Edgar. [Ironically.] I’m not thinking of our feelings.  I’m thinking of the men’s.

Wilder.  As to that—­we’re men of business.

Wanklin.  That is the little trouble.

Edgar.  There’s no necessity for pushing things so far in the face of all this suffering—­it’s—­it’s cruel.

     [No one speaks, as though Edgar had uncovered something whose
     existence no man prizing his self-respect could afford to
     recognise.]

Wanklin. [With an ironical smile.] I’m afraid we must n’t base our policy on luxuries like sentiment.

Edgar.  I detest this state of things.

Anthony.  We did n’t seek the quarrel.

Edgar.  I know that sir, but surely we’ve gone far enough.

Anthony.  No. [All look at one another.]

Wanklin.  Luxuries apart, Chairman, we must look out what we’re doing.

Anthony.  Give way to the men once and there’ll be no end to it.

Wanklin.  I quite agree, but——­

     [Anthony Shakes his head]

You make it a question of bedrock principle?

     [Anthony nods.]

Luxuries again, Chairman!  The shares are below par.

Wilder.  Yes, and they’ll drop to a half when we pass the next dividend.

Scantlebury. [With alarm.] Come, come!  Not so bad as that.

Wilder. [Grimly.] You’ll see! [Craning forward to catch Anthony’s speech.] I didn’t catch——­

Tench. [Hesitating.] The Chairman says, sir, “Fais que—­que—­devra.”

Edgar. [Sharply.] My father says:  “Do what we ought—­and let things rip.”

Wilder.  Tcha!

Scantlebury. [Throwing up his hands.] The Chairman’s a Stoic—­I always said the Chairman was a Stoic.

Wilder.  Much good that’ll do us.

Wanklin. [Suavely.] Seriously, Chairman, are you going to let the ship sink under you, for the sake of—­a principle?

Anthony.  She won’t sink.

Scantlebury. [With alarm.] Not while I’m on the Board I hope.

Anthony. [With a twinkle.] Better rat, Scantlebury.

Scantlebury.  What a man!

Anthony.  I’ve always fought them; I’ve never been beaten yet.

Wanklin.  We’re with you in theory, Chairman.  But we’re not all made of cast-iron.

Anthony.  We’ve only to hold on.

Wilder. [Rising and going to the fire.] And go to the devil as fast as we can!

Anthony.  Better go to the devil than give in!

Wilder. [Fretfully.] That may suit you, sir, but it does n’t suit me, or any one else I should think.

     [Anthony looks him in the face-a silence.]