MRS. JONES. Oh! no, sir, not very hard, sir; except of course, when I don't get my sleep at night. BARTHWICK. Ah! And you help do all the rooms? And sometimes, I suppose, you go out for cook? MRS. JONES. Yes, Sir. BARTHWICK. And you 've been out this morning? MRS. JONES. Yes, sir, of course I had to go to the greengrocer's. BARTHWICK. Exactly. So your husband earns nothing? And he's a bad character. MRS. JONES. No, Sir, I don't say that, sir. I think there's a great deal of good in him; though he does treat me very bad sometimes. And of course I don't like to leave him, but I think I ought to, because really I hardly know how to stay with him. He often raises his hand to me. Not long ago he gave me a blow here [touches her breast] and I can feel it now. So I think I ought to leave him, don't you, sir? BARTHWICK. Ah! I can't help you there. It's a very serious thing to leave your husband. Very serious thing. MRS. JONES. Yes, sir, of course I 'm afraid of what he might do to me if I were to leave him; he can be so very violent. BARTHWICK. H'm! Well, that I can't pretend to say anything about. It's the bad principle I'm speaking of---- MRS. JONES. Yes, Sir; I know nobody can help me. I know I must decide for myself, and of course I know that he has a very hard life. And he's fond of the children, and its very hard for him to see them going without food. BARTHWICK. [Hastily.] Well--er--thank you, I just wanted to hear about you. I don't think I need detain you any longer, Mrs. Jones. MRS. JONES. No, sir, thank you, sir. BARTHWICK. Good morning, then. MRS. JONES. Good morning, sir; good morning, ma'am. BARTHWICK. [Exchanging glances with his wife.] By the way, Mrs. Jones--I think it is only fair to tell you, a silver cigarette-box --er--is missing. MRS. JONES. [Looking from one face to the other.] I am very sorry, sir. BARTHWICK. Yes; you have not seen it, I suppose? MRS. JONES. [Realising that suspicion is upon her; with an uneasy movement.] Where was it, sir; if you please, sir? BARTHWICK. [Evasively.] Where did Marlow say? Er--in this room, yes, in this room. MRS. JONES. No, Sir, I have n't seen it--of course if I 'd seen it I should have noticed it. BARTHWICK. [Giving hey a rapid glance.] You--you are sure of that? MRS. JONES. [Impassively.] Yes, Sir. [With a slow nodding of her head.] I have not seen it, and of course I don't know where it is. [She turns and goes quietly out.] BARTHWICK. H'm! [The three BARTHWICKS avoid each other's glances.] The curtain falls. ACT II SCENE I The JONES's lodgings, Merthyr Street, at half-past two o'clock.