can; it'll do you no good! [_Crosses._

DOUGLAS. [_Follows quickly. Angry._] You can't prove that, because
it's _not true_!

FLETCHER. [_Facing_ DOUGLAS. _Angry too._] I'll prove she had other
lovers before me. Good God, man, you don't know what Marion Wolton's
love means to me! I've never loved like this before! Why, if it were
possible for me to treat her as I have--the other, I _couldn't_. I
want to marry Marion Wolton--I _want_ to make _her my wife!_ and I
_will!_ I've had all there can be got out of my old life, and I'm sick
of it. Here's my chance at a new life, and do you think I'm going to
give it up? No! [_Forgetting and raising his voice._] Do you hear me,
No!!

DOUGLAS. [_Softly._] Not so loud!

FLETCHER. [_Lowered voice._] No! I'll fight for it with my last
breath.

DOUGLAS. Then I say again, you're a blackguard!

FLETCHER. [_Laughs, turns back to audience._] What do you want to do,
fight? You know we can't here. I give you liberty to say to her all
you can against me.

DOUGLAS. She won't believe me.

FLETCHER. Exactly--she loves me--

DOUGLAS. But there is one other I can tell the truth to, who may
believe me.

FLETCHER. Look out you don't make yourself ridiculous, going
about--the jilted lover, trying to take away the character of the
accepted man! [_Leisurely following him a little._

DOUGLAS. I don't have to do any "going about!" You are well enough
known in our world to keep most of our doors closed against you. Few
people are as blind as the Woltons, and I will open _his_ eyes!

FLETCHER. You'll tell her father?

DOUGLAS. He is the one person she would listen to, and he can verify
what I say.

FLETCHER. [_Change of tone, showing he fears this._] Damn it! I mean
to be a decent man.

DOUGLAS. [_Goes close to him and looks straight in his face._] Then go
to Jeannette Gros and marry her!

FLETCHER. [_Angry again._] Go to H--. [_Change of tone._] You think if
I'm out of the way you'll get her?

DOUGLAS. She's told me she doesn't love me, and she proved to me that
she won't believe the truth of you without extraordinary proof. There
is only one person in the world who could naturally interfere and give
her anything like that proof, and that's her father; and I shall tell
him to-night, before I leave this house, before you can announce your
engagement!

FLETCHER. With Miss Wolton's permission, I will announce our
engagement to-night, in spite of you, and her father. [_Music stops.
E