[They separate a little as Mrs. Hillcrist enters from Right.]

Dawker.  Good morning, ma’am.  My friend’s partner.  Hornblower coming?

Mrs. H. At eleven.  I had to send up a second note, Dawker.

Dawker.  Squire not in?

Mrs. H. I haven’t told him.

Dawker. [Nodding] Our friends might go in here [Pointing Right] and we can use ’em as the want ’em.

Mrs. H. [To the strangers] Will you make yourselves comfortable?

     [She holds the door open, and they pass her into the room,
     Right.]

Dawker. [Showing document] I’ve had this drawn and engrossed.  Pretty sharp work.  Conveys the Centry, and Longmeadow; to the Squire at four thousand five hundred:  Now, ma’am, suppose Hornblower puts his hand to that, hell have been done in the eye, and six thousand all told out o’ pocket.—­You’ll have a very nasty neighbour here.

Mrs. H. But we shall still have the power to disclose that secret at any time.

Dawker.  Yeh!  But things might happen here you could never bring home to him.  You can’t trust a man like that.  He isn’t goin’ to forgive me, I know.

Mrs. H. [Regarding him keenly] But if he signs, we couldn’t honourably——­

Dawker.  No, ma’am, you couldn’t; and I’m sure I don’t want to do that girl a hurt.  I just mention it because, of course, you can’t guarantee that it doesn’t get out.

Mrs. H. Not absolutely, I suppose.

     [A look passes between them, which neither of them has quite
     sanctioned.]

     [There’s his car.  It always seems to make more noise than any
     other.]

Dawker.  He’ll kick and flounder—­but you leave him to ask what you want, ma’am; don’t mention this [He puts the deed back into his pocket].  The Centry’s no mortal good to him if he’s not going to put up works; I should say he’d be glad to save what he can.

     [Mrs. Hillcrist inclines her head.  Fellows enters Left.]

Fellows. [Apologetically] Mr. Hornblower, ma’am; by appointment, he says.

Mrs. H. Quite right, Fellows.

     [Hornblower comes in, and fellows goes out.]

Hornblower. [Without salutation] I’ve come to ask ye point bleak what ye mean by writing me these letters. [He takes out two letters.] And we’ll discus it in the presence of nobody, if ye, please.

Mrs. H. Mr. Dawker knows all that I know, and more.

Hornblower.  Does he?  Very well!  Your second note says that my daughter-in-law has lied to me.  Well, I’ve brought her, and what ye’ve got to say—­if it’s not just a trick to see me again—­ye’ll say to her face. [He takes a step towards the window.]

Mrs. H. Mr. Hornblower, you had better, decide that after hearing what it is—­we shall be quite ready to repeat it in her presence; but we want to do as little harm as possible.