COAST. Why not let the old lady in, too, Aunt Laura, if it's such a good
thing?
[_He gives a side look at_ STEVEN.
STEVEN. Didn't they tell you?
COAST. What?
STEVEN. I put mother into East Mexicos!
COAST. Gee!
[_Whistles, crosses to the sofa Right, and sits on_ GEORGIANA'S _furs;
jumps up quickly, moves the furs, and then sits again._
STEVEN. That was an extraordinary thing. No one knows how it happened,
but she lost every cent.
COAST. But--
STEVEN. Dear old Georgiana pays the interest for me, and the old lady
doesn't know.
COAST. Georgiana's a damn fine girl.
STEVEN. She is! I'll pay her back out of this coup, too, another good
thing.
COAST. Fine!
STEVEN. I believe I'll go back down town now.
[_Both rise and go Left as_ MOLES _comes in._
COAST. All right. Come on, we'll go together.
STEVEN. Good!
MOLES. Please, sir, may I speak to you a minute, Mr. Carley?
COAST. I'll wait downstairs, Steve.
[_He goes out Left._
STEVEN. Yes, Moles?
MOLES. The champagne is out, sir.
STEVEN. Order another case.
MOLES. I did, three days ago, over the telephone, and I called them up
yesterday to ask about it, and they said your bill was so long
outstanding they'd please like it settled before filling any future
orders.
STEVEN. Tell Mrs. Carley; the household bills are her affair, aren't
they?
MOLES. She says there is some mistake. She gave you a check for the wine
bill last month, sir.
STEVEN. Did she? Oh, of course she did. It was the day I heard about
Alabama Rails and I bought a couple on margin! They're down just now.
The wine people must wait.
[_Dismissing him._
MOLES. But we've a big luncheon, sir, to-morrow and no wine.
STEVEN. Very well, then, I'll get Miss Georgiana to give you a check. I
don't want to bother Mrs. Carley, she's got a headache.
MOLES. The wages are due, sir, and the trades books weren't settled last
month.
STEVEN. Well, I'll attend to it all to-morrow or next day, Moles. Give
me my coat, will you? [MOLES _gets the coat from the sofa and hands it
to_ STEVEN.] I've been short of ready money for a little while, but
things are looking up. By the way, you're a good sort; I'd like to do
you a good turn. I happen to be on to something, Moles, on to something
down in Wall Street. Would you like to make a little money?
MOLES. [_Brightening visibly._] Indeed and I would, sir. I've got two
thousand three hundred and sixteen dollars in my savings bank, and I've
heard of how these Wall Street magnums made fortunes out of less'n that.
STEVEN. I'll double it for you! You get it for me, Moles, and I'll make
it into five or six thousand for you, sure!
MOLES. Thank you, sir!
STEVEN. [_Writes in note book._] I'll put in an order to buy for you the
first thing in the morning; and you have your money down at my office
by ten o'clock, can you?
MOLES. Yes, sir, I can get off in the morning. I can't thank you enough,
sir!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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