Wanda. Yes, but——[Her face quivers].
Keith. [Brusquely] Don’t cry! If I give you money, will you disappear, for his sake?
Wanda. [With a moan] It will be in the water, then. There will be no cruel men there.
Keith. Ah! First Larry, then you! Come now. It’s better for you both. A few months, and you’ll forget you ever met.
Wanda. [Looking wildly up] I will go if Larry say I must. But not to live. No! [Simply] I could not, sir.
[Keith, moved, is silent.]
I could not live without Larry. What is left for a girl like me— when she once love? It is finish.
Keith. I don’t want you to go back to that life.
Wanda. No; you do not care what I do. Why should you? I tell you I will go if Larry say I must.
Keith. That’s not enough. You know that. You must take it out of his hands. He will never give up his present for the sake of his future. If you’re as fond of him as you say, you’ll help to save him.
Wanda. [Below her breath] Yes! Oh, yes! But do not keep him long from me—I beg! [She sinks to the floor and clasps his knees.]
Keith. Well, well! Get up.
[There is a tap on the window-pane]
Listen!
[A faint, peculiar whistle. ]
Wanda. [Springing up] Larry! Oh, thank God!
[She runs to the door,
opens it, and goes out to bring him in.
Keith stands waiting,
facing the open doorway.]
[Larry entering with Wanda just behind him.]
Larry. Keith!
Keith. [Grimly] So much for your promise not to go out!
Larry. I’ve been waiting in for you all day. I couldn’t stand it any longer.
Keith. Exactly!
Larry. Well, what’s the sentence, brother? Transportation for life and then to be fined forty pounds’?
Keith. So you can joke, can you?
Larry. Must.
Keith. A boat leaves for the Argentine the day after to-morrow; you must go by it.
Larry. [Putting his arms round Wanda, who is standing motionless with her eyes fixed on him] Together, Keith?
Keith. You can’t go together. I’ll send her by the next boat.
Larry. Swear?
Keith. Yes. You’re lucky they’re on a false scent.
Larry. What?
Keith. You haven’t seen it?
Larry. I’ve seen nothing, not even a paper.
Keith. They’ve taken up a vagabond who robbed the body. He pawned a snake-shaped ring, and they identified this Walenn by it. I’ve been down and seen him charged myself.
Larry. With murder?