Against what? SABINE Against Mr. Randolph. RANDOLPH Me? SABINE Exactly. RANDOLPH What the devil are you driving at? SABINE Perhaps if I take it kindly now, you will not blame _me_--in the future. MRS. SABINE Oh, I know we’ll get tired of each other if that’s what you’re suggesting. SABINE (_Detecting an agreeing look in_ RANDOLPH’S _face_) That _may_ be what I mean. (_Eyeing_ RANDOLPH _keenly as he sees her bite her lips_.) If that’s all, I’ll return to the library. RANDOLPH Have you no suggestions? SABINE (_Coldly_) Be careful not to make a fool of me--in public. MRS. SABINE There speaks the man. RANDOLPH Then you’ll be silent? SABINE Until---- RANDOLPH Until? SABINE Until you get your deserts. RANDOLPH A threat? SABINE (_Smiling_) No. Only I know my wife. MRS. SABINE And that’s the sort of man I married. (_To_ SABINE) Do you blame me for throwing you over? SABINE Have I? MRS. SABINE (_Indignantly_) How dared you open me to this? RANDOLPH Don’t blame him, Mary. MRS. SABINE (_Indignantly_) You knew, and you let him steal your wife. SABINE Some men like their women that way. MRS. SABINE Isn’t it funny! It’s losing its romance--being handed over like some food at supper. Isn’t it funny--and disappointing. RANDOLPH I can’t say I admire you, Sabine. SABINE No, you can’t. But you will when you know my wife better. MRS. SABINE (_Losing control_) I’m more ashamed of you than I am of myself. Why didn’t you stop me if you knew? What’s the reason? Why didn’t you strike me? Why didn’t you, so I could feel you and I were quits? Why didn’t you--like that and that. (_She strikes him furiously with her gloves once or twice, but he continues smiling._) RANDOLPH Mary, don’t let’s have a scene. Sh! MRS. SABINE I wanted a scene! And to think I wasn’t even worth insulting! (_She goes out quickly, leaving the hall door open. She has dropped her glove and as_ RANDOLPH, _with a resigned, half-bored air, starts to follow her_, SABINE _stoops, picks up the glove and, smiling, halts_ RANDOLPH.) SABINE My wife dropped her glove. Will you take it to her? I have my work, and, as you remarked, another month will about finish it. RANDOLPH (_Smiling in spite of himself_) Life would be so much simpler if all husbands were so considerate. SABINE The spice would be gone. RANDOLPH I suppose she is waiting---- SABINE --For the glove. (_Offering it to him._) RANDOLPH (_Taking it_) Yes: for her glove. SABINE I’m glad you will drive in the closed car. RANDOLPH (_At the door_) Our reputations must be protected. SABINE No man likes to be made a fool of. RANDOLPH (_Slowly_) After all, she’s only a woman and they’re all alike, eh? SABINE (_Slowly_) _All_ alike. Yes. RANDOLPH (_Casually_) You’ll find the cigarettes on the table. SABINE Thanks.