ents and letters?

{Hubbard}

You are beating around the bush in turn. There is no need for an
honest man to lie even--

{Knox}

(_Interrupting._) To you.

{Hubbard}

(_Smiling._) Even to me. I watched you closely when I mentioned
the letters. You gave yourself away. You knew I meant the letters
stolen by Gherst from Starkweather's private files--the letters
you intended using to-morrow.

{Knox}

Intend using to-morrow.

{Hubbard}

Precisely. It is the same thing. What is the price? Set it.

{Knox}

I have nothing to sell. I am not on the market.

{Hubbard}

One moment. Don't make up your mind hastily. You don't know with
whom you have to deal. Those letters will not appear in your
speech to-morrow. Take that from me. It would be far wiser to
sell for a fortune than to get nothing for them and at the same
time not use them.

(_A knock at door to right startles Hubbard._)

{Knox}

(_Intending to say, "Come in"_) Come--

{Hubbard}

(_Interrupting._) Hush. Don't. I cannot be seen here.

{Knox}

(_Laughing._) You fear the contamination of my company. (_The knock
is repeated._)

{Hubbard}

(_In alarm, rising, as Knox purses his lips to bid them enter._)
Don't let anybody in. I don't want to be seen here--with you.
Besides, my presence will not put you in a good light.

{Knox}

(_Also rising, starting toward door._) What I do is always open
to the world. I see no one whom I should not permit the world to
know I saw.

(_Knox starts toward door to open it._) (_Hubbabd, looking about him
in alarm, flees across stage and into bedroom, closing the door.
During all the following scene, Hubbard, from time to time, opens
door, and peers out at what is going on._)

{Knox}

(_Opening door, and recoiling._) Margaret! Mrs. Chalmers!

(_Margaret enters, followed by Tommy and Linda. Margaret is in
evening dress covered by evening cloak._)

{Margaret}

(_Shaking hands with Knox._) Forgive me, but I had to see you. I
could not get you on the telephone. I called and called, and the
best I could do was to get the wrong number.

{Knox}

(_Recovering from his astonishment._) Yes. I am glad.

(_Seeing Tommy._) Hello, Tommy.

(_Knox holds out his hand, and Tommy shakes it gravely. Linda
stays in back-ground. Her face is troubled._)

{Tommy}

How do you do?

{Margaret}

There was no other way, and it was so necessary for me to warn
you. I brought Tommy and Linda along to chaperon me.