Yes, and they'll drop to a half when we pass the next dividend.

 

SCANTLEBURY. [With alarm.] Come, come! Not so bad as that.

 

WILDER. [Grimly.] You'll see! [Craning forward to catch ANTHONY'S speech.] I didn't catch—

 

TENCH. [Hesitating.] The Chairman says, sir, "Fais que—que—devra."

 

EDGAR. [Sharply.] My father says: "Do what we ought—and let things rip."

 

WILDER. Tcha!

 

SCANTLEBURY. [Throwing up his hands.] The Chairman's a Stoic—I always said the Chairman was a Stoic.

 

WILDER. Much good that'll do us.

 

WANKLIN. [Suavely.] Seriously, Chairman, are you going to let the ship sink under you, for the sake of a principle?

 

ANTHONY. She won't sink.

 

SCANTLEBURY. [With alarm.] Not while I'm on the Board I hope.

 

ANTHONY. [With a twinkle.] Better rat, Scantlebury.

 

SCANTLEBURY. What a man!

 

ANTHONY. I've always fought them; I've never been beaten yet.

 

WANKLIN. We're with you in theory, Chairman. But we're not all made of cast-iron.

 

ANTHONY. We've only to hold on.

 

WILDER. [Rising and going to the fire.] And go to the devil as fast as we can!

 

ANTHONY. Better go to the devil than give in!

 

WILDER. [Fretfully.] That may suit you, sir, but it doesn't suit me, or anyone else I should think.

 

[ANTHONY looks him in the face-a silence.]

 

EDGAR. I don't see how we can get over it that to go on like this means starvation to the men's wives and families.

 

[WILDER turns abruptly to the fire, and SCANTLEBURY puts out a hand to push the idea away.]

 

WANKLIN. I'm afraid again that sounds a little sentimental.

 

EDGAR. Men of business are excused from decency, you think?

 

WILDER. Nobody's more sorry for the men than I am, but if they [lashing himself] choose to be such a pig-headed lot, it's nothing to do with us; we've quite enough on our hands to think of ourselves and the shareholders.

 

EDGAR. [Irritably.] It won't kill the shareholders