Captain (_sneering_). Yes. You'll be quite out of danger here, Mr. Barlow. Ephraim (_appealingly_). Gentlemen! Guy (_to Captain_). Hadn't you better look after your men? Your ten minutes are flying. Captain (_turning to go_). I shall deal with you afterwards. Guy (_smoothly_). With pleasure. My business is to deal in cotton cloth with all comers. I don't discriminate. Captain. Pah! Shopman! (_Exeunt Captain and Ephraim._) Guy (_by shed_). Come out. (_Martin and Ruth emerge, Martin crosses l. and looks down._) Yes. It's steep, isn't it? You'll not escape that way unless you've wings. Martin. Escape? I don't want to escape. Guy. You're looking for a way. Martin. I'm looking at the great crowd your father saw. Guy. Yes. You've brought your ragamuffins out, but you'll find it a tougher job to make them fight. Martin. I don't intend to let those lads down there fight soldiers. Guy (_barring the way, though Martin doesn't move_). And I don't intend to let you warn them. You're going to stay here. Martin (_limply_). I can shout. Guy. Why don't you? Shout till you brast your lungs, my lad. It won't carry downhill. Martin (_acquiescing very easily_). Then you must do your butcher's handiwork. (_With energy._) Butchers! Yes. That's just the word. Guy. Ah! So you do know when you're beaten. Well, Kelsall, as you heard while you were eavesdropping, I've ten minutes to fill in. Ten minutes isn't long. There's no margin for lies. Martin. The truth about your factory is the last thing you'll listen to. Guy. The truth about my wife is what I'm waiting for. Martin. Hadn't you better ask her? Guy. I don't question my wife before a workman. Martin. Shall I leave you? (_But he doesn't move._) Guy. You don't seem in any hurry. Martin (_easily_). No. The time for that is past. I've stayed here too long for going now. Ruth. Thank God, then I've succeeded. Guy (_coldly_). Succeeded? How? Ruth. I've kept him here until the danger passed. He meant to burn the factory and murder you. He told me so and I--I kept him here. I've played with him. I've---- Martin. You played with fire, and it's not your fault you haven't burnt yourself. Ruth (_to Guy_). What did it matter what I said? I've saved your life. I've kept him here. Guy. How did you get him here? Ruth. I sent for him. Guy. Why should he come for your sending? Martin. You don't question your wife before a workman, do you? Guy. No. You're right. This can wait. Ruth. Guy, I sent because last night I heard him threaten you. I wanted to persuade him---- Guy. Your methods of persuasion are peculiar. Ruth. They kept him here. That was what I had to do. At any cost to keep him here. Guy. Ruth, I begin to think that reading Byron isn't good for you. Martin. Why put it on to Byron? Hasn't his noble Lordship sins enough of his own? Ruth. Guy, don't you see? He's the men's leader. They won't do anything without him. He told me that. That they would wait for him to give the word.