y one in the
world.

FLETCHER. No. "Men like me" don't talk that rot. I put my arms around
her-- [_Stops, interrupted by the movement of_ DOUGLAS, _expressive of
rage, controlled instantaneously; he clenches his fists. Finishes with
a half-smile at_ DOUGLAS.] And told her I loved her.

DOUGLAS. [_Suppressed anger._] You _couldn't_ say she was more than
any one else to you, because it would have been a lie!

FLETCHER. [_Smiling._] You flatter me. [_Crosses to left._

DOUGLAS. The one that is _most_ to _you_ is YOUR CHILD. [FLETCHER
_starts; is surprised_.] You can't deny the child--

FLETCHER. I "can!" I can deny anything.

DOUGLAS. The lie could be proved to your face. In May, 1893, at Lenox,
a young kindergarten teacher,--you blackguard, you!

FLETCHER. [_A little angry._] Who told you that story?

DOUGLAS. [_Sneers._] I'm not the only man who knows it! That sort of
thing never lies buried!

FLETCHER. The girl's all right now!

DOUGLAS. Oh, I know, you sent her abroad, and pay for the child. Well,
that's the mother's lookout, and not mine. But I don't believe she's
the only case. One has only to look at your life now.--It was
fortunate for you this winter that Mrs. Clipton's divorce trial didn't
come off.

FLETCHER. [_A little more angry. Back to_ DOUGLAS.] Still, what has
all this to do with you, and I'll deny it all besides, if I feel like
it, or need to.

DOUGLAS. You know you're not fit to marry Marion Wolton!

FLETCHER. I know I love her.

DOUGLAS. For how long?

FLETCHER. I can't say, but neither can you.--And besides, _she loves
me_!

DOUGLAS. Would she if she knew you?

FLETCHER. [_Smilingly._] Oh, come, Rhodes, drop it! I don't care a
damn what I have done. I'm going to marry her! I haven't made any
bones about myself. I've told her I've been a bad lot!

DOUGLAS. Oh, yes, I know, you've confessed probably to having been
"fast;" that nearly always appeals to a woman, heaven knows why; I
suppose it's the instinct for reformation in them. But how much of
your life does that word "fast" convey to a pure girl like Marion?

FLETCHER. [_Smiling._] Quite enough! [_Serious._] But if she did know
all there was to be known, Love forgives a great deal.

DOUGLAS. But not _everything_. There are certain things Marion would
never accept. She would refuse to take the place that was the right of
another.

FLETCHER. [_Down to him._] Oh, that's your point, is it! Well, hunt
out Jeannette Gros if you