ROBERT. [_Again seriously._] Richard, you are too suspicious. It is a defect in you. He assured me he has the highest possible opinion of you, as everyone has. You are the man for the post, he says. In fact, he told me that, if your name goes forward, he will work might and main for you with the senate and I... will do my part, of course, in the press and privately. I regard it as a public duty. The chair of romance literature is yours by right, as a scholar, as a literary personality. RICHARD. The conditions? ROBERT. Conditions? You mean about the future? RICHARD. I mean about the past. ROBERT. [_Easily._] That episode in your past is forgotten. An act of impulse. We are all impulsive. RICHARD. [_Looks fixedly at him._] You called it an act of folly, then—nine years ago. You told me I was hanging a weight about my neck. ROBERT. I was wrong. [_Suavely._] Here is how the matter stands, Richard. Everyone knows that you ran away years ago with a young girl... How shall I put it?... with a young girl not exactly your equal. [_Kindly._] Excuse me, Richard, that is not my opinion nor my language. I am simply using the language of people whose opinions I don’t share. RICHARD. Writing one of your leading articles, in fact. ROBERT. Put it so. Well, it made a great sensation at the time. A mysterious disappearance. My name was involved too, as best man, let us say, on that famous occasion. Of course, they think I acted from a mistaken sense of friendship. Well, all that is known. [_With some hesitation._] But what happened afterwards is not known. RICHARD. No? ROBERT. Of course, it is your affair, Richard. However, you are not so young now as you were then. The expression is quite in the style of my leading articles, isn’t it? RICHARD. Do you, or do you not, want me to give the lie to my past life? ROBERT. I am thinking of your future life—here. I understand your pride and your sense of liberty. I understand their point of view also. However, there is a way out; it is simply this. Refrain from contradicting any rumours you may hear concerning what happened... or did not happen after you went away. Leave the rest to me. RICHARD. You will set these rumours afloat? ROBERT. I will. God help me. RICHARD. [_Observing him._] For the sake of social conventions? ROBERT. For the sake of something else too—our friendship, our lifelong friendship. RICHARD. Thanks. ROBERT. [_Slightly wounded._] And I will tell you the whole truth. RICHARD. [_Smiles and bows._] Yes. Do, please. ROBERT. Not only for your sake. Also for the sake of—your present partner in life. RICHARD. I see. [_He crushes his cigarette softly on the ashtray and then leans forward, rubbing his hands slowly._] RICHARD. Why for her sake? ROBERT. [_Also leans forward, quietly._] Richard, have you been quite fair to her? It was her own free choice, you will say. But was she really free to choose? She was a mere girl. She accepted all that you proposed.