Hillcrist. Dawker, have the goodness!  Hornblower, in the presence of what may be death, with all my heart I’m sorry.

Hornblower.  Ye hypocrite!

     [He passes them with a certain dignity, and goes out at the
     window, following to his car.]

     [Hillcrist who has stood for a moment stock-still, goes slowly
     forward and sits in his swivel chair.]

Mrs. H. Dawker, please tell Fellows to telephone to Dr. Robinson to go round to the Hornblowers at once.

     [Dawker, fingering the deed, and with a noise that sounds like
     “The cur!” goes out, Left.]

     [At the fireplace]

Jack!  Do you blame me?

Hillcrist. [Motionless] No.

Mrs. H. Or Dawker?  He’s done his best.

Hillcrist. No.

Mrs. H. [Approaching] What is it?

Hillcrist. Hypocrite!

     [Jill comes running in at the window.]

Jill.  Dodo, she’s moved; she’s spoken.  It may not be so bad.

Hillcrist. Thank God for that!

     [Fellows enters, Left.]

Fellows.  The Jackmans, ma’am.

Hillcrist. Who?  What’s this?

     [The Jackmans have entered, standing close to the door.]

Mrs. J. We’re so glad we can go back, sir—­ma’am, we just wanted to thank you.

     [There is a silence.  They see that they are not welcome.]

Thank you kindly, sir.  Good night, ma’am.

     [They shuffle out. ]

Hillcrist. I’d forgotten their existence. [He gets up] What is it that gets loose when you begin a fight, and makes you what you think you’re not?  What blinding evil!  Begin as you may, it ends in this —­skin game!  Skin game!

Jill. [Rushing to him] It’s not you, Dodo; it’s not you, beloved Dodo.

Hillcrist. It is me.  For I am, or should be, master in this house!

Mrs. H. I don’t understand.

Hillcrist. When we began this fight, we had clean hands—­are they clean’ now?  What’s gentility worth if it can’t stand fire?

CURTAIN

FROM THE SERIES OF SIX SHORT PLAYS

Contents: 

          The First and The Last
          The Little Man
          Hall-marked
          Defeat
          The Sun
          Punch and Go

THE FIRST AND THE LAST

A DRAMA IN THREE SCENES

PERSONS OF THE PLAY

Keith Darrant, K.C. 
Larry Darrant, His Brother. 
Wanda.

Scene I. Keith’s Study.