to the cloak-room at Charing Cross station, and bring back her
luggage in a cab. Have you money?

MRS. MILER. 'Arf a crown. [She takes the ticket--then impassively]
In case you don't know--there's two o' them men about the stairs now.

The moment she is gone MALISE makes a gesture of maniacal fury.
He steals on tiptoe to the outer door, and listens. Then,
placing his hand on the knob, he turns it without noise, and
wrenches back the door. Transfigured in the last sunlight
streaming down the corridor are two men, close together,
listening and consulting secretly. They start back.

MALISE. [With strange, almost noiseless ferocity] You've run her to
earth; your job's done. Kennel up, hounds! [And in their faces he
slams the door]

CURTAIN.

SCENE II

SCENE II--The same, early on a winter afternoon, three months later.
The room has now a certain daintiness. There are curtains over the
doors, a couch, under the window, all the books are arranged on
shelves. In small vases, over the fireplace, are a few violets and
chrysanthemums. MALISE sits huddled in his armchair drawn close to
the fore, paper on knee, pen in hand. He looks rather grey and
drawn, and round his chair is the usual litter. At the table, now
nearer to the window, CLARE sits working a typewriter. She finishes
a line, puts sheets of paper together, makes a note on a card--adds
some figures, and marks the total.

CLARE. Kenneth, when this is paid, I shall have made two pound
seventeen in the three months, and saved you about three pounds. One
hundred and seventeen shillings at tenpence a thousand is one hundred
and forty thousand words at fourteen hundred words an hour. It's
only just over an hour a day. Can't you get me more?

MALISE lifts the hand that holds his pen and lets it fall again.
CLARE puts the cover on the typewriter, and straps it.

CLARE. I'm quite packed. Shall I pack for you? [He nods] Can't we
have more than three days at the sea? [He shakes his head. Going up
to him] You did sleep last night.

MALISE. Yes, I slept.

CLARE. Bad head? [MALISE nods] By this time the day after to-morrow
the case will be heard and done with. You're not worrying for me?
Except for my poor old Dad, I don't care a bit.

MALISE heaves himself out of the chair, and begins pacing up and
down.

CLARE. Kenneth, do you understand why he