Theft Part 42

{Hubbard}

(_Suavely._) Allow me to point out, my dear Mrs. Chalmers, that you are not merely stealing from your father. You are playing the traitor to your cla.s.s.

{Starkweather}

And causing irreparable damage.

{Margaret}

(_Firing up suddenly and pointing to Lincoln's portrait_) I doubt not he caused irreparable damage when he freed the slaves and preserved the Union. Yet he recognized no cla.s.ses. I'd rather be a traitor to my cla.s.s than to him.

{Starkweather}

Demagoguery. Demagoguery.

(_A knock at right rear. Dobleman opens door. Enter Mrs. Middleton who is the housekeeper, followed by two Housemaids. They pause at rear. Housekeeper to the fore and looking expectantly at Starkweather. The Maids appear timid and frightened._)

{Housekeeper}

Yes, sir.

{Starkweather}

Mrs. Middleton, you have the two maids to a.s.sist you. Take Mrs.

Chalmers behind that screen there and search her. Strip all her clothes from her and make a careful search. (_Maids show perturbation._)

{Housekeeper}

(_Self-possessed. _) Yes, sir. What am I to search for?

{Starkweather}

Papers, doc.u.ments, anything unusual. Turn them over to me when you find them.

{Margaret}

(_In a sudden panic._) This is monstrous! This is monstrous!

{Starkweather}

So is your theft of the doc.u.ments monstrous.

{Margaret}

(_Appealing to the other men, ignoring Rutland and not considering Dobleman at all._)

You cowards! Will you stand by and permit this thing to be done?

Tom, have you one atom of manhood in you?

{Chalmers} (_Doggedly._) Return the papers, then.

{Margaret}

Mr. Rutland--

{Rutland}

(_Very awkwardly and oilily._) My dear Mrs. Chalmers. I a.s.sure you the whole circ.u.mstance is unfortunate. But you are so palpably in the wrong that I cannot interfere--(_Margaret turns from him in withering scorn._)--That I cannot interfere.

{Dobleman}

(_Breaking down unexpectedly._) I cannot stand it. I leave your employ, sir. It is outrageous. I resign now, at once. I cannot be a party to this.

(_Striving to unlock door._) I am going at once. You brutes! You brutes!

(_Breaks into convulsive sobbings._)

{Chalmers}

Ah, another lover, I see.

(_Dobleman manages to unlock door and starts to open it._)

{Starkweather}

You fool! Shut that door!

(_Dobleman hesitates._) Shut it!

(_Dobleman obeys._) Lock it!

(_Dobleman obeys._)

{Margaret}

(_Smiling wistfully, benignantly._) Thank you, Mr. Dobleman.

(_To Starkweather._) Father, you surely will not perpetrate this outrage, when I tell you, I swear to you--

{Starkweather}

(_Interrupting._) Return the doc.u.ments then.

{Margaret}

I swear to you that I haven't them. You will not find them on me.

{Starkweather}