Harness. [Holding out the Director’s copy of the teems.] The Board has signed!

     [Roberts looks dully at the signatures—­dashes the paper from
     him, and covers up his eyes.]

Scantlebury. [Behind his hand to Tench.] Look after the Chairman!  He’s not well; he’s not well—­he had no lunch.  If there’s any fund started for the women and children, put me down for—­for twenty pounds.

[He goes out into the hall, in cumbrous haste; and Wanklin, who has been staring at Roberts and Anthony With twitchings of his face, follows.  Edgar remains seated on the sofa, looking at the ground; Tench, returning to the bureau, writes in his minute—­ book.  Harness stands by the little table, gravely watching Roberts.]

Roberts.  Then you’re no longer Chairman of this Company! [Breaking into half-mad laughter.] Ah! ha-ah, ha, ha!  They’ve thrown ye over thrown over their Chairman:  Ah-ha-ha! [With a sudden dreadful calm.] So—­they’ve done us both down, Mr. Anthony?

     [Enid, hurrying through the double-doors, comes quickly to her
     father.]

Anthony.  Both broken men, my friend Roberts!

Harness. [Coming down and laying his hands on Roberts’s sleeve.]
For shame, Roberts!  Go home quietly, man; go home!

Roberts. [Tearing his arm away.] Home? [Shrinking together—­in a whisper.] Home!

Enid. [Quietly to her father.] Come away, dear!  Come to your room

[Anthony rises with an effort.  He turns to Roberts who looks at him.  They stand several seconds, gazing at each other fixedly; Anthony lifts his hand, as though to salute, but lets it fall.  The expression of Roberts’s face changes from hostility to wonder.  They bend their heads in token of respect.  Anthony turns, and slowly walks towards the curtained door.  Suddenly he sways as though about to fall, recovers himself, and is assisted out by Edgar and Enid; Underwood follows, but stops at the door.  Roberts remains motionless for several seconds, staring intently after Anthony, then goes out into the hall.]

Tench. [Approaching Harness.] It’s a great weight off my mind, Mr.
Harness!  But what a painful scene, sir! [He wipes his brow.]

     [Harness, pale and resolute, regards with a grim half-smile the
     quavering.]

Tench.  It’s all been so violent!  What did he mean by:  “Done us both down?” If he has lost his wife, poor fellow, he oughtn’t to have spoken to the Chairman like that!

Harness.  A woman dead; and the two best men both broken!

Tench. [Staring at him-suddenly excited.] D’you know, sir—­these terms, they’re the very same we drew up together, you and I, and put to both sides before the fight began?  All this—­all this—­and—­and what for?