WARDEN.  Why did you take your business out of my hands?

STERLING.  The law didn’t pay me enough.  I thought I’d try a little amateur stockbroking.

[Smiling insincerely.

WARDEN.  You didn’t want me to know what you were doing!

STERLING.  Rats!

WARDEN.  You didn’t want me to know what funds—­whose funds—­you were using—­misusing.

STERLING. [Ugly.] What!

WARDEN.  Whose money you were gambling with!

STERLING.  Have you been spying on me?

WARDEN.  Your wife’s money!

STERLING.  Well, she’s my wife, and you don’t know what you’re talking about!

[He turns from him and picks up a book from the table upside down and pretends to read it.

WARDEN.  You stole from me once when you were a boy!

STERLING.  No!  I didn’t!

[Throwing the book down.

WARDEN.  You lie!  Do you hear me? You lie! [He waits a second. STERLING does nothing.] I was never sure till to-day!  I fought against ever thinking it, believing my suspicions were an injustice to you, but little things were always disappearing out of my rooms—­finally, even money.  Lately, that old suspicion has come back with a fuller force, and to-day it became a certainty.

STERLING.  How to-day?

WARDEN.  Because if it weren’t true, you’d have knocked me down just now when I called you first a thief and twice a liar!

[He stands squarely facing him. STERLING stands facing him also, surprised, taken off his guard.

STERLING.  Oh, come, you’re joking! [WARDEN makes an angry exclamation.] Why’re you telling me all this now?

WARDEN.  Because I want you to be careful.  I want you to know some one is watching you!  Some one who knows what you’ve come to!  Some one who knows you can’t resist temptation!  Some one who knows money not yours has stuck to your fingers!

STERLING.  You mind your own business.

WARDEN.  I’ll mind yours if it’s necessary to protect people who are dear to me!

[STERLING looks at him with a sudden suspicion.

STERLING. [Insinuatingly.] I didn’t know you were particularly attached to Mrs. Hunter.

WARDEN.  I’m not.

STERLING.  Or to her two unmarried daughters!

WARDEN.  Nor am I!

STERLING. [With whispered intensity.] By God, if you are in love with my wife!

WARDEN.  If you thought that out loud, I’d knock you down!

STERLING.  Huh! you talk as if you thought I were a coward!

WARDEN.  No, not a physical coward—­I’ve seen you do too many plucky things—­but a moral coward—­yes, you are one!

[Straight to him, standing close and looking him squarely in the eyes.