... the real boss of the
neighborhood... and there is no justice to be had anywhere for Annie
Rogers!

HEGAN. Impossible!

JACK. You have my word for it, sir. And the reason for it is that this
hideous traffic is one of the main cogs in our political machine. The
pimps and the panders, the cadets and maquereaux... they vote the ticket
of the organization; they contribute to the campaign funds; they serve
as colonizers and repeaters at the polls. The tribute that they pay
amounts to millions; and it is shared from the lowest to the highest
in the organization... from the ward man on the street and the police
captain, up to the inner circle of the chiefs of Tammany Hall... yes,
even to your friend, Mr. Robert Grimes, himself! A thousand times, sir,
has the truth about this monstrous infamy been put before the people
of your city; and that they have not long ago risen in their wrath and
driven its agents from their midst is due to but one single fact... that
this infamous organization of crime and graft is backed at each election
time by the millions of the great public service corporations. It is
they...

MONTAGUE. [Interfering.] Bullen!

JACK. Let me go on! It is they, sir, who finance the thugs and repeaters
who desecrate our polls. It is they who suborn our press and blind the
eyes of our people. It is they who are responsible for this traffic in
the flesh of our women. It is they who have to answer for the tottering
reason of that poor peasant girl in the next room!

LAURA. [Has been listening to this speech, white with horror; as the
indictment proceeds, she covers her face with her hands; at this point
she breaks into uncontrollable weeping.] Oh! I can't stand it!

HEGAN. [Springing to her side.] My dear!

LAURA. [Clasping him.] Father! Father!

HEGAN. My child! I have begged you not to come to these places! Why
should you see such things?

LAURA. [Wildly.] Why should I not see them, so long as they exist?

HEGAN. [Angrily.] I won't have it. This is the end of it! I mean what I
say! Come home with me!... Come home at once!

LAURA. With Grimes? I won't meet that man!

HEGAN. Very well, then. You need not meet him. I'll call a cab, and take
you myself. Where are your things?

LAURA. [Looking to the left.] In that room.

HEGAN. Come, then.

[Takes her off.]

JACK. [Turns to MONTAGUE, and to JULIA, who appears in doorway at
right.] We gave it to them straight that time, all right!

[CURTAIN]