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.]

Edgar.  I don’t see how we can get over it that to go on like this means starvation to the men’s wives and families.

     [Wilder turns abruptly to the fire, and Scantlebury puts out a
     hand to push the idea away.]

Wanklin.  I’m afraid again that sounds a little sentimental.

Edgar.  Men of business are excused from decency, you think?

Wilder.  Nobody’s more sorry for the men than I am, but if they [lashing himself] choose to be such a pig-headed lot, it’s nothing to do with us; we’ve quite enough on our hands to think of ourselves and the shareholders.

Edgar. [Irritably.] It won’t kill the shareholders to miss a dividend or two; I don’t see that that’s reason enough for knuckling under.