Chloe.  No.  Don’t go! [With a faint smile] You are playing a game with me.  Aren’t you ashamed?  What harm have I done you?  Do you call this cricket?

Dawker.  No, my girl—­business.

Chloe. [Bitterly] What have I to do with this quarrel?  I couldn’t help their falling out.

Dawker.  That’s your misfortune.

Chloe. [Clasping her hands] You’re a cruel fellow if you can spoil a woman’s life who never did you an ounce of harm.

Dawker.  So they don’t know about you.  That’s all right.  Now, look here, I serve my employer.  But I’m flesh and blood, too, and I always give as good as I get.  I hate this family of yours.  There’s no name too bad for ’em to call me this last month, and no looks too black to give me.  I tell you frankly, I hate.

Chloe.  There’s good in them same as in you.

Dawker. [With a grin] There’s no good Hornblower but a dead
Hornblower.

Chloe.  But—­but Im not one.

Dawker.  You’ll be the mother of some, I shouldn’t wonder.

Chloe. [Stretching out her hand-pathetically] Oh! leave me alone, do!  I’m happy here.  Be a sport!  Be a sport!

Dawker. [Disconcerted for a second] You can’t get at me, so don’t try it on.

Chloe.  I had such a bad time in old days.

     [Dawker shakes his head; his grin has disappeared and his face
     is like wood.]

Chloe. [Panting] Ah! do!  You might!  You’ve been fond of some woman, I suppose.  Think of her!

Dawker. [Decisively] It won’t do, Mrs. Chloe.  You’re a pawn in the game, and I’m going to use you.

Chloe. [Despairingly] What is it to you? [With a sudden touch of the tigress] Look here!  Don’t you make an enemy, of me.  I haven’t dragged through hell for nothing.  Women like me can bite, I tell you.

Dawker.  That’s better.  I’d rather have a woman threaten than whine, any day.  Threaten away!  You’ll let ’em know that you met me in the Promenade one night.  Of course you’ll let ’em know that, won’t you?—­or that——­

Chloe.  Be quiet!  Oh!  Be quiet! [Taking from her bosom the notes and the pearls] Look!  There’s my savings—­there’s all I’ve got!  The pearls’ll fetch nearly a thousand. [Holding it out to him] Take it, and drop me out—­won’t you?  Won’t you?

Dawker. [Passing his tongue over his lips with a hard little laugh] You mistake your man, missis.  I’m a plain dog, if you like, but I’m faithful, and I hold fast.  Don’t try those games on me.

Chloe. [Losing control] You’re a beast!—­a beast! a cruel, cowardly beast!  And how dare you bribe that woman here to spy on me?  Oh! yes, you do; you know you do.  If you drove me mad, you wouldn’t care.  You beast!