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[COAST _enters, announced by_ MOLES, _who immediately exits._
COAST. h.e.l.lo, Lou, how goes it?
LOUISE. Beastly!
COAST. Where's Miss Georgiana?
LOUISE. She'll be down in a minute. Sam, do you know what's the matter with Steve?
COAST. Probably he's been losing.
LOUISE. Whose money?
COAST. Everybody's.
LOUISE. But can't you help him?
COAST. No; it's not my business.
[_Sits on the sofa, putting the pillows out of his way._
LOUISE. But he's my husband, and you're my cousin.
COAST. What's the difference? Twenty years ago, when your father was rich as Croesus and my guv'ner and I up a stump for--tobacco, anyway, if not for bread, did he lift a finger to help us? not on your life! That lets me out! Every man for himself--and listen, if I wanted to starve I could lose a real good fortune through Steve Carley, without any outside help.
LOUISE. I told mother you'd be like that.
COAST. We're all pretty much alike; she'd recognize the Coast family.
LOUISE. If you were married to Georgiana, you couldn't ignore her brother. She isn't like us.
COAST. Well, if I could get Georgiana, [_Going to_ LOUISE.] I'd be willing to do a good deal. She's the only woman I can see in this world my size.
LOUISE. So I guessed, but if d.i.c.k Coleman proposes before he goes to the Philippines, I wouldn't give much for your chances.
COAST. Listen, Lou; did you ever know me to lose anything I'd set my mind on getting.
LOUISE. No.
COAST. Well I mean to marry Georgiana, d.i.c.k Coleman or no d.i.c.k Coleman.
No, I'll put it different from that. I mean to make her love me, because, by G.o.d, I love that woman so I'd do anything, commit a crime almost, to get her.
[STEVEN _enters Left and_ COAST _goes up to the mantel._
LOUISE. Steve, aren't you up town early?
STEVEN. A little.
[_Sits Left._ MOLES _enters._
MOLES. Beg pardon, sir.
LOUISE. What is it, Moles?
MOLES. [_To_ LOUISE.] Mr. Carley, m'm. [_To_ STEVEN.] Could I speak with you a few moments, sir?
STEVEN. I'm very busy to-day, Moles.
MOLES. But have you noticed sir, this morning, United Copper is lower.
STEVEN. It can't be helped--go about your business.
MOLES. But for heaven's sake, Mr. Carley--you said yesterday if it dropped another point and we couldn't give up any more money, Lizzie and me'd both lose everything we had.
STEVEN. I'm sorrier than I can say, but there are lots of others worse off than you.
[GEORGIANA _reenters Right._
COAST. [_Cynically to_ STEVEN.] You don't mean to say you've been speculating with Moles's money.
LOUISE. Moles!
STEVEN. It was for _himself_, not me, I put him in.
MOLES. And Lizzie, sir. And we'd counted it up, how if we made all you said, we could leave service soon, sir, and we could afford a small house in the country with say _four_ rooms and _one_ baby--Lizzie doing her own work.
LOUISE. Do you mean to say, Steve, that your own servants have lost their earnings through you?
MOLES. Yes, m'm.
STEVEN. [_Doggedly._] Put it that way if you like. I meant to do them a good turn.
LOUISE. But we can't let that happen; we must pay them back!
COAST. [_Amused._] Bully for you, Louise! getting generous in your old age.
LOUISE. It would ruin us socially if it got out!
COAST. Oh, I see!
MOLES. Mr. Carley said it was _sure_, ma'am.
[COAST _laughs a rather coa.r.s.e laugh._
STEVEN. For heaven's sake, Coast! Go away, Moles.
[MOLES _goes out Left._
