inder?

STEVEN. Not a bit.

COAST. Some women do.

STEVEN. Not Georgiana! Good-by.

COAST. [_To_ STEVE.] So long.

[STEVEN _turns to go, but stops as_ MOLES _shows_ COLEMAN _into the
room. The latter is dressed in his uniform of first lieutenant._

DICK. Hello, Steven! Hello, Coast!

COAST. We gates!

STEVEN. How are you, Dick? Excuse me, I'm in a hurry. You're off to-day?

DICK. Yes, I've come to shake hands.

STEVEN. Good-by, old man, and good luck--sorry to have to go! Good-by!

[_Shakes hands warmly, with feeling._

DICK. Good-by.

[STEVEN _goes out Left._

COAST. [_Sitting Right._] Oh, I guess she ain't so different.

DICK. Who?

COAST. Georgiana, she's _just a woman_!

DICK. No, take my word for it, she's not _a_ woman, she's _the_ woman.

[_Sits on the piano bench._

COAST. 'Spose she likes money and nice things always about her?

DICK. She's always had them,--and always would if I could help give them
to her.

COAST. Huh, huh! Well--say, Steve's got himself in a devil of a hole!
Speculated with his wife's money--and they're broke.

DICK. Good God, what do you mean?

[_Rises._

COAST. What I say. Steve is one of those good-hearted gulls who's a
blame slob on the money market, and he's gone under to the extent of
Aunt Laura's and Louise's _spondulix_, that's all.

[_He is rather amused._ DICK _goes back of table, puts his hat on it._

DICK. What are they going to do?

COAST. Georgiana wants to pony up like a brick and keep the whole lot!

DICK. Just like her!

COAST. Oh, of course, I'll see Georgiana don't really lose by it in no
way in the end.

DICK. You _will_?

COAST. Why of course!

DICK. She isn't going to let Steve speculate with her money, is she?

COAST. Can't say.

[_A pause._

DICK. Look here, I'd like to help Steve myself, if I thought I could
protect Georgiana. I'll let Steve have some money. You needn't say
anything to anybody. How much will see him through?

COAST. That's real good of you, but I couldn't let outsiders help 'em.

DICK. I'm not exactly an outsider; and the truth is, Coast, I'd give
anything to have the right to help Georgiana. [_A silence._] Look here.
I'm going to ask you a question, straight out!

COAST. Fire ahead!

[_Looks at_ DICK _with a perfectly blank face._

DICK. Anything between you and Georgiana?

COAST. [_After a short pause._] There is--

DICK. Mrs. Carley hinted as much.

COAST. [_Unflinchingly._] I'm--er--I'm g