughing at him with affected
amusement._) Honest men are such dubs when they do go wrong.
{Knox}
The door was closed all the time. You would not have dared to spy
upon me.
{Hubbard}
There was something familiar about the lady's voice.
{Knox}
You heard!--what did you hear?
{Hubbard}
Oh, nothing, nothing--a murmur of voices--and the woman's--I
could swear I have heard her voice before.
(_Knox shows his relief._) Well, so long.
(_Starts to move toward exit to right._) You won't reconsider your
decision?
{Knox}
(_Shaking his head._)
{Hubbard}
(_Pausing, open door in hand, and laughing cynically._) And yet it
was but a moment ago that it seemed I heard you say there was no
one whom you would not permit the world to know you saw.
(_Starting._) What do you mean?
{Hubbard}
Good-bye.
(_Hubbard makes exit and closes door._) (_Knox wanders aimlessly to
his desk, glances at the letter he was reading of which had been
interrupted by Hubbard's entry of first act, suddenly recollects
the package of documents, and walks to low bookcase and looks on
top._)
{Knox}
(_Stunned._) The thief!
(_He looks about him wildly, then rushes like a madman in pursuit
of Hubbard, making exit to right and leaving the door Hying
open._) (_Empty stage for a moment._)
Curtain