ETCHINGHAM. [_Gathering strength and courage._] I tell you I won’t. And you can go to Hell! BENNETT. My lord, you don’t know what you’re doing. GEORGE WINTER. [_Hardly able to believe his ears._] D’you mean to say you refuse to speak to Kate? ETCHINGHAM. If I speak to her it’ll only be to tell her that you’re a rotten scoundrel, and it’s worth her while to put up with anything to be rid of you. GEORGE WINTER. It means seven years, you know that, don’t you? ETCHINGHAM. For you and that dirty convict there. GEORGE WINTER. You think you can get off by turning on us, but you can’t. We’ve got you tight. ETCHINGHAM. You miserable fellow, d’you think I shall try to escape my penalty? GEORGE WINTER. [_With angry impatience._] It’s tomfoolery. We haven’t got time for highfalutin now. Those fellows can’t be kept waiting all night. Kate’s the only person who can save us, and you.... ETCHINGHAM. [_Throwing the words at him._] I tell you I won’t. You’ve made a catspaw of me. And you thought you’d only got to say the word and I’d come to heel. GEORGE WINTER. [_Contemptuously._] You’ve done it often enough before. BENNETT. Don’t expect any mercy from him, my lord. He’ll do you in as sure as eggs is eggs. ETCHINGHAM. I don’t want any mercy. You think you’ve got me tight. Don’t you know that I’ve got a way of escape whenever I choose to take it. GEORGE WINTER. What are you going to do? ETCHINGHAM. That’s my business. [GEORGE WINTER _understands; he drains a long breath_. BENNETT. [_In a whisper._] What does he mean, Governor? GEORGE WINTER. D’you think you’d have the courage? BENNETT. [_Understanding._] Ah!... I tried it once, but I couldn’t do it. My hand shook. I let them take me. GEORGE WINTER. [_Reflectively._] I hadn’t thought of that. You can shoot yourself. ETCHINGHAM. [_Bitterly sarcastic._] I’m obliged to you for the permission. GEORGE WINTER. We drove him too far, Fred. We’ve made a mess of it. ETCHINGHAM. You have, a confounded mess. [_He gets up and hobbles across the room towards the door._ GEORGE WINTER _intercepts him_. GEORGE WINTER. Where are you going? ETCHINGHAM. [_Insolently._] Get out of my way, you damned bounder. [GEORGE WINTER _looks at him for a moment and steps aside_. GEORGE WINTER. [_With a grim smile._] It is plain that you don’t think there’s anything more to be got out of me. ETCHINGHAM. [_With a wave of the hand._] I wish you a pleasant time at Portland, gentlemen. GEORGE WINTER. Ring the bell, Fred. [ETCHINGHAM _stops as he hears the order and turns round_. BENNETT. That’ll bring those men up. Don’t you remember you told.... GEORGE WINTER. [_Interrupting._] Ring the bell, damn you! [BENNETT, _without a word, presses the button_. ETCHINGHAM _comes back into the middle of the room_. ETCHINGHAM. What are you going to do? GEORGE WINTER. Hulloa, I thought you were routing out your pistols by now. ETCHINGHAM.