off suddenly_.] What! you've taken hers,
too! [_He leans over_ WOLTON _in the chair, his hands on his
shoulders, close to his neck, in a rage. Rises._] You've beggared _my
sister_, your wife and child! You-- [_Interrupted._

MR. WOLTON. [_With a big effort, rises, throwing off_ DAWSON'S
_hands_.] Sh!--For God's sake, lower your voice! You'll be heard!

DAWSON. [_With a change of tone, but speaking with utter contempt_.]
By a couple hundred fools! To-morrow _thousands_ will hear of your
dirty dishonour!! [_Going toward right a little_.

MR. WOLTON. [_To_ DAWSON.] But _you_, you have money--won't you come
to my rescue?

DAWSON. I couldn't if I would. You have borrowed half a fortune of me
already. What I have left must go to take care of my sister and niece.
Do you think I'd support _you_! No, the _State_ will do that.

MR. WOLTON. That!! You'd let me go to--?

DAWSON. You'll get twenty years at least!

MR. WOLTON. You won't help me _escape_!

DAWSON. No.

MR. WOLTON. But Laura? she loves me, and Marion. _They_ will suffer
for me; I may be weakly dishonourable, but I've always loved them, and
they me. Besides, any public dishonour which comes to my name must
touch theirs too.

DAWSON. I'm not so sure about that--I think there is material for a
divorce here.

MR. WOLTON. A divorce! My God, must I lose everything! Show a little
pity, Fred! Remember the old days at school; was I a bad boy? We were
chums for years, you know it!--You were my best man when I married
Laura, and you were the gayest at the wedding! It's only been this
curse of gambling with the stocks that has driven me to the
devil,--that and my cursed luck.

DAWSON. _Luck_ has nothing to do with _honour_.

MR. WOLTON. You don't know--oftener than you think, it has everything!
[_Enter_ SERVANT.

SERVANT. Supper is ready, sir. Can we have this room?

DAWSON. Yes, Howes, I'm going!

SERVANT. Thank you, sir. [_Exits._

MR. WOLTON. Give me a word of hope, Fred!--something! What are you
going to do?

DAWSON. Nothing till to-morrow morning.

MR. WOLTON. And that's all you have to say?

DAWSON. All. [_The two men stand looking at each other a moment in a
sort of grim embarrassment, then_ DAWSON _exits. Music. It must be
evident to the audience, though not to the hysterically excited_
WOLTON, _that_ DAWSON _has a little, a very little, pity, but doesn't
wish to show it,--at any rate not yet_. WOLTON, _who has stood a
moment lost in thought, an