MALISE. [Dangerously, but without moving] I beg your pardon!
CLARE. There--is--nothing.
GEORGE. [Looking from one to the other] At all events, I won't--I
won't see a woman who once--[CLARE makes a sudden effacing movement
with her hands] I won't see her go to certain ruin without lifting a
finger.
CLARE. That is noble.
GEORGE. [With intensity] I don't know that you deserve anything of
me. But on my honour, as a gentleman, I came here this morning for
your sake, to warn you of what you're doing. [He turns suddenly on
MALISE] And I tell this precious friend of yours plainly what I
think of him, and that I'm not going to play into his hands.
[MALISE, without stirring from the wall, looks at CLARE, and his
lips move.]
CLARE. [Shakes her head at him--then to GEORGE] Will you go,
please?
GEORGE. I will go when you do.
MALISE. A man of the world should know better than that.
GEORGE. Are you coming?
MALISE. That is inconceivable.
GEORGE. I'm not speaking to you, sir.
MALISE. You are right. Your words and mine will never kiss each
other.
GEORGE. Will you come? [CLARE shakes her head]
GEORGE. [With fury] D'you mean to stay in this pigsty with that
rhapsodical swine?
MALISE. [Transformed] By God, if you don't go, I'll kill you.
GEORGE. [As suddenly calm] That remains to be seen.
MALISE. [With most deadly quietness] Yes, I will kill you.
He goes stealthily along the wall, takes up from where it lies
on the pile of books the great black knobby stick, and
stealthily approaches GEORGE, his face quite fiendish.
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