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what ye mean by writing me these letters。 ＇He takes out two
letters。 And we'll discus it in the presence of nobody； if ye；
please。
MRS。 H。 Mr。 Dawker knows all that I know； and more。
HORNBLOWER。 Does he？ Very well！ Your second note says that my
daughter…in…law has lied to me。 Well； I've brought her； and what
ye've got to sayif it's not just a trick to see me againye'll
say to her face。 ＇He takes a step towards the window。＇
MRS。 H。 Mr。 Hornblower； you had better； decide that after hearing
what it iswe shall be quite ready to repeat it in her presence；
but we want to do as little harm as possible。
HORNBLOWER。 ＇Stopping＇ Oh！ ye do！ Well； what lies have ye been
hearin'？ Or what have ye made up？ You and Mr。 Dawker？ Of course
ye know there's a law of libel and slander。 I'm； not the man to
stop at that。
MRS。 H。 ＇Calmly＇ Are you familiar with the law of divorce； Mr。
Hornblower？
HORNBLOWER。 ＇Taken aback＇ No； I'm not。 That is…。
MRS。 H。 Well； you know that misconduct is required。 And I suppose
you've heard that cases are arranged。
HORNBLOWER。 I know it's all very shockingwhat about it？
MRS。 H。 When cases are arranged； Mr。 Hornblower； the man who is to
be divorced often visits an hotel with a strange woman。 I am
extremely sorry to say that your daughter…in…law； before her
marriage； was in the habit of being employed as such a woman。
HORNBLOWER。 Ye dreadful creature！
DAWKER。 ＇Quickly＇ All proved； up to the hilt！
HORNBLOWER。 I don't believe a word of it。 Ye're lyin' to save your
skins。 How dare ye tell me such monstrosities？ Dawker； I'll have
ye in a criminal court。
DAWKER。 Rats！ You saw a gent with me yesterday？ Well； he's
employed her。
HORNBLOWER。 A put…up job！ Conspiracy！
MRS。 H。 Go and get your daughter…in…law。
HORNBLOWER。 ＇With the first sensation of being in a net＇ It's a
foul shamea lying slander！
MRS。 H。 If so； it's easily disproved。 Go and fetch her。
HORNBLOWER。 ＇Seeing them unmoved＇ I will。 I don't believe a word
of it。
MRS。 H。 I hope you are right。
＇HORNBLOWER goes out by the French window； DAWKER slips to the
door Right； opens it； arid speaks to those within。 MRS。
HILLCRIST stands moistening her lips； and passim her
handkerchief over them。 HORNBLOWER returns； preceding CHLOE；
strung up to hardness and defiance。＇
HORNBLOWER。 Now then； let's have this impudent story torn to rags。
CHLOE。 What story？
HORNBLOWER。 That you； my dear； were a womanit's too shockinI
don't know how to tell ye
CHLOE。 Go on！
HORNBLOWER。 Were a woman that went with men； to get them their
divorce。
CHLOE。 Who says that？
HORNBLOWER。 That lady ＇Sneering＇ there； and her bull…terrier here。
CHLOE。 ＇Facing MRS。 HILLCRIST＇ That's a charitable thing to say；
isn't it？
MRS。 H。 Is it true？
CHLOE。 No。
HORNBLOWER。 ＇Furiously＇ There！ I'll have ye both on your knees to
her！
DAWKER。 ＇Opening the door； Right＇ Come in。
＇The FIRST STRANGER comes in。 CHLOE； with a visible effort；
turns to face him。＇
FIRST S。 How do you do； Mrs。 Vane？
CHLOE。 I don't know you。
FIRST S。 Your memory is bad； ma'am： You knew me yesterday well
enough。 One day is not a long time； nor are three years。
CHLOE。 Who are you？
FIRST S。 Come； ma'am； come！ The Caster case。
CHLOE。 I don't know you； I say。 ＇To MRS。 HILLCRIST＇ How can you
be so vile？
FIRST S。 Let me refresh your memory； ma'am。 ＇Producing a notebook＇
