Summary

Hirst embarks on an extensive monologue in which memories from the past intertwine with a dream he had about someone drowning. It is stream of consciousness and makes little literal sense. After some time, Spooner interrupts him to declare that it was he, Spooner, who was drowning in Hirst’s dream and Hirst collapses on the floor. Foster swears at Spooner as Briggs helps Hirst up. Spooner intervenes and helps Hirst to a chair himself, citing their shared age, he claims to understand Hirst better than Briggs and Foster do, annoying Foster.

Foster confronts Spooner telling him that Hirst is a man of means and implying that Spooner does not belong in this environment. He tells him that he and Briggs protect Hirst “against corruption, against men of craft, against men of evil” and threatens that “we could destroy you without a...