I regard it as a public duty. The chair of romance literature is yours by right, as a scholar, as a literary personality.

RICHARD

The conditions?

ROBERT

Conditions? You mean about the future?

RICHARD

I mean about the past.

ROBERT

(Easily.) That episode in your past is forgotten. An act of impulse. We are all impulsive

RICHARD

(Looks fixedly at him.) You called it an act of folly, then-- nine years ago. You told me I was hanging a weight about my neck.

ROBERT

I was wrong. (Suavely.) Here is how the matter stands, Richard. Everyone knows that you ran away years ago with a young girl... How shall I put it? ...with a young girl not exactly your equal. (Kindly.) Excuse me, Richard, that is not my opinion nor my language. I am simply using the language of people whose opinions I don't share.

RICHARD

Writing one of your leading articles, in fact.

ROBERT

Put it so. Well, it made a great sensation at the time. A mysterious disappearance. My name was involved too, as best man, let us say, on that famous occasion. Of course, they think I acted from a mistaken sense of friendship. Well, all that is known. (With some hesitation.) But what happened afterwards is not known.

RICHARD

No?

ROBERT

Of course, it is your affair, Richard. However, you are not so young now as you were then. The expression is quite in the style of my leading articles, isn't it?

RICHARD

Do you, or do you not, want me to give the lie to my past life?

ROBERT

I am thinking of your future life-- here. I understand your pride and your sense of liberty. I understand their point of view also. However, there is a way out; it is simply this. Refrain from contradicting any rumours you may hear concerning what happened.... or did not happen after you went away. Leave the rest to me.

RICHARD

You will set these rumours afloat?

ROBERT

I will. God help me.

RICHARD

(Observing him.) For the sake of social conventions?

ROBERT

For the sake of something else too-- our friendship, our lifelong friendship.

RICHARD

Thanks.

ROBERT

(Slightly wounded.) And I will tell you the whole truth.

RICHARD

(Smiles and bows.) Yes. Do, please.

ROBERT

Not only for your sake. Also for the sake of-- your present partner in life.

RICHARD

I see.

(He crushes his cigarette softly on the ashtray and then leans forward, rubbing his hands slowly.)

RICHARD

Why for her sake?

ROBERT

(Also leans forward, quietly.) Richard, have you been quite fair to her? It was her own free choice, you will say. But was she really free to choose? She was a mere girl. She accepted all that you proposed.

RICHARD

(Smiles.) That is your way of saying that she proposed what I would not accept.

ROBERT

(Nods.) I remember. And she went away with you.