Guy. They will come and ask to be allowed to help They'll sit round watching stone go on to stone and thank their God for every story raised. Captain. That's not their mood to-night. Guy. To-night they have a supper in them, They'll be starving then. Ruth (_without turning_). Starving! Captain. You are somewhat drastic, sir. Guy. Well, sir, and are not you? In the army you've the noble institution of flogging to keep your men to heel. We can't flog weavers. It's against the law and so we have to keep them disciplined by other means. And now, captain, about your prisoners. Captain. Yes? Guy. You would count them carefully? Suppose, I mean, that one were missing. Would you take it very much to heart? Captain. On the contrary, sir, I should be glad to see the whole lot go. Guy. What, all of them? And go away with nothing to show for your night's work? Captain. I don't regard this as a creditable night, Mr. Barlow. Your father was saying just now that the simplest way is to let them all escape. They will have had the scare of their lives and are not likely to forget the lesson. Ruth (_turning to Guy_). Oh, if you would! Guy (_ignoring her_). And what did you say? The Northerners Captain. I agreed with him. Guy. You're a man of heart, Captain. Only you would be cashiered. Captain. I would risk cashiering. And I may remind you, sir, that it is not you, but your father, who's the magistrate. Guy. I speak here for my father. We settled that between us half an hour ago. Captain. That's true. He sent me to you. Guy. On your errand of--mercy? Captain. Yes. Guy (_rising_). Captain, oblige me by sending two of your prisoners here. Butterworth and Kelsall. One of them may escape. He is my wife's father. Captain (_rising_). Your wife's father! I'm sorry, Mrs. Barlow. I had so few men that I had to bind the prisoners, and your father must be pinioned like the rest. Guy. He acted like the rest. I will see to his bindings, Captain. Captain. And as to the other question? Guy. What other? Captain. Letting them all escape. Guy. There is no other question. Captain. Your father, sir----- Guy. Your duty, Captain Lascelles, is to hand your prisoners to the authorities to be dealt with as the law provides. Meanwhile, send me the men I want. Captain. Very well. (_Exit Captain Lascelles. Guy sits to his plans. After a moment Ruth comes to him and touches his arm._) Ruth. Guy! Guy (_not looking up_). Don't go, Ruth. I want you here. Ruth. I was not going, but---- Guy. Then oblige me by silence. These plans of mine must reach an architect to-morrow. (_Takes knife from pocket and erases something on plan._) And the new machinery must be ordered to-night. Ruth. Guy, how soon will the new factory be built? Guy (_still at work_). With luck, six months, if frost does not hold up the masons. Ruth. Six months. Six wintry months and in the mean time all the weavers----