Just on three years ago； 〃Oct。3。 To fee and expenses Mrs。 Vane with
Mr。 C； Hotel Beaulieu； Twenty pounds。 Oct。 10； Do。； Twenty
pounds。〃 ＇To HORNBLOWER＇ Would you like to glance at this book；
sir？ You'll see they're genuine entries。
＇HORNBLOWER makes a motion to do so； but checks himself and
looks at CHLOE。＇
CHLOE。 ＇Hysterically＇ It's all lieslies！
FIRST S。 Come； ma'am； we wish you no harm。
CHLOE。 Take me away。 I won't be treated like this。
MRS。 H。 ＇In a low voice＇ Confess。
CHLOE。 Lies！
HORNBLOWER。 Were ye ever called Vane？
CHLOE。 No； never。
＇She makes a movement towards the window； but DAWKER is in the
way； and she halts。 FIRST S。 ＇Opening the door； Right＇
Henry。＇
＇The SECOND STRANGER comes in quickly。 At sight of him CHLOE
throws up her hands； gasps； breaks down； stage Left； and stands
covering her face with her hands。 It is so complete a
confession that HORNBLOWER stands staggered； and； taking out a
coloured handkerchief； wipes his brow。＇
DAWKER。 Are you convinced？
HORNBLOWER。 Take those men away。
DAWKER。 If you're not satisfied； we can get other evidence； plenty。
HORNBLOWER。 ＇Looking at CHLOE＇ That's enough。 Take them out。
Leave me alone with her。
＇DAWKER takes them out Right。 MRS。 HILLCRIST passes HORNBLOWER
and goes out at the window。 HORNBLOWER moves down a step or
two towards CHLOE。＇
HORNBLOWER。 My God！
CHLOE。 ＇With an outburst＇ Don't tell Charlie！ Don't tell Charlie！
HORNBLOWER。 Chearlie！ So； that was your manner of life。
＇CHLOE utters a moaning sound。＇
So that's what ye got out of by marryin' into my family！ Shame on
ye； ye Godless thing！
CHLOE。 Don't tell Charlie！
HORNBLOWER。 And that's all ye can say for the wreck ye've wrought。
My family； my works； my future！ How dared ye！
CHLOE。 If you'd been me！
HORNBLOWER。 An' these Hillcrists。 The skin game of it！
CHLOE。 ＇Breathless＇ Father！
HORNBLOWER。 Don't call me that； woman！
CHLOE。 ＇Desperate＇ I'm going to have a child。
HORNBLOWER。 God！ Ye are！
CHLOE。 Your grandchild。 For the sake of it； do what these people
want； and don't tell anyoneDON'T TELL CHARLIE！
HORNBLOWER。 ＇Again wiping his forehead＇ A secret between us。 I
don't know that I can keep it。 It's horrible。 Poor Chearlie！
CHLOE。 ＇Suddenly fierce＇ You must keep it； you shall！ I won't
have him told。 Don't make me desperate！ I can beI didn't live
that life for nothing。
HORNBLOWER。 ＇Staring at her resealed in a new light＇ Ay； ye look a
strange； wild woman； as I see ye。 And we thought the world of ye！
CHLOE。 I love Charlie； I'm faithful to him。 I can't live without
him。 You'll never forgive me； I know； but Charlie！ ＇Stretching
out her hands。＇
＇HORNBLOWER makes a bewildered gesture with … his large hands。＇
HORNBLOWER。 I'm all at sea here。 Go out to the car and wait for
me。
＇CHLOE passes him and goes out； Left。＇
＇Muttering to himself＇ So I'm down！ Me enemies put their heels upon
me head！ Ah！ but we'll see yet！
＇He goes up to the window and beckons towards the Right。＇
＇MRS。 HILLCRIST comes in。＇
What d'ye want for this secret？
MRS。 H。 Nothing。
HORNBLOWER。 Indeed！ Wonderful！the trouble ye've taken for
nothing。
MRS。 H。 If you harm us we shall harm you。 Any use whatever of the
Centry。
HORNBLOWER。 For which ye made me pay nine thousand five hundred
pounds。
MRS。 H。 We will buy it from you。
HORNBLOWER。 At what price？
MRS。 H。 The Centry at the price Miss Muffins would have taken at
first； and Longmeadow at the price youg