The Climbers Part 20

RUTH. Richard ill?

[_All give exclamations of surprise and regret and sympathy._

BLANCHE. My little boy ill? Excuse me, I must go to him.

[_She hurries out at back._ RUTH _speaks to the musicians, who stop playing._

STERLING. [_Moved._] My boy ill--why, I can't--I can't--

WARDEN. "Can't" what?

STERLING. How can I go away?

WARDEN. Surely you won't let business take you away from your boy who may be dying.

STERLING. No! I won't go! I'll face it out! I can't leave my boy like this--

RUTH. [_Coming to_ STERLING.] I'm going to take these women away; tell Blanche not to give them a thought. Their evening up to now has been charming.

[_During_ RUTH'S _speech_, WARDEN _has spoken aside with_ MASON.

WARDEN. [_Aside to_ MASON.] Don't let Miss Hunter go.

RUTH. [_To the other guests._] Come to the drawing-room.

MRS. HUNTER. I was crazy to see what was in my stocking.

[_All pa.s.s out talking, expressing conventional sympathy on account of_ RICHARD, _but evidently resenting the breaking up of the party._ STERLING _and_ WARDEN _are left alone in the room._ STERLING _moves to go up to back;_ WARDEN _interrupts him._

WARDEN. [_To_ STERLING.] Where are you going?

STERLING. To my boy and my wife.

WARDEN. Wait a minute; I want to speak to you.

STERLING. Speak to me later; I can't wait now.

BLANCHE. [_Off stage, at back, excitedly._] Jordan! [_She enters, excited, half hysterical._] Jordan! Where is Jordan? It was a lie! What did he mean? Richard is sleeping sweetly. The maid knows nothing of being alarmed! Where is Jordan?

[_She starts to go toward the door Right._

WARDEN. [_Stops her._] Mrs. Sterling, he had nothing to do with it! _I_ told Jordan to say what he said.

[BLANCHE _turns and looks at_ WARDEN _in astonishment._

STERLING. [_Stunned and at once suspicious._] What?

BLANCHE. But--

WARDEN. Forgive me for so cruelly alarming you; it was the only way I could think of for getting rid at once of your guests!

STERLING. [_Angry._] You'll interfere once too often in the affairs of this house.

BLANCHE. [_Indignant._] But what excuse can you make, Mr. Warden?

WARDEN. Will you be so good as to ask Miss Hunter and Mr. Mason to come here? They will explain what I have done, partly, and your husband will tell you the rest when you come back.

[STERLING _sneers aloud._

BLANCHE. I don't understand, I don't understand.

[_She goes out at back._

STERLING. Well, I _do_ understand, at least enough.

WARDEN. Good! That spares me a very disagreeable speech.

STERLING. No, it doesn't! Come out with it! What is it you want? What is it you've found out?

WARDEN. From betraying a trust, you've come, in less than two years, to an outright embezzlement.

STERLING. Speak out--give us facts!

WARDEN. You've stolen your aunt's fortune.

STERLING. _Prove that!_

WARDEN. It's _her money_ that's lost in the Hudson Electric Company!

STERLING. PROVE IT!

WARDEN. Easy enough, to-morrow.

STERLING. You've got to excuse your action _to-night_ or _be kicked_ out of my house!

WARDEN. [_Strong._] Isn't what I say the truth?

STERLING. [_Equally strong._] No! And now get out!

WARDEN. [_Looks at his watch._] I'll not leave this house till it's too late for you to take that eleven-twenty.

STERLING. [_More ugly._] Yes, you will and mighty--

WARDEN. _No, I'll not!_

[_He is interrupted by the entrance of_ BLANCHE, RUTH, _and_ MASON.

WARDEN. [_To_ BLANCHE.] I _hope_ you forgive me now--