It’s just like a woman, the cowards. That’s what I most despise in women. Afraid they won’t be looked upon as the pure noble sensitive souls they spend their lives trying to make us believe they are. Sickening! PRISONER There are things you don’t understand. LAWYER Oh, yes, I do. I suppose she’s got a husband. I suppose he’d divorce her. Then she wouldn’t be asked out to tea quite so often. Good Lord--die for something real! PRISONER You and I have different ideals, Mr. Foster. There are things we don’t discuss. LAWYER There are things we have to discuss. If you insist upon this romantic course, then at least we will have to get something out of _that_. PRISONER What do you mean? LAWYER Simply that public feeling has got to swing toward you or the jury will say you murdered Erwalt. If we can’t have an alibi, let us by all means have a hero! PRISONER [_Outraged._] Have you given out a story to the newspapers? LAWYER [_Drawing paper from his pocket._] Very delicately done. “A life for a life.” Isn’t that moving? “While Gordon Wallace languishes in his cell, some woman is safe in a shielded home. Charged with the murder of John Erwalt, young Wallace fails to cut his chain of circumstantial evidence with an alibi. Where was Gordon Wallace on the night of October 25? He maintains a dogged silence. Behind that silence rests a woman’s honor”--and so on, at some length. PRISONER You had no right to give out a story without my consent! LAWYER Oh, yes, I have. If I can’t get your consent for saving your life, then, my young friend, I shall save it without your consent. Pardon my rudeness. PRISONER How will this save it? LAWYER How little romantic young men know the romantic sex. Wives--including, I hope, jurors’ wives--will cry, “Don’t let that chivalrous young man die!” Women just love to have their honor shielded. It is very touching to them. PRISONER Mr. Foster, I tell you again, I dislike your attitude toward women! Laugh at me if you will, but I have respect and reverence for women. I believe it is perfectly true that men must guard them. Call me a romantic young fool if it pleases you, but I have had a mother--a sister--sweetheart. Yes, I am ready to die to shield a woman’s honor! [_As he says this the door slowly opens and a woman steps in._ SHIELDED ONE No! You shall not! [_Quite taken aback, the men stand looking at her. She has breeding, poise--obviously she has stepped out of a world where women are shielded. She maintains a front of her usual composure, but there is an intensity--an excitement--which indicates she is feeling some big new thing. LAWYER looks from her to the PRISONER, who is staring at the WOMAN._ LAWYER [_To WOMAN._] Oh--you’ve come? SHIELDED ONE [_Firmly, but with emotion._] I have come. PRISONER I don’t understand. LAWYER You were not willing to let him die? SHIELDED ONE No. LAWYER