Theft Part 8

(_Beaten._) I--I understand.

{Starkweather}

That bill is to be killed.

{Dowsett}

Yes, sir.

{Starkweather}

Quietly, no headlines about it.

(_Dowsett nods._) Now you can go.

(_Dowsett proceeds rather limply across to join group at tea-table._) (_Chalmers and Hubbard enter from right, laughing about something. At sight of Starkweather they immediately become sober._) (_No hands are shaken. Starkweather barely acknowledges Hubbard's greeting._)

{Starkweather}

Tom, I want to see you.

(_Hubbard takes his cue, and proceeds across to tea-table._)

(_Enter Servant. Connie directs him to remove broken cup and saucer. While this is being done, Starkweather remains silent.

He consults note-book, and Chalmers stands, not quite at ease, waiting the other's will. At the same time, patter at tea-table.

Hubbard, greeting others and accepting or declining cup of tea._)

(_Servant makes exit_).

{Starkweather}

(_Closing finger on book and looking sharply at Chalmers._) Tom, this affair of yours in New York must come to an end. Understand?

{Chalmers}

(_Starting._) Hubbard has been talking.

{Starkweather}

No, it is not Hubbard. I have the reports from other sources.

{Chalmers}

It is a harmless affair.

{Starkweather}

I happen to know better. I have the whole record. If you wish, I can give you every detail, every meeting. I know. There is no discussion whatever. I want no more of it.

{Chalmers}

I never dreamed for a moment that I was--er--indiscreet.

{Starkweather}

Never forget that every indiscretion of a man in your position is indiscreet. We have a duty, a great and solemn duty to perform.

Upon our shoulders rest the destinies of ninety million people.

If we fail in our duty, they go down to destruction. Ignorant demagogues are working on the beast-pa.s.sions of the people.

If they have their way, they are lost, the country is lost, civilization is lost. We want no more Dark Ages.

{Chalmers}

Really, I never thought it was as serious as all that.

{Starkweather}

(_Shrugging shoulders and lifting eyebrows._) After all, why should you? You are only a cog in the machine. I, and the several men grouped with me, am the machine. You are a useful cog--too useful to lose--

{Chalmers}

Lose?--Me?

{Starkweather}

I have but to raise my hand, any time--do you understand?--any time, and you are lost. You control your state. Very well. But never forget that to-morrow, if I wished, I could buy your whole machine out from under you. I know you cannot change yourself, but, for the sake of the big issues at stake, you must be careful, exceedingly careful. We are compelled to work with weak tools. You are a good liver, a flesh-pot man. You drink too much. Your heart is weak.--Oh, I have the report of your doctor.

Nevertheless, don't make a fool of yourself, nor of us. Besides, do not forget that your wife is my daughter. She is a strong woman, a credit to both of us. Be careful that you are not a discredit to her.

{Chalmers}

All right, I'll be careful. But while we are--er--on this subject, there's something I'd like to speak to you about.

(_A pause, in which Starkweather waits non-committally._) It's this man Knox, and Madge. He comes to the house. They are as thick as thieves.

{Starkweather}

Yes?

{Chalmers}

(_Hastily._) Oh, not a breath of suspicion or anything of that sort, I a.s.sure you. But it doesn't strike me as exactly appropriate that your daughter and my wife should be friendly with this fire-eating anarchist who is always attacking us and all that we represent.

{Starkweather}

I started to speak with her on that subject, but was interrupted.

(_Puckers brow and thinks._) You are her husband. Why don't you take her in hand yourself?

(_Enters Mrs. Starkweather from rear, looking about, bowing, then locating Starkweather and proceeding toward him._)