Do, maam. He needs it badly. Come along, Sykes. [He
goes into the study].
SYKES [looks irresolutely at Hotchkiss]--?
HOTCHKISS. Too late: you cant save me now, Cecil. Go.
Sykes goes into the study. Mrs George strolls across to Hotchkiss
and contemplates him curiously.
HOTCHKISS. Useless to prolong this agony. [Rising] Fatal woman--
if woman you are indeed and not a fiend in human form--
MRS GEORGE. Is this out of a book? Or is it your usual society
small talk?
HOTCHKISS [recklessly] Jibes are useless: the force that is
sweeping me away will not spare you. I must know the worst at
once. What was your father?
MRS GEORGE. A licensed victualler who married his barmaid. You
would call him a publican, most likely.
HOTCHKISS. Then you are a woman totally beneath me. Do you deny
it? Do you set up any sort of pretence to be my equal in rank, in
age, or in culture?
MRS GEORGE. Have you eaten anything that has disagreed with you?
HOTCHKISS [witheringly] Inferior!
MRS GEORGE. Thank you. Anything else?
HOTCHKISS. This. I love you. My intentions are not honorable.
[She shows no dismay]. Scream. Ring the bell. Have me turned out
of the house.
MRS GEORGE [with sudden depth of feeling] Oh, if you could
restore to this wasted exhausted heart one ray of the passion
that once welled up at the glance at the touch of a lover! It's
you who would scream then, young man.
Pages:
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222