FALLON:  Well, here it is. (Gives him bills.  MOHUN sticks them in his right-hand vest pocket.) No, you listen to me. (As soon as he obtains the money, MOHUN’S manner changes.  He is amused, and insolent.)

MOHUN:  No, not a bit like it.  Now that I’ve got this, you’ll have to listen to me. (Moves deliberately to Morris chair and seats himself) Mr. Fallon, I don’t like your tone.

FALLON:  (Slowly.) You—­don’t—­like my tone?  I don’t think I understand you.

MOHUN:  You talk like you had a whip over me.  You don’t seem to see that I got you dead to rights.

FALLON:  (In pretended alarm.) Have you?

MOHUN:  Have I?  I got a mortgage on you for life.  You got in wrong when you gave me that money.  Don’t you see that?  Mr. Fallon, I’ve been taking out information about you.  Some ’Frisco lads tell me you used to be pretty sweet on a certain party, but she chucked you and married the other fellow.  But the first day you come back a millionaire she visits your rooms—­and you give her a thousand dollars!  Why?  She can’t tell.  You can’t tell.  But I can tell.  I can tell her husband.  He’s only got to ask the hotel clerk and the cashier and the bell hops, and when I’ve told my story as I’ll tell it—­he’s liable to shoot you. (There is a pause during which FALLON stares at MOHUN incredulously.) Let it sink in, Mr. Fallon.

FALLON:  (Quietly.) I am—­letting it sink in.

MOHUN:  Now, a thousand dollars is all well enough from a lady that has to scrape to find it, but a thousand dollars from a millionaire like you is a joke.  And unless you want me to go to the husband, you’ll come across with fifty thousand dollars, and until I get it, I’m not going to leave this room.

FALLON:  (Solemnly.) Then, I don’t believe you are going to leave this room.

MOHUN:  (Impudently.) Oh, I’ll go when I’m ready.

FALLON:  (Going up close to centre door.) Let me understand you.  You are going to this husband with a lie that will wreck his faith in his wife, that will wreck his faith in his best friend, unless I give you a thousand dollars?

MOHUN:  No!  Fifty thousand dollars!

FALLON:  Fifty thousand.  It’s the same thing.  But, you’d keep quiet for ten dollars, wouldn’t you, if that was all I had?

MOHUN:  (Grinning at him.) If that was all you had.

FALLON:  (In a whisper, slowly, impressively.) Then, Mr. Mohun (He raises his right arm.), may—­God—­have mercy—­on your soul. (In loud, excited tones and purposely, so that MOHUN can see him, he turns his face towards the centre door.) I won’t pay that fifty thousand.  I won’t stand for blackmail, you’re robbing—­(MOHUN leaps to his feet, and points at centre door.)

MOHUN:  (Fiercely.) Here.  What are you doing?  You’re trying to trap me?  There is someone in that room. (FALLON laughs mockingly at MOHUN, but speaks for KELLY to hear.)