Look here, Freda, I'm a fool. I know it. I was a fool there in that chair. You put it all over me. You women all make a fool of me. I don't think quick. I'm not used to it, I guess. My tongue is awkward. I can't think of bright things to say, or the right things to say. And I believe what is said to me. And then I like women, too. I can't help it. I was born that way. I just like them, and they take advantage of me-- FREDA _(Interrupting.)_ Won't you let go of me and sit down? VANDERLIP _(Ignoring her.)_ Why do they take advantage of me? _(Freda shrugs her shoulders.)_ Because I am a fool. Because I am playing their game and don't know how to play it. They know how to play it. They ought to know--it is their game. A man's a fool to buck another man's game. The percentage is all in favor of the house. And a man is a bigger fool to buck a woman's game. And I've been dead soft and easy. I know it. I've played your game and you've tied knots in me... _(He pauses, as though debating the next thing to say.)_ FREDA _(Lightly.)_ I must say you are untying the knots fast. VANDERLIP _(With touch of anger.)_ I'm untying nothing. I'm going to begin tying. What I'm going to do is to play my game, and you're going to play it with me, my lady. _(His speech grows slow and clear again.)_ Do you know what my game is? _(Freda shakes her head.)_ It's not palavering, and being society-monkey, and ducking, and bowing, and scraping, and giving crooked talk, and saying smart things, and that sort of stuff. It's just this-- _(He takes hold of her other arm with other hand, and puts the pressure on with both hands. At first she merely winces but he grips until she cries aloud in pain. Maid shows alarm for first time, and starts hastily forward.)_ That's it. Muscle's my game--the only game I can play, and I've been a fool to go out of my class. MAID _(Interrupting, to Freda.)_ What shall I do? FREDA Nothing. It is all right. MAID Shall I go for help? FREDA No, no. _(To Vanderlip.)_ Let go of me, Floyd. You are crushing my arms. VANDERLIP _(Laughing savagely.)_ Did you let go when you crushed me? FREDA _(With blaze of defiance.)_ You coward! VANDERLIP _(Savagely.)_ Were you less coward when you beat me down to my knees with your woman's wit, your woman's beauty, your woman's weapons? Your face is beautiful. Your body is beautiful. With these have you drawn me to you, making yourself soft and yielding, so that at a distance the very feel of you was soft and yielding-- _(With scorn.)_