[_He takes her hand in sympathy, but without suggesting the passion of a few moments before._ STERLING _enters hurriedly Left. He is wild with drink and jealousy._ STERLING. Drop my wife's hand! [_They turn in great surprise._ BLANCHE. Dick! [_Fright at his appearance is mingled with her surprise._ WARDEN. [_At the same time as_ BLANCHE.] Sterling! [_They do not drop hands._ STERLING. [_Coming nearer, very strong._] Drop my wife's hand! [_They do so quickly, not understanding yet._] So I've _caught_ you! WARDEN. [_Angry._] Caught us! STERLING. Yes, I had my suspicions roused some time ago! BLANCHE. Of what? STERLING. _I_ could go to the devil--what did _you two_ care! I could go to State's Prison! All the better--_out of your way!_ WARDEN. You're speaking like a madman! STERLING. I went back to my house this morning; my wife was gone--no message left where to! But I questioned the servant. She'd driven here! Why? Ha! [_A bitter half laugh; he turns to_ BLANCHE.] _You've come here once too often!_ WARDEN. [_Very strong._] Sterling! STERLING. [_To_ WARDEN, _but ignoring his exclamation._] Then I went to _your_ house. _They knew_ where _you'd_ gone! You ought to train your servants better! _Both here!_ WARDEN. If you're not careful, I'll ram your insinuations down your throat. STERLING. [_Jeers._] "Insinuations?" I've caught you! I make no "_insinuations_." I tell you _both you're caught!_ You're my wife's lover, and she's your damned mis-- [_Interrupted._ WARDEN. [_Seizing_ STERLING _by the throat._] Don't you finish! BLANCHE. Sh!--for Heaven's sake! [_To_ WARDEN.] Let him alone; I'm not afraid of what he says. [WARDEN _leaves_ STERLING. STERLING. No, you never were a liar, I'll give you credit for that,--so confess the truth--you're his-- [_Interrupted._ BLANCHE. [_Excited beyond her control._] Listen! And you shall have the truth if you want it! These years that he's been befriending me I never dreamed of loving him nor thought of his loving me. [DICK _sneers._] _Wait!_ No, not even the day my father was buried, when I learned outright you were _dishonest!_ STERLING. [_Surprised._] What do you mean? BLANCHE. What I say--I learned it then from a paper of my father's. I shouldn't have kept my knowledge to myself--I see that now; but I did, for your sake, not for love of you--the love went for good that day. But here, a moment ago, I realized for the first time that my old friend _did_ love me, love me with an ideal devotion the noblest woman in the world might be proud of! I didn't tell him then I loved him, but now I take this chance, I _take it_ GLADLY before you!--_forced by you!_ I tell him now, what perhaps he has already guessed, I love him with all my heart--I _love him_! I LOVE HIM! STERLING. Damn you both! then it's the _end_ of _me!_ [_He pulls out a pistol and tries to put it to his temple._ BLANCHE. [_Cries out._] Ned!