AUDR. Listen to this. Whatever happens, I shall never belong to anybody but you. You understand? (_MICHAEL bows his head._) I shall never belong to anybody but you, Mike. (_She goes out again. He closes door, goes up to window. She passes. He watches her off, stays there some moments._) _Re-enter ANDREW. MICHAEL comes from window; the two men stand looking at each other._ ANDR. You won't begin work this morning, I suppose? MICH. (_firmly_). Yes. (_Goes to table, motions ANDREW to one chair, seats himself opposite. They take up the manuscripts._) Where is the place? ANDR. Fifty-first psalm, verse three. (_MICHAEL winces, turns over the manuscript._) Have you found it? What are you looking at? MICH. (_gets up suddenly_). I can't bear it. ANDR. Can't bear what? (_MICHAEL stands looking at him with terror._) ANDR. (_rises, comes to him_). Don't I tell you that all is safe. I shan't blab. Nobody shall ever know. MICH. But _you_ know! ANDR. I shall never remind you of it. MICH. But you do, you do! Your presence reminds me. ANDR. Shall I leave you now and come again by-and-by? MICH. (_with an effort_). No, stay. (_Points to seat. ANDREW seats himself._) You've sent for Rose to come home? ANDR. No. MICH. No? ANDR. I don't want to have her in this place where everybody knows about her. MICH. Won't you send for her, Andrew--to please me? ANDR. She's well enough where she is. (_Pointing to the manuscripts._) Shall we go on? MICH. What ought I to do, Andrew? ANDR. Don't you know what you ought to do? MICH. What? ANDR. Mete out to yourself the same measure you meted to others. MICH. Confess--in public. I can't! I can't! I daren't! I'm a coward, a weak miserable coward! Don't judge me harshly, Andrew! Don't be hard on me! (_Covering his face with his hands._) ANDR. (_cold, firm_). Come, sir! shall we get on with our work? (_Reading manuscript._) "For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me." (_MICHAEL uncovers his face and sits staring at ANDREW, who sits cold and grim on the other side of the table._) _Very slow curtain._ (_A year passes between Acts III. and IV._) ACT IV