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._

{Starkweather}

All right, though it is an unimportant publication. I'll

subscribe.

{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._)