the letter
and puts it into the fire. Then, with rather icy politeness:)_

I am much obliged to you; and I wish you a good evening.

(_A little crestfallen, but with quiet self possession, the man accepts
the termination of the interview_.)

MAN. Good evening, sir. (_He moves to the door_.)

PARNELL. Stop!

(_The man turns as the other goes towards him, and they meet face to
face_.)

You haven't given yourself a very good character, coming here, my man; but
you might have done worse. Anyway, you've washed your hands of it now.
Don't do things like that again.

MAN. No, sir.

(_And as he stands hesitating, Parnell opens the door_.)

Thank you, sir.

(_The man goes. Parnell closes the door after him, comes meditatively
across, and sits down. There is a long pause_)

KATHARINE. What are you--thinking?

PARNELL. A year ago! ... If he had come to me with that a year ago--what
should I have done?

KATHARINE. You would have done just the same.

PARNELL. Torn it up? And put it in the fire?--I'm not so sure.

KATHARINE. But I am. Hadn't he the same right as I had, to live his own
life?

PARNELL. My dear, I said "a year ago." That means before the case came
on. That would have stopped it--for good.... If I had had it--I might have
been tempted.

(_Watching him, she sees him smile_.)

KATHARINE (_rather tremulously_). Are you glad--that you didn't have
it?

PARNELL. And use it? Yes: I am--glad!

KATHARINE (_throwing herself into his arms_). Oh, my dear! Why, that
means everything. You're glad! You're glad!

PARNELL (_clasping her_). Oh, my own love, my own dear sweet!

KATHARINE. You regret--nothing?

PARNELL. Nothing. Haven't I made you sure of that--yet?

KATHARINE. Oh, my King!--my King!

(_And just then the paper in the grate kindling into flame, he points to
it_.)

PARNELL. Look! there goes--our proof.

KATHARINE. It doesn't matter.

PARNELL. It never did.

KATHARINE. That's what I mean.

PARNELL. But, politically, it might have made a world of difference.

KATHARINE. Yes--to the world; not to us. We wanted to be as we are, didn't
we?

PARNELL. As we are, and as we were--how long is it?--eleven years ago.
There's been no change since. When I go back to my star, I shall have
found what I came for. That's what matters most. Souls either find or lose
themselves--live or die. I lived: I shouldn't have done, on this earth,
but for you--but for you.

(_There is a pause. He sits medita