WARDEN. [To STERLING.] Where are you going?

STERLING.  To my boy and my wife.

WARDEN.  Wait a minute; I want to speak to you.

STERLING.  Speak to me later; I can’t wait now.

BLANCHE. [Off stage, at back, excitedly.] Jordan! [She enters, excited, half hysterical.] Jordan!  Where is Jordan?  It was a lie!  What did he mean?  Richard is sleeping sweetly.  The maid knows nothing of being alarmed!  Where is Jordan?

[She starts to go toward the door Right.

WARDEN. [Stops her.] Mrs. Sterling, he had nothing to do with it! I told Jordan to say what he said.

[BLANCHE turns and looks at WARDEN in astonishment.

STERLING. [Stunned and at once suspicious.] What?

BLANCHE.  But—­

WARDEN.  Forgive me for so cruelly alarming you; it was the only way I could think of for getting rid at once of your guests!

STERLING. [Angry.] You’ll interfere once too often in the affairs of this house.

BLANCHE. [Indignant.] But what excuse can you make, Mr. Warden?

WARDEN.  Will you be so good as to ask Miss Hunter and Mr. Mason to come here?  They will explain what I have done, partly, and your husband will tell you the rest when you come back.

[STERLING sneers aloud.

BLANCHE.  I don’t understand, I don’t understand.

[She goes out at back.

STERLING.  Well, I do understand, at least enough.

WARDEN.  Good!  That spares me a very disagreeable speech.

STERLING.  No, it doesn’t!  Come out with it!  What is it you want?  What is it you’ve found out?

WARDEN.  From betraying a trust, you’ve come, in less than two years, to an outright embezzlement.

STERLING.  Speak out—­give us facts!

WARDEN.  You’ve stolen your aunt’s fortune.

STERLING. Prove that!

WARDEN.  It’s her money that’s lost in the Hudson Electric Company!

STERLING.  PROVE IT!

WARDEN.  Easy enough, to-morrow.

STERLING.  You’ve got to excuse your action to-night or be kicked out of my house!

WARDEN. [Strong.] Isn’t what I say the truth?

STERLING. [Equally strong.] No!  And now get out!

WARDEN. [Looks at his watch.] I’ll not leave this house till it’s too late for you to take that eleven-twenty.

STERLING. [More ugly.] Yes, you will and mighty—­

WARDEN. No, I’ll not!

[He is interrupted by the entrance of BLANCHE, RUTH, and MASON.

WARDEN. [To BLANCHE.] I hope you forgive me now—­

BLANCHE. [Pathetically.] You did right; I thank you.

STERLING. [Heartbroken.] Blanche—­without hearing a word from me!

BLANCHE.  No, I’ve come now to hear what you have to say.