St Erth.  Well, Dancy?

Dancy. [With intense deliberation] I’ll settle this matter with any weapons, when and where he likes.

St Erth. [Drily] It can’t be settled that way—­you know very well. 
You must take it to the Courts, unless he retracts.

Dancy.  Will you retract?

De Levis.  Why did you tell General Canynge you didn’t know Kentman had paid me in cash?

Dancy.  Because I didn’t.

De Levis.  Then Kentman and Goole lied—­for no reason?

Dancy.  That’s nothing to do with me.

De Levis.  If you were downstairs all the time, as you say, why was your door first open and then shut?

Dancy.  Being downstairs, how should I know?  The wind, probably.

De Levis.  I should like to hear what your wife says about it.

Dancy.  Leave my wife alone, you damned Jew!

St Erth.  Captain Dancy!

De Levis. [White with rage] Thief!

Dancy.  Will you fight?

De Levis.  You’re very smart-dead men tell no tales.  No!  Bring your action, and we shall see.

     Dancy takes a step towards him, but Canynge and Winsor interpose.

St Erth.  That’ll do, Mr De Levis; we won’t keep you. [He looks round] Kindly consider your membership suspended till this matter has been threshed out.

De Levis. [Tremulous with anger] Don’t trouble yourselves about my membership.  I resign it. [To Dancy] You called me a damned Jew.  My race was old when you were all savages.  I am proud to be a Jew.  Au revoir, in the Courts.

     He goes out, and silence follows his departure.

St Erth.  Well, Captain Dancy?

Dancy.  If the brute won’t fight, what am I to do, sir?

St Erth.  We’ve told you—­take action, to clear your name.

Dancy.  Colford, you saw me in the hall writing letters after our game.

Colford.  Certainly I did; you were there when I went to the smoking-room.

Canynge.  How long after you left the billiard-room?

Colford.  About five minutes.

Dancy.  It’s impossible for me to prove that I was there all the time.

Canynge.  It’s for De Levis to prove what he asserts.  You heard what he said about Goole?

Dancy.  If he told me, I didn’t take it in.

St Erth.  This concerns the honour of the Club.  Are you going to take action?

Dancy. [Slowly] That is a very expensive business, Lord St Erth, and I’m hard up.  I must think it over. [He looks round from face to face] Am I to take it that there is a doubt in your minds, gentlemen?