MISS GODESBY.  I ought to have suspected something when Sterling told me he was getting ten per cent for my money,—­the blackguard!

GODESBY.  I always told you you were a fool not to take care of your money yourself!  You know more about business than most men.

MISS GODESBY.  I didn’t want to be bothered; besides, there was always something very attractive about Sterling.  I don’t mind telling you that if he had fallen in love with me instead of the stiff-necked woman he married, I’d have tumbled over myself to get him.

GODESBY.  How do you feel about him now?

MISS GODESBY.  Now!  Thank God, I’m saved such a waking up!  It’s going to make a big difference with my income, Howard!  I wonder if his wife knew he was crooked!  I’ll bet you she’s got a pot of money stowed away all right in her own name.

JESSICA. [Who can bear no more, interrupts.]

Please—­please!  Remember that you’re speaking of my sister and that every word you are saying cuts through me like a knife.

MISS GODESBY.  I beg your pardon; I ought to have thought.  I like and respect you, Jess, and I’ve been very rude.

JESSICA.  You’ve been more than that; you’ve been cruelly unjust to Blanche in all that you’ve said!

MISS GODESBY.  Perhaps I have, but I don’t feel in a very generous mood; I’ve some excuse—­so please forgive me.

[WARDEN reenters Left.

WARDEN. [To JESSICA.] Mason is waiting for you with the sleigh.  He’s going first to my house.  Dick may have gone back there to hear the result of my interview with Ryder,—­then Mason’ll try his own house and Sterling’s club.

GODESBY.  The police are the best men to find Sterling, whatever’s happened.

WARDEN. [To GODESBY.] You wait a minute with me; I haven’t finished with you yet. [To JESSICA.] I’ll stay here for your sister, in case she comes.

[JESSICA goes out Left.

GODESBY. [To MISS GODESBY.] Don’t you give in!

MISS GODESBY.  Not for a minute! [To WARDEN.] Don’t you think, under the circumstances, the wedding breakfast had better be called off, and my brother and I go back to town?

WARDEN.  Not till you’ve given me your promise, both of you, that you will keep silent about the embezzlement of your bonds for the sake of Mrs. Sterling and her son.

MISS GODESBY. [Half laughs.] Huh!

WARDEN.  For the sake of her mother, who is your friend.

[Sleigh-bells start up loud and die off quickly; JESSICA has gone.

MISS GODESBY.  Oh, come, you know what sort of friends we are,—­for the amusement we can get out of each other.  This is the case,—­I trusted this man with my affairs.  He was very attractive—­I don’t deny that; business with Dick Sterling became more or less of a pleasure—­but that doesn’t cut any ice with me; he’s stolen my money.  To put it plainly, he’s a common thief, and he ought to be punished; why should he go scot free and a lot of others not?  You know perfectly well his note wouldn’t be worth the paper it was written on; and, anyway, if he hasn’t gone and sneaked out of the world, I won’t lift my little finger to keep him from the punishment he deserves!