the room.]

WILDER. [Hurriedly.] What's to be said to them? Why isn't Harness
here? Ought we to see the men before he comes? I don't----

TENCH. Will you come in, please?

[Enter THOMAS, GREEN, BULGIN, and ROUS, who file up in a row
past the little table. TENCH sits down and writes. All eyes
are foxed on ANTHONY, who makes no sign.]

WANKLIN. [Stepping up to the little table, with nervous cordiality.]
Well, Thomas, how's it to be? What's the result of your meeting?

ROUS. Sim Harness has our answer. He'll tell you what it is. We're
waiting for him. He'll speak for us.

WANKLIN. Is that so, Thomas?

THOMAS. [Sullenly.] Yes. Roberts will not pe coming, his wife is
dead.

SCANTLEBURY. Yes, yes! Poor woman! Yes! Yes!

FROST. [Entering from the hall.] Mr. Harness, Sir!

[As HARNESS enters he retires.]

[HARNESS has a piece of paper in his hand, he bows to the
Directors, nods towards the men, and takes his stand behind the
little table in the very centre of the room.]

HARNESS. Good evening, gentlemen.

[TENCH, with the paper he has been writing, joins him, they
speak together in low tones.]

WILDER. We've been waiting for you, Harness. Hope we shall come to
some----

FROST. [Entering from the hall.] Roberts!

[He goes.]

[ROBERTS comes hastily in, and stands staring at ANTHONY. His
face is drawn and old.]

ROBERTS. Mr. Anthony, I am afraid I am a little late, I would have
been here in time but for something that--has happened. [To the
men.] Has anything been said?

THOMAS. No! But, man, what made ye come?

ROBERTS. Ye told us this morning, gentlemen, to go away and
reconsider our position. We have reconsidered it; we are here to
bring you the men's answer. [To ANTHONY.] Go ye back to London. We
have nothing for you. By no jot or tittle do we abate our demands,
nor will we until the whole of those demands are yielded.

[ANTHONY looks at him but does not speak. There is a movement
amongst the men as though they were bewildered.]

HARNESS. Roberts!

ROBERTS. [Glancing fiercely at him, and back to ANTHONY.] Is that
clear enough for ye? Is it short enough and to the point? Ye made a
mistake to think that we would come to heel. Ye may break the body,
but ye cannot break the spirit. Get back to London, the men have
nothing for ye?

[Pausing uneasily he takes a step towar