LITMIR.BIZ

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fool! Understand this; if you've not returned home by three o'clock I'll divorce you, and you may roll in the gutter with this high-souled friend of yours. And mind this, you sir—I won't spare you—by God! Your pocket shall suffer. That's the only thing that touches fellows like you.

      Turning, he goes out, and slams the door. CLARE and MALISE remain face to face. Her lips have begun to quiver.

      CLARE. Horrible!

      She turns away, shuddering, and sits down on the edge of the armchair, covering her eyes with the backs of her hands. MALISE picks up the stick, and fingers it lovingly. Then putting it down, he moves so that he can see her face. She is sitting quite still, staring straight before her.

      MALISE. Nothing could be better.

      CLARE. I don't know what to do! I don't know what to do!

      MALISE. Thank the stars for your good fortune.

      CLARE. He means to have revenge on you! And it's all my fault.

      MALISE. Let him. Let him go for his divorce. Get rid of him. Have done with him—somehow.

      She gets up and stands with face averted. Then swiftly turning to him.

      CLARE. If I must bring you harm—let me pay you back! I can't bear it otherwise! Make some use of me, if you don't mind!

      MALISE. My God!

      [She puts up her face to be kissed, shutting her eyes.]

      MALISE. You poor–

      He clasps and kisses her, then, drawing back, looks in her face. She has not moved, her eyes are still closed; but she is shivering; her lips are tightly pressed together; her hands twitching.

      MALISE. [Very quietly] No, no! This is not the house of a "gentleman."

      CLARE. [Letting her head fall, and almost in a whisper] I'm sorry.

      MALISE. I understand.

      CLARE. I don't feel. And without—I can't, can't.

      MALISE. [Bitterly] Quite right. You've had enough of that.

      There is a long silence. Without looking at him she takes up her hat, and puts it on.

      MALISE. Not going?

      [CLARE nods]

      MALISE. You don't trust me?

      CLARE. I do! But I can't take when I'm not giving.

      MALISE. I beg—I beg you! What does it matter? Use me! Get free somehow.

      CLARE. Mr. Malise, I know what I ought to be to you, if I let you in for all this. I know what you want—or will want. Of course—why not?

      MALISE. I give you my solemn word–

      CLARE. No! if I can't be that to you—it's not real. And I can't. It isn't to be manufactured, is it?

      MALISE. It is not.

      CLARE. To make use of you in such a way! No.

      [She moves towards the door]

      MALISE. Where are you going?

      CLARE does not answer. She is breathing rapidly. There is a change in her, a sort of excitement beneath her calmness.

      MALISE. Not back to him? [CLARE shakes her head] Thank God! But where? To your people again?

      CLARE. No.

      MALISE. Nothing—desperate?

      CLARE. Oh! no.

      MALISE. Then what—tell me—come!

      CLARE. I don't know. Women manage somehow.

      MALISE. But you—poor dainty thing!

      CLARE. It's all right! Don't be unhappy! Please!

      MALISE. [Seizing her arm] D'you imagine they'll let you off, out there—you with your face? Come, trust me trust me! You must!

      CLARE. [Holding out her hand] Good-bye!

      MALISE. [Not taking that hand] This great damned world, and—you! Listen! [The sound of the traffic far down below is audible in the stillness] Into that! alone—helpless—without money. The men who work with you; the men you make friends of—d'you think they'll let you be? The men in the streets, staring at you, stopping you—pudgy, bull-necked brutes; devils with hard eyes; senile swine; and the "chivalrous" men, like me, who don't mean you harm, but can't help seeing you're made for love! Or suppose you don't take covert but struggle on in the open. Society! The respectable! The pious! Even those who love you! Will they let you be? Hue and cry! The hunt was joined the moment you broke away! It will never let up! Covert to covert—till they've run you down, and you're back in the cart, and God pity you!

      CLARE. Well, I'll die running!

      MALISE. No, no! Let me shelter you! Let me!

      CLARE. [Shaking her head and smiling] I'm going to seek my fortune. Wish me luck!

      MALISE. I can't let you go.

      CLARE. You must.

      He looks into her face; then, realizing that she means it, suddenly bends down to her fingers, and puts his lips to them.

      MALISE. Good luck, then! Good luck!

      He releases her hand. Just touching his bent head with her other hand, CLARE turns and goes. MALISE remains with bowed head, listening to the sound of her receding footsteps. They die away. He raises himself, and strikes out into the air with his clenched fist.

CURTAIN

      ACT III

      MALISE'S sitting-room. An afternoon, three months later. On the table are an open bottle of claret, his hat, and some tea-things. Down in the hearth is a kettle on a lighted spirit-stand. Near the door stands HAYWOOD, a short, round-faced man, with a tobacco-coloured moustache; MALISE, by the table, is contemplating a piece of blue paper.

      HAYWOOD. Sorry to press an old customer, sir, but a year and an 'alf without any return on your money–

      MALISE. Your tobacco is too good, Mr. Haywood. I wish I could see my way to smoking another.

      HAYWOOD. Well, sir—that's a funny remedy.

      With a knock on the half-opened door, a Boy appears.

      MALISE. Yes. What is it?

      BOY. Your copy for "The Watchfire," please, sir.

      MALISE. [Motioning him out] Yes. Wait!

      The Boy withdraws. MALISE goes up to the pile of books, turns them over, and takes up some volumes.

      MALISE. This is a very fine unexpurgated translation of Boccaccio's "Decameron," Mr. Haywood illustrated. I should say you would get more than the amount of your bill for them.

      HAYWOOD. [Shaking his head] Them books worth three pound seven!

      MALISE. It's scarce, and highly improper. Will you take them in discharge?

      HAYWOOD. [Torn between emotions] Well, I 'ardly know what to say— No, Sir, I don't think I'd like to 'ave to do with that.

      MALISE. You could read them first, you know?

      HAYWOOD. [Dubiously] I've got my wife at 'ome.

      MALISE. You could both read them.

      HAYWOOD. [Brought to his bearings] No, Sir, I couldn't.

      MALISE. Very well; I'll sell them myself, and you shall have the result.

      HAYWOOD. Well, thank you, sir. I'm sure I didn't want to trouble you.

      MALISE. Not at all, Mr. Haywood. It's for me to apologize.

      HAYWOOD. So long as I give satisfaction.

      MALISE. [Holding the door for him] Certainly. Good evening.

      HAYWOOD. Good evenin', sir; no offence, I hope.

      MALISE. On the contrary.

      Doubtfully HAYWOOD goes. And MALISE stands scratching his head; then slipping the bill

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