WARDEN. [Adds.] Yet!

STERLING. Ever!

WARDEN. [Losing his control.] That’s a lie!

STERLING.  I couldn’t believe it, either, when she told me.  It was her first word to me to-day.  I said, “You are going to divorce me,” and she answered, “No.”

WARDEN.  She’s sacrificing herself for some reason—­her boy!

STERLING.  Never mind, she won’t leave me; I have her promise, and I’ll win back her love!

WARDEN.  You fool!  You can’t win her back!  She would never have loved me if you hadn’t disillusioned, dishonored her!  I’m not worthy of her, but I’ll never dishonor her, and, please God, never disappoint her, and so I’ll keep her love.

STERLING.  Well, as to that, she decides to stay, leaving love out of the question.

WARDEN.  And you’ll accept that sacrifice!  You don’t even love her.  You’re only thinking of yourself now.  Love, real love, forgets itself.  You, after having spoilt half her life, are willing to spoil the rest, for your own sake!

STERLING.  No, for the boy’s sake, and her sake—­to save a scandal—­the world—­

[Interrupted.

WARDEN. [Beside himself.] Oh, damn the world!  It’s heaven and hell you’d better think of. Scandal! It couldn’t harm her, and the hurt it would do you is a small price to pay.  Those whom God has joined—­yes! but it was the devil bound her to you!

STERLING.  Here!  I’ve had enough!  Look out!

WARDEN. [Moves toward him.] You look out—­you shan’t rob her of her happiness.  You—­a drunkard!  A forger!  A thief!

STERLING. I’d keep her now if only to spite you!

WARDEN.  Hah!  There spoke the true man in you!  Would to heaven the old days of duelling were back!

STERLING.  A brave wish, as you know they’re not!

WARDEN.  They fight in other countries still for their love and honor, and I’m ready here, now, if you are, with any weapons you choose!

[STERLING sneers.]

Sneer!  But will you fight?  We’ll find a place, and something to fight with, or fists if you’d rather!  You wouldn’t kill me before I’d got you out of her way for good.  Will you fight?

[Coming closer to him.

STERLING.  No!

WARDEN. [Getting more and more enraged.] If you lose, you go away, and set her free of your own will!

STERLING. No!

WARDEN. [Losing entirely his self-control.] What do you want to make you fight—­will that?

[He gives him a stinging blow in the face.

STERLING.  Yes!

[He springs toward WARDEN as RUTH and MASON enter Left.  The two men stand rigid, WARDEN breathing heavily.

RUTH.  Blanche, may I bring in—­where’s Blanche?