Clara. And perhaps it will be better, Mr. Rollitt, for me to take this opportunity of ending our relationship by telling you that I am already married. (_Crosses l._) Allen. (_Starts hack._) Married! Dex. (_c. frantic and jumping about and screaming and hissing the words out._) She ain’t. It’s a lie. Don’t believe her. She ain’t. She ain’t. (_Goes c. Clara to l._) It’s only a trick to try your love. Ah, you hussy! It’s all been planned. This is all part of it. She ain’t married. We planned it to test your love for her. Ah, you beast! I’ll strangle you. I’ll murder you. She’s only trying it on to see what you say. It’s a trick. Don’t believe her. Don’t believe her. Clara. And have been for the last three years. Dex. (_As before._) No, she ain’t been, Mr. Rollitt. It’s a lie--it’s a lie. It’s a lie. She says it to spite her old father. Ah you devil, you-- Allen. Silence! Dex. (_Cowed, but continuing in nervous undertone._) She’s not married. I’m her father. Allen. (_Pointing to door c._) And leave the room--afore I forget thee art an old man. (_Turns him r.Backs Dex. up to c. door._) Dex. (_Slinks out muttering._) She ain’t married! It’s a lie. It’s a lie. (_Repeats_.) (_Exit Dex. c._) Allen. (_Turning to Clara._) What does it all mean? Clara. (_Defiantly._) That I’ve been playing with you only for the sake of sponging on you. And to get money out of you for my father and husband--I haven’t had much myself--and that at last I’m grown tired of it. (_Crosses R._) Allen. (_l.c. after a pause._) Thee might have had all the money thee wanted, lass, wi’out deceiving me. Clara. (_Falling on her knees before him._) Forgive me, Allen, you don’t know what my life has been. Dragged up among thieves and sharpers, taught to trick and lie before I could speak plainly, I have never know what truth and honor meant except as a dim longing. All the humanity--all the womanhood--has been dried out of me till I am only the thing you see me--a vulture--a human beast of prey. Ah, Allen, thank God for your sake that I am married and that you have escaped me--forget me--it is the only thing you can do. You can never hate me as I loathe myself--you can never despise me as I shudder at my own life. Allen. (_Puts his hand to his own forehead _) Poor lass! Poor lass! Clara. (_Takes’ Allen’s hand, left._) You are the only man that has been good to me, and I have brought you only pain and shame. Allen. (_Raising her._) Ah, never mind that, lass. Thee didn’t mean to do it. Come! I be more sorry for thee than for myself. I could see what sort of life thee had got around thee, and I wanted to take thee away from it all. I can do so little for thee now. (_Both at cabinet, Allen r._) Clara. You have taught me, Allen, that there are good men in the world; forgive me for having taught you that there are bad women. (_Clara crosses in front of Allen to r.door._)