Magnus, whose sense of justice has not been obscured by a vulgar and professional diligence; who takes no personal and ambitious delight in trapping the failing and perplexed souls of men. I address you, sir.

DEXTER (outraged, to Magnus): This is not to the purpose. Let me call the men and take him off now. (To Dabney): There's a club of sailors formed to hang you, you damned coward.

MAGNUS (turning to Dexter, imperiously): Mr. Dexter, I will have to ask you to remember my privilege. I am engaged to hear whatever Mr. Dabney may have to say. Mr. Dabney, you are charged with a crime, an offense truly revolting to a man of honor; a breach of duty and of humanity.

DABNEY: But to whom am I accountable?

MAGNUS: To the law that represents in this case, the families of those who lost their lives on your ship.

DABNEY: But I say: No! I am answerable to a moral principle. In any event all lives on that ship were doomed to be lost, save the few that could get into one lifeboat. I had then before me the choice as to which half-dozen lives should be saved. Here stood I, entering upon a great life-work of evangelization, and here lay hundreds of stammering ignorant peasants, one indistinguishable from another. No, sir. The man whose mind is free from the barbaric and vengeful conception of justice, is able to see that I have offended only against a moral principle, and am answerable only to Him, from whom all moral law is but an emanation.

DEXTER: Don't listen to him, sir.

MAGNUS (angrily): Dexter, be so good as to allow me my own opinion.

DABNEY: In the matter of living in your house, Mr. Magnus, I acknowledge myself in your hands and under your jurisdiction. When the peculiar terms of our residence here were first announced to me, I suspected at once that we were infringing upon another's right. Immersed as I have been in the interpretation of prophecy, engaged upon an exhaustive examination of the visions of Daniel, I postponed the day of my departure. (Indicating Flora) However, I questioned this lady often and received repeated assurances that the house was entirely at her

disposal, for sale as well as for rent. I am now unable to conceal my shame and mortification at my failure to inquire into every scruple that might have prevented my injuring you in this way. I can only say that I shall not rest until I have faithfully restored to you

MAGNUS (jumping up): Do not think of such a thing. Mr. Dabney, I am proud and my ancestors are proud that this house should have sheltered a man of your insight and learning. This misfortune of six years ago is not for man's disposition; it has doubtless been justified a thousand times. We will say no more of it. Mr. Dexter, I consider that Mr. Dabney has been my guest and will be. (Bowing) Mr. Dabney, you are at liberty to stay with us, or to retire.

DABNEY: I thank you. Mr. Magnus, I know I leave these proceedings in the hands of a wise and reverent man. Let me before I go, recommend to your mercy our daughter. One in whom the natural springs of goodness were, alas, poisoned with self-seeking, 'til conscience spake at last with too faint a voice, or none! Goodnight, sir. Goodnight. (He hurries up the stairs.)

MAGNUS: The woman with the cough, Miss Flecker.
MISS FLECKER: Miss Del Valle.

MAGNUS: Oh yes, the objectionable one! It is this type of offense, Mr. Dexter, over which the law has most appropriate control. Lower your eyes, Madam.

DEXTER: I'm sorry, Mr. Magnus, but we never do anything with them. Of course, we find them in every haul, like this. There's nothing the force can do with them, Mr. Magnus. The Head calls them the little fish that are found in the net every time you draw it up, and that you throw back into the water as a matter of course.

MAGNUS: Ah, but there are institutions for them.

DEXTER: Yes. Mostly for those that steal, or try to attack someone, or gone wrong in the head. You'd best let her go, sir. We don't want her in the prisons.

MAGNUS: Very well. Miss Del Valle, I'll ask you to leave the house in three minutes.

MISS DEL VALLE (whispering, her hand at her throat): I've this cough, sir. I'm like to die.

MAGNUS (in a tremendous indignation, bringing both fists down on the table): Not another word! There are modest women present; there are decent women present, I say. What right have you to speak? It is you that bring empires to decay. Do you hear me? Now, leave the house.

MISS DEL VALLE: I have no shoes.

MAGNUS: Miss Budie, please see that this woman is able to leave the house in five minutes.

MISS DEL VALLE (as she turns to go, points to Flora): It's her! It's all her.

FLORA (rises, overcome): Yes.

MISS DEL VALLE: You've killed me now.

MAGNUS: Yes, turn to her.

FLORA (suddenly takes a bracelet from her wrist, and with an awkward impetuous gesture thrusts it and her blue cloak into her hands): Yes, it's all me, Miss Del Valle. Here. Take these. Remember I gave them to you. Goodbye now. (Returns to her

chair.)

