LEONARD.  Your medicine, sir.

[He puts it on the table and goes out Right.

STERLING.  Thank you, thank you!

[He takes the box of tablets out of the envelope.

BLANCHE. [Going to him.] You don’t realize why I’ve told you all this!

STERLING. [Counting out the tablets.] One, two.  To give me hope!  To give me hope!

[He empties the other ten tablets into the envelope, twists it up, and throws it in the fireplace.

BLANCHE.  No, no, just the opposite!

STERLING.  Then you’ve defeated your end, dear; you will stay here with me.

BLANCHE. [Trying to make him realize the exact position.] Opposite you at the table, receiving our friends, keeping up appearances, yes—­but nearer to you than that?  No!  Never!

STERLING.  But you will stay?

[LEONARD enters from Left.

LEONARD.  Miss Godesby, Mr. Warden.

[They enter.

[All greet each other. WARDEN nods stiffly to STERLING, barely acknowledging his greeting.

MISS GODESBY. [To STERLING, purposely speaking with good-humored raillery to relieve the tension of the situation.] Well, you’re a nice lot, aren’t you?

STERLING.  I’m so ashamed!  I’m so ashamed!

MISS GODESBY.  Oh, never mind that now.

BLANCHE.  I have no words to thank you with.

MISS GODESBY.  Oh, that’s all right.  The truth is, I’ve made Warden bring me here, Sterling, for a bit of business.  I had an emotional moment yesterday and went off my head a bit.  I stand by what I said as to keeping quiet, but—­well, I’m like any other old maid who hates dust on her mantelpiece—­I’m fidgety not to make some sort of a bluff at putting this thing on a business basis.

WARDEN.  Excuse me, Miss Godesby, I think Sterling ought to know the truth.

STERLING. Now what?

MISS GODESBY.  Well, the truth is, my fool of a brother has kicked up an infernal row, and refuses to hold his tongue.

STERLING.  Then I’m ruined after all!

MISS GODESBY.  Wait, I’ve left him with Mr. Mason.  I feel certain I can assure his silence if I can only show him some sort of an agreement to pay, an acknowledgment of the—­the—­affair, signed and sealed.

BLANCHE.  Signed by whom?

MISS GODESBY.  Your husband and yourself will do.

STERLING.  But both names are worthless.

MISS GODESBY.  Not as a point of honor.

STERLING.  Ah! no, not my wife’s.

MISS GODESBY.  Nor yours to me.  Come along!

[She goes to the table with STERLING, and unfolding a paper gives it to him.  He signs it.

WARDEN. [Aside to BLANCHE, apologizing for his presence.] She made me come—­she wouldn’t come alone; otherwise I should have waited till you sent for me.