If the Campo del Oro is a failure, it’ll knock down all the other companies I’m connected with. The Lewishams will seize the opportunity to make a raid on me. I’m standing on the edge of a precipice, and anyone who cares to give me a shove will send me over.... It’ll mean your father’s ruin and mine--I dare say you don’t mind that--but it’ll also mean the ruin of thousands of poor investors all over the country. Three-quarters of the population of Middlepool will lose their savings. CATHERINE. You’ve lied to me so often, George. GEORGE WINTER. I can show you by plain figures that every word I say is true. CATHERINE. I haven’t much sympathy with the gamblers who want to make money without working for it. If they lose, it’s their own look out. [_There is a pause._ GEORGE WINTER _looks at her and nods to himself_. GEORGE WINTER. [_To_ ETCHINGHAM.] I think you’d better go now. The rest of our conversation doesn’t need any listeners. CATHERINE. I have nothing more to say to you. GEORGE WINTER. Don’t be a damned fool. It’s a matter of life and death to me, and d’you think I’m going to ... [_He stops._] Please, Lady Francis. LADY FRANCIS. Of course we’ll leave you. Come, Frank. [LADY FRANCIS _and her husband go out_. GEORGE WINTER. [_With a twinkle in his eye._] I don’t think your elopement receives the unqualified approval of your parents. CATHERINE. D’you want to repeat that odious scene of last night? Surely we said all that we had to say to one another. GEORGE WINTER. [_Shrugging his shoulders._] You know, I wouldn’t have played the fool with other women if you hadn’t shown me very clearly that you didn’t want to have anything to do with me. CATHERINE. I would rather not discuss that. GEORGE WINTER. [_With a chuckle._] After all, it isn’t as if I cared a tinker’s cuss for the whole lot of them. CATHERINE. [_Flushing._] And you think that makes it any better? I think I could have forgiven you if you’d had any love for those wretched women. But it wasn’t even that. You exposed me to all that humiliation merely to gratify your vanity. When I’ve seen how you’ve treated those women I, even I, have been sorry for them. GEORGE WINTER. If you like I’ll give you my solemn word of honour that you shall have no cause to complain in future. CATHERINE. It’s too late. You’ve given me my chance of freedom and I mean to take it. GEORGE WINTER. You’re not keeping your part of the bargain. CATHERINE. What d’you mean? GEORGE WINTER. You didn’t marry me because you were in love with me.... CATHERINE. [_Interrupting._] That’s not true. GEORGE WINTER. [_With a smile._] Think. CATHERINE. [_Hesitating._] A year ago I would have said again that it wasn’t true. I didn’t know what love was. GEORGE WINTER. You married me because I was rich. CATHERINE. [_Passionately._] No, no. GEORGE WINTER.