My dear, it’s not a question of convincing me--I am the most trusting, the most credulous of mortals--but of convincing the twelve good men and true who form a British jury. CATHERINE. You’re not a fool, George. You know people, and you know what I’m capable of and what I’m not. In your heart you’re certain that I’ve done nothing that can give you any cause for complaint. I’ve suffered a great deal during these four years--I wouldn’t wish my worst enemy to go through what I have--I implore you not to drag me through this horror. GEORGE WINTER. My dear, your simple-mindedness positively takes me aback. CATHERINE. [_Indignantly._] How can you be so ignoble? GEORGE WINTER. [_Dropping his bantering tone, quickly and sternly._] You must know me very little, Kate. My whole life is at stake, and you think I’m going to be moved by entreaties or abuse? I’m at the most critical point of my career. Part of my strength is that I never deceive myself. I’m only an adventurer. My millions are paper millions, and I want to be in such a position that if I’m in need of half a million I can go to the big men and get it, and if one of them asks me for half a million I can afford to put it down. And now, if only I hold on, I shall get everything I want. And you come and whine before me and play the fool. What d’you think I care for your twopenny-halfpenny love-affairs? Do what you like. I don’t care, so long as you’re not flagrant. CATHERINE. [_Indignantly._] Oh! GEORGE WINTER. That anyone can be such a fool as to let love interfere with his life! It’s so unimportant. CATHERINE. To me it means the whole world. GEORGE WINTER. Well, I give you your choice. If you bring an action against me I bring a counter-petition. CATHERINE. [_Stung into defiance._] My choice is made long ago. I’m strong in my innocence. GEORGE WINTER. You’ll ruin me and ruin your father, but you’ll ruin Robert Colby as well. CATHERINE. [_Quickly._] What do you mean? GEORGE WINTER. You don’t mean to say you’re so simple-minded as to imagine he can do anything but resign his seat if he were made co-respondent in a divorce case? They say, if we get in again, he’s to be given the Ministry of War. Humpty-Dumpty. It’s the end of his political career. CATHERINE. [_Desperately._] We have nothing to reproach ourselves with. Nothing. GEORGE WINTER. You sent a note to him last night. What did you say? CATHERINE. [_Defiantly._] I asked him to come here at twelve o’clock. GEORGE WINTER. [_Taking out his watch._] It’s nearly twelve now. I’ll wait. And you shall talk to him. [_Enter_ ANNE ETCHINGHAM _and_ TEDDIE O’DONNELL. ANNE _is like her sister_ CATHERINE, _but smaller and slighter; she is brighter as well and more vivacious, with pretty caressing ways_. EDWARD O’DONNELL _is an insignificant, amiable, good-looking young man of three-and-twenty_. ANNE. [_As she comes in._] Good morning, good people. CATHERINE.