MRS.H.Nothing.
HORNBLOWER.Indeed! Wonderful!--the trouble ye've taken for--nothing.
MRS.H.If you harm us we shall harm you.Any use whatever of the Centry.
HORNBLOWER.For which ye made me pay nine thousand five hundred pounds.
MRS.H.We will buy it from you.
HORNBLOWER.At what price?
MRS.H.The Centry at the price Miss Muffins would have taken at first, and Longmeadow at the price you--gave us--four thousand five hundred altogether.
HORNBLOWER.A fine price, and me six thousand out of pocket.Na, no! I'll keep it and hold it over ye.Ye daren't tell this secret so long as I've got it.
MRS.H.No, Mr.Hornblower.On second thoughts, you must sell.
You broke your word over the Jackmans.We can't trust you.We would rather have our place here ruined at once, than leave you the power to ruin it as and when you like.You will sell us the Centry and Longmeadow now, or you know what will happen.
HORNBLOWER.[Writhing] I'll not.It's blackmail.
MRS.H.Very well then! Go your own way and we'll go ours.There is no witness to this conversation.
HORNBLOWER.[Venomously] By heaven, ye're a clever woman.Will ye swear by Almighty God that you and your family, and that agent of yours, won't breathe a word of this shockin' thing to mortal soul.
MRS.H.Yes, if you sell.
HORNBLOWER.Where's Dawker?
MRS.H.[Going to the door, Right] Mr.Dawker [DAWKER comes in.]
HORNBLOWER.I suppose ye've got your iniquity ready.
[DAWKER grins and produces the document.]
It's mighty near conspiracy, this.Have ye got a Testament?
MRS.H.My word will be enough, Mr.Hornblower.
HORNBLOWER.Ye'll pardon me--I can't make it solemn enough for you.
MRS.H.Very well; here is a Bible.
[She takes a small Bible from the bookshelf.]
DAWKER.[Spreading document on bureau] This is a short conveyance of the Centry and Longmeadow--recites sale to you by Miss Mulling, of the first, John Hillcrist of the second, and whereas you have agreed for the sale to said John Hillcrist, for the sum of four thousand five hundred pounds, in consideration of the said sum, receipt whereof, you hereby acknowledge you do convey all that, etc.
Sign here.I'll witness.
HORNBLOWER [To MRS.HILLCRIST] Take that Book in your hand, and swear first.I swear by Almighty God never to breathe a word of what I know.concerning Chloe Hornblower to any living soul.
MRS.H.No, Mr.Hornblower; you will please sign first.We are not in the habit of breaking our word.
[HORNBLOWER after a furious look at them, seizes a pen, runs his eye again over the deed, and signs, DAWKER witnessing.]
To that oath, Mr.Hornblower, we shall add the words, "So long as the Hornblower family do us no harm.
HORNBLOWER.[With a snarl] Take it in your hands, both of ye, and together swear.
MRS.H.[Taking the Book] I swear that I will breathe no word of what I know concerning Chloe Hornblower to any living soul, so long as the Hornblower family do us no harm.
DAWKER.I swear that too.
MRS.H.I engage for my husband.
HORNBLOWER.Where are those two fellows?
DAWKER.Gone.It's no business of theirs.
HORNBLOWER.It's no business of any of ye what has happened to a woman in the past.Ye know that.Good-day!
[He gives them a deadly look, and goes out, left, followed by DAWKER.]
MRS.H.[With her hand on the Deed] Safe!
[HILLCRIST enters at the French window, followed by JILL.]
[Holding up the Deed] Look! He's just gone! I told you it was only necessary to use the threat.He caved in and signed this; we are sworn to say nothing.We've beaten him.
[HILLCRIST studies the Deed.]
JILL.[Awed] We saw Chloe in the car.How did she take it, mother?
MRS.H.Denied, then broke down when she saw our witnesses.I'm glad you were not here, Jack.
JILL.[Suddenly] I shall go and see her.
MRS.H.Jill, you will not; you don't know what she's done.
JILL.I shall.She must be in an awful state.
HILLCRIST.My dear, you can do her no good.
JILL.I think I can, Dodo.
MRS.H.You don't understand human nature.We're enemies for life with those people.You're a little donkey if you think anything else.
JILL.I'm going, all the same.
MRS.H.Jack, forbid her.
HILLCRIST.[Lifting an eyebrow] Jill, be reasonable.
JILL.Suppose I'd taken a knock like that, Dodo, I'd be glad of friendliness from someone.
MRS.H.You never could take a knock like that.
JILL.You don't know what you can do till you try, mother.
HILLCRIST.Let her go, Amy.Im sorry for that young woman.
MRS.H.You'd be sorry for a man who picked your pocket, I believe.
HILLCRIST.I certainly should! Deuced little he'd get out of it, when I've paid for the Centry.
MRS.H.[Bitterly] Much gratitude I get for saving you both our home!
JILL.[Disarmed] Oh! Mother, we are grateful.Dodo, show your gratitude.
HILLCRIST.Well, my dear, it's an intense relief.I'm not good at showing my feelings, as you know.What d'you want me to do? Stand on one leg and crow?
JILL.Yes, Dodo, yes! Mother, hold him while I [Suddenly she stops, and all the fun goes out of her] No! I can't--I can't help thinking of her.
CURTAIN falls for a minute.
SCENE II
When it rises again, the room is empty and dark, same for moonlight coming in through the French window, which is open.
The figure of CHLOE, in a black cloak, appears outside in the moonlight; she peers in, moves past, comes bank, hesitatingly enters.The cloak, fallen back, reveals a white evening dress;and that magpie figure stands poised watchfully in the dim light, then flaps unhappily Left and Right, as if she could not keep still.Suddenly she stands listening.
ROLF'S VOICE.[Outside] Chloe! Chloe!
[He appears]
CHLOE.[Going to the window] What are you doing here?
ROLF.What are you? I only followed you.
CHLOE.Go away.
ROLF.What's the matter? Tell me!
CHLOE.Go away, and don't say anything.Oh! The roses! [She has put her nose into some roses in a bowl on a big stand close to the window] Don't they smell lovely?
ROLF.What did Jill want this afternoon?
CHLOE.I'll tell you nothing.Go away!
ROLF.I don't like leaving you here in this state.
CHLOE.What state? I'm all right.Wait for me down in the drive, if you want to.
