they ought to. Anyway, to know this is our salvation,
and we must use it.

JILL: [Sotto voce] Pitch! Dodo! Pitch!

DAWKER. The threat's enough! J.P.--Chapel--Future member for the
constituency----.

HILLCRIST. [A little more doubtfully] To use a piece of knowledge
about a woman--it's repugnant. I--I won't do it.

[Mrs. H. If you had a son tricked into marrying such a woman,
would you wish to remain ignorant of it?]

HILLCRIST. [Struck] I don't know--I don't know.

MRS. H. At least, you'd like to be in a position to help him, if
you thought it necessary?

HILLCRIST. Well--that perhaps.

MRS. H. Then you agree that Mr. Hornblower at least should be told.
What he does with the knowledge is not our affair.

HILLCRIST. [Half to the STRANGER and half to DAWKER] Do you realise
that an imputation of that kind may be ground for a criminal libel
action?

STRANGER. Quite. But there's no shadow of doubt; not the faintest.
You saw her just now?

HILLCRIST. I did. [Revolting again] No; I don't like it.

[DAWKER has drawn the STRANGER a step or two away, and they
talk together.]

MRS. H. [In a low voice] And the ruin of our home? You're
betraying your fathers, Jack.

HILLCRIST. I can't bear bringing a woman into it.

MRS. H. We don't. If anyone brings her in; it will be Hornblower
himself.

HILLCRIST. We use her secret as a lever.

MRS. H. I tell you quite plainly: I will only consent to holding my
tongue about her, if you agree to Hornblower being told. It's a
scandal to have a woman like that in the neighbourhood.

JILL. Mother means that, father.

HILLCRIST. Jill, keep quiet. This is a very bitter position. I
can't tell what to do.

MRS. H. You must use this knowledge. You owe it to me--to us all.
You'll see that when you've thought it over.

JILL. [Softly] Pitch, Dodo, pitch!

MRS. H. [Furiously] Jill, be quiet!

HILLCRIST. I was brought up never to hurt a woman. I can't do it,
Amy--I can't do it. I should never feel like a gentleman again.

MRS. H. [Coldly] Oh! Very well.

HILLCRIST. What d'you mean by that?

MRS. H. I shall use the knowledge in my own way.

HILLCRIST. [Staring at her] You would--against my wishes?

MRS. H. I consider it my duty.

HILLCRIST. If I agree to Hornblower being told----

MRS. H. That's all I want.

HILLCRIST. It's the utmost I'll consent to, Amy; and don't let's
have any humbug about its