ANTHONY. We did n't seek the quarrel. EDGAR. I know that sir, but surely we've gone far enough. ANTHONY. No. [All look at one another.] WANKLIN. Luxuries apart, Chairman, we must look out what we're doing. ANTHONY. Give way to the men once and there'll be no end to it. WANKLIN. I quite agree, but---- [ANTHONY Shakes his head] You make it a question of bedrock principle? [ANTHONY nods.] Luxuries again, Chairman! The shares are below par. WILDER. Yes, and they'll drop to a half when we pass the next dividend. SCANTLEBURY. [With alarm.] Come, come! Not so bad as that. WILDER. [Grimly.] You'll see! [Craning forward to catch ANTHONY'S speech.] I didn't catch---- TENCH. [Hesitating.] The Chairman says, sir, "Fais que--que--devra." EDGAR. [Sharply.] My father says: "Do what we ought--and let things rip." WILDER. Tcha! SCANTLEBURY. [Throwing up his hands.] The Chairman's a Stoic--I always said the Chairman was a Stoic. WILDER. Much good that'll do us. WANKLIN. [Suavely.] Seriously, Chairman, are you going to let the ship sink under you, for the sake of--a principle? ANTHONY. She won't sink. SCANTLEBURY. [With alarm.] Not while I'm on the Board I hope. ANTHONY. [With a twinkle.] Better rat, Scantlebury. SCANTLEBURY. What a man! ANTHONY. I've always fought them; I've never been beaten yet. WANKLIN. We're with you in theory, Chairman. But we're not all made of cast-iron. ANTHONY. We've only to hold on. WILDER. [Rising and going to the fire.] And go to the devil as fast as we can! ANTHONY. Better go to the devil than give in! WILDER. [Fretfully.] That may suit you, sir, but it does n't suit me, or any one else I should think. [ANTHONY looks him in the face-a silence.] EDGAR. I don't see how we can get over it that to go on like this means starvation to the men's wives and families. [WILDER turns abruptly to the fire, and SCANTLEBURY puts out a hand to push the idea away.] WANKLIN. I'm afraid again that sounds a little sentimental. EDGAR. Men of business are excused from decency, you think? WILDER. Nobody's more sorry for the men than I am, but if they [lashing himself] choose to be such a pig-headed lot, it's nothing to do with us; we've quite enough on our hands to think of ourselves and the shareholders. EDGAR. [Irritably.] It won't kill the shareholders to miss a dividend or two; I don't see that that's reason enough for knuckling under. SCANTLEBURY. [With grave discomfort.] You talk very lightly of your dividends, young man; I don't know where we are. WILDER. There's only one sound way of looking at it. We can't go on ruining ourselves with this strike. ANTHONY. No caving in! SCANTLEBURY. [With a gesture of despair.] Look at him! [ANTHONY'S leaning back in his chair. They do look at him.] WILDER. [Returning to his seat.] Well, all I can say is, if that's the Chairman's view, I don't know what we've come down here for.