_Jack._ You're exhausted, dear. Come--lie down. _(He leads her off Right; speaks off.)_ There, lie and rest. Don't talk any more now. _(Returns; speaks in entrance.)_ Be quiet, and see if you can't go to sleep! _(He paces the room, muttering to himself.)_ No, I can't stand it. This is no joke. It's no part of the game. I must save Belle's life--I'd no right to wait this long. _(With sudden resolution.)_ I'll write to Jessie. She'll come and help her. Bargain or no bargain, I'll write! _(Vehemently.)_ You go to the devil, Bob--I don't care how much you tease me! Yes! Yes! The reality of life! I'm getting it all right. And I've got to knuckle down and take what teasing comes to me. My God, what a fool I was--what a drivelling fool! And I'll lose my quarter of a million! I don't care--I've got to save Belle! I'll write to-night! _(Takes pencil and paper, sits at table and writes. The door Left opens softly, and Dolly appears, haggard and anxious.)_ _Dolly._ You here! Where's Belle? _Jack._ She's asleep. _Dolly._ Jack. I've got to go away from here! _Jack._ Go away! _Dolly._ Yes. The police will be looking for me. _Jack._ The police! _Dolly._ I'm accused of stealing. Oh, don't think it--I didn't do it. Before God, I didn't! _Jack._ Of course not, Dolly! _Dolly._ I must go. I must take Belle with me! _Jack._ But she can't go, Dolly! She's too ill. _Dolly._ She'll be worse if she stays here and the police come for me. _Jack._ Tell me about it, Dolly. _Dolly._ No, no! I can't. _Jack._ Why not? _Dolly._ Don't ask me. _(She stares about distractedly.)_ _Jack._ May be I can help you. _Dolly._ Nobody can help me--ever! _Jack._ Dolly! Why should you hide anything from me? _Dolly._ I can't bear to tell! _Jack._ Why not? _Dolly._ You'd despise me forever. Belle would despise me! _Jack._ But that's impossible, Dolly. _Dolly (she stares into his face, then suddenly clutches his arm; in a hoarse whisper)_ I sold myself to save her! _Jack._ My God! _Dolly._ Ah, don't look at me like that. I told you not to ask me! _Jack (half frenzied)._ But Dolly; you don't understand! _Dolly._ Understand what? _Jack._ I've been living on your money! _(They stare at each other.)_ _Dolly._ Jack, don't do like that! You didn't know it! _Jack (covers his face with his hands)._ Oh, how _dared_ you? _Dolly._ Don't go on so! You know I couldn't help it. What else could we do? We hadn't a dollar in the house. _(She catches him by the arm.)_ Don't be selfish, Jack! _Jack._ Selfish! _Dolly._ You're thinking of yourself--not of me and Belle. _Jack._ When was it? To-night? _Dolly._ This wasn't the first time. But it was always for Belle. _Jack (in a whisper)._ For Belle! _Dolly._ I've worked till I was ready to drop. I've slaved day and night--but I couldn't make enough. And so, every now and then, I'd go to a house. _Jack._ When did it begin! _Dolly._ Nearly a year ago. _Jack._ Belle has never guessed it?