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HORNBLOWER。 At what price？
MRS。 H。 The Centry at the price Miss Muffins would have taken at
first； and Longmeadow at the price yougave usfour thousand five
hundred altogether。
HORNBLOWER。 A fine price； and me six thousand out of pocket。 Na；
no！ I'll keep it and hold it over ye。 Ye daren't tell this secret
so long as I've got it。
MRS。 H。 No； Mr。 Hornblower。 On second thoughts； you must sell。
You broke your word over the Jackmans。 We can't trust you。 We
would rather have our place here ruined at once； than leave you the
power to ruin it as and when you like。 You will sell us the Centry
and Longmeadow now； or you know what will happen。
HORNBLOWER。 ＇Writhing＇ I'll not。 It's blackmail。
MRS。 H。 Very well then！ Go your own way and we'll go ours。 There
is no witness to this conversation。
HORNBLOWER。 ＇Venomously＇ By heaven； ye're a clever woman。 Will ye
swear by Almighty God that you and your family； and that agent of
yours； won't breathe a word of this shockin' thing to mortal soul。
MRS。 H。 Yes； if you sell。
HORNBLOWER。 Where's Dawker？
MRS。 H。 ＇Going to the door； Right＇ Mr。 Dawker
＇DAWKER comes in。＇
HORNBLOWER。 I suppose ye've got your iniquity ready。
＇DAWKER grins and produces the document。＇
It's mighty near conspiracy； this。 Have ye got a Testament？
MRS。 H。 My word will be enough； Mr。 Hornblower。
HORNBLOWER。 Ye'll pardon meI can't make it solemn enough for you。
MRS。 H。 Very well； here is a Bible。
＇She takes a small Bible from the bookshelf。＇
DAWKER。 ＇Spreading document on bureau＇ This is a short conveyance
of the Centry and Longmeadowrecites sale to you by Miss Mulling；
of the first； John Hillcrist of the second； and whereas you have
agreed for the sale to said John Hillcrist； for the sum of four
thousand five hundred pounds； in consideration of the said sum；
receipt whereof； you hereby acknowledge you do convey all that； etc。
Sign here。 I'll witness。
HORNBLOWER ＇To MRS。 HILLCRIST＇ Take that Book in your hand； and
swear first。 I swear by Almighty God never to breathe a word of
what I know。 concerning Chloe Hornblower to any living soul。
MRS。 H。 No； Mr。 Hornblower； you will please sign first。 We are not
in the habit of breaking our word。
＇HORNBLOWER after a furious look at them； seizes a pen； runs
his eye again over the deed； and signs； DAWKER witnessing。＇
To that oath； Mr。 Hornblower； we shall add the words； 〃So long as
the Hornblower family do us no harm。
HORNBLOWER。 ＇With a snarl＇ Take it in your hands； both of ye； and
together swear。
MRS。 H。 ＇Taking the Book＇ I swear that I will breathe no word of
what I know concerning Chloe Hornblower to any living soul； so long
as the Hornblower family do us no harm。
DAWKER。 I swear that too。
MRS。 H。 I engage for my husband。
HORNBLOWER。 Where are those two fellows？
DAWKER。 Gone。 It's no business of theirs。
HORNBLOWER。 It's no business of any of ye what has happened to a
woman in the past。 Ye know that。 Good…day！
＇He gives them a deadly look； and goes out； left； followed by
DAWKER。＇
MRS。 H。 ＇With her hand on the Deed＇ Safe！
＇HILLCRIST enters at the French window； followed by JILL。＇
＇Holding up the Deed＇ Look！ He's just gone！ I told you it was
only necessary to use the threat。 He caved in and signed this； we
are sworn to say nothing。 We've beaten him。
＇HILLCRIST studies the Deed。＇
JILL。 ＇Awed＇ We saw Chloe in the car。 How did she take it；
mother？
MRS。 H。 Denied； then broke down when she saw our witnesses。 I'm
glad you were not here； Jack。
JILL。 ＇Suddenly＇ I shall go and see her。
MRS。 H。 Jill； you will not； you don't know what she's done。
JILL。 I shall。 She must be in an awful state。
HILLCRIST。 My dear； you can do her no good。
JILL。 I think I can； Dodo。
MRS。 H。 You don't understand human nature。 We're enemies for life
with those people。 You're a little donkey if you think anything
else。
JILL。 I'm going； all the same。
MRS。 H。 Jack； forbid her。
HILLCRIST。 ＇Lifting an eyebrow＇ Jill； be reasonable。
JILL。 Suppose I'd taken a knock like that； Dodo； I'd be glad of
friendliness from someone。
MRS。 H。 You never could take a knock like that。
JILL。 You don't know what you can do till you try； mother。
HILLCRIST。 Let her go； Amy。 Im sorry for that young woman。
MRS。 H。 You'd be sorry for a man who picked your pocket； I believe。
HILLCRIST。 I certainly should！ Deuced little he'd get out of it；
when I've paid for the Centry。
MRS。 H。 ＇Bitterly＇ Much gratitude I get for saving you both our
home！
JILL。 ＇Disarmed＇ Oh！ Mother； we are grateful。 Dodo； show your
gratitude。
HILLCRIST。 Well； my dear； it's an intense relief。 I'm not good at
showing my feelings； as you know。 What d'you want me to do？ Stand
on one leg and crow？
JILL。 Yes； Dodo； yes！ Mother； hold him while I ＇Suddenly she
stops； and all the fun goes out of her＇ No！ I can'tI can't help
thinking of her。
CURTAIN falls for a minute。
SCENE II
When it rises again； the room is empty and dark； same for
moonlight coming in through the French window； which is open。
The figure of CHLOE； in a black cloak； appears outside in the
moonlight； she peers in； moves past； comes bank； hesitatingly
enters。 The cloak； fallen back； reveals a white evening dress；
and that magpie figure stands poised watchfully in the dim
light； then flaps unhappily Left and Right； as if she could not
keep still。 Suddenly she stands listening。
ROLF'S VOICE。 ＇Outside＇ Chloe！ Chloe！
＇He appears＇
CHLOE。 ＇Going to the window＇ What are you doing here？
ROLF。 What are you？ I only followed you。
CHLOE。 Go away。
ROLF。 What's the matter？ Tell me！
CHLOE。 Go away； and don't say anything。 Oh！ The roses！ ＇She has
put her nose into some roses in a bowl on a big stand close to the
window＇ Don't they smell lovely？
ROLF。 What did Jill want this afternoon？
CHLOE。 I'll tell you nothing。 Go away！
ROLF。 I don't like leaving you here in this state。
CHLOE。 What state？ I'm all right。 Wait for me down in the drive；
if you want to。
＇ROLF starts to go； stops； looks at her； and does go。 CHLOE；
with a little moaning sound； flutters again； magpie…like； up
and down； then stands by the window listening。 Voices are
heard； Left。 She darts out of the window and away to the
Right； as HILLCRIST and JILL come in。 They have turned up the
electric light； and come down in frond of the fireplace； where
HILLCRIST sits in an armchair； and JILL on the arm of it。 They
are in undress evening adore。
HILLCRIST。 Now； tell me。
JILL。 There isn't much； Dodo。 I was in an awful funk for fear I
should meet any of the others； and of course I did meet Rolf； but I
told him some lie； and he took me to her room…boudoir； they call it
isn't boudoir a 〃dug…out〃 word？
HILLCRIST。 ＇Meditatively＇ The sulking room。 Well？
JILL。 She was sitting like this。 ＇She buries her chin in her
hands； wide her elbows on her knee