MISS DEL VALLE (drops them both, being overcome with a coughing-fit).

go.

MAGNUS: Take them quickly, if she gives them to you. Now

MISS DEL VALLE: Thank you, Miss. (She picks them up and goes off, followed by Sarah.)

MAGNUS: Now, Mr. Dexter, next!

DEXTER: This is Mr. Gaylord, sir. His daughters have been looking for him for two months. He's always running away from them, and getting into trouble. He fancies they're cruel to him.

GAYLORD (rising, his voice lifted in woe): Oh, sir. Don't send me back to them.

MAGNUS (to Gosche): Put him to bed, for the present. GAYLORD: Oh, sir, they're not right to me. They strike me, sir. They tie me to the door, sir. They make me eat out of a wooden bowl, sir. It's not right.

GOSCHE (forcing him up the stairs): Come on, now. Not so much noise.

GAYLORD (disappearing): They're always hitting me with their hair-brushes. Oh, sir!

DEXTER: I don't recognize any of the rest.

MAGNUS: Have you anyone to complain of, Miss Flecker? MISS FLECKER: 'Unless it's Fru Soderström here. I expect there's nothing explicit against her though. So there's no one left but the servants.

MAGNUS: I am not going to say anything more about Sarah Budie and Nestor, until I see whether their letters follow me here, explaining everything. So! I think we are ready to probe into the real heart of the matter. Now, Dexter, we'll have this fellow Proctor, in. (Dexter makes a clicking noise to Gosche, who makes a signal down the hall. Flora stands to the left of her chair, covering her face. Carlo enters defiantly, followed by the officers.)

CARLO: What is it?

MAGNUS: Is this man wanted on your books, Dexter?

DEXTER: No, sir.

MAGNUS: His name, Miss Flecker?

MISS FLECKER: Hammersley.

MAGNUS: Is your name Proctor or Hammersley?

CARLO: Charles Flecker Hammersley.

MAGNUS: A relative of yours, Miss Flecker?

MISS FLECKER: Certainly not.

MAGNUS: Mr. Hammersley, I must confess I overheard your distressing interview with this woman, earlier in the evening. In my position as temporary agent of the law, I felt justified in concealing myself behind these curtains. I must say that I am glad Mr. Dexter has nothing worse to report of you. Your repudiation of this woman's degraded and superstitious travesty of the marriage sacrament was most commendable. As you said at the time, it was a blasphemous proceeding. Naturally I cannot refer further to the situation before this company. Nevertheless you should guard against all strains of weakness in your character. I can only say that the present situation should warn you against women of this class. They are ambitious, unscrupulous and uncontrolled. Will you shake hands with me, Mr. Hammersley?

CARLO :

Very glad, sir. (They shake hands.)

MAGNUS: You took a splendid stand, sir. Splendid. Allow

him, gentlemen. Goodnight.

FLORA (sharply): Carlo!

MAGNUS: Silence, madam!

FLORA (crossing the floor toward him, piteously): One thing! Carlo, tell me, where is the thing you promised me? The gift, the one thing you promised me.

CARLO (bowing to Magnus, ignoring her): I'll pack my things upstairs, sir.

MAGNUS: Answer the woman, if you wish. If it will only quiet her.

FLORA: Carlo, tell me!

course.

CARLO (turning to go): In the shelf by the decanter, of (to Magnus) She means a little pocket compass, sir. Better follow it up. (With stairs.)

(to Flora): You're welcome to it. a satirical laugh, he bounds up the MAGNUS (rising): The rest of you may go back to your rooms. (Commotion on the stairs. He calls them to attention, adding): All your expenditure will be repaid you, when you leave to-morrow. To-morrow before ten. Go quickly now. (There is a panic-stricken rush up the stairs. Fru Soderström remains at the foot of the stairs, hovering about vaguely. At last she comes forward.)

FRU SODERSTRÖM (pointing at Flora): Are you going to put her to jail?

MAGNUS: That is not decided.

FRU SODERSTRÖM: Oh, but, sir, she's a good girl. She was thoughtful to us all, sir, in her way.

MAGNUS: That will do.

FRU SODERSTROM: You mustn't put her to jail. She's young. She was like a daughter to me, sir.

MAGNUS: Can you get rid of this woman, Miss Flecker? MISS FLECKER: Ternissa, you're making Mr. Magnus very angry. He'll refuse to repay your rent, poor Ternissa. see that!

I can

FRU SODERSTROM (wavering): But some one must speak for the girl. (Suddenly hurries off up the stairs, her handkerchief at her eyes, murmuring:) Goodnight. Goodnight.

MAGNUS: Well, Madam, what have you to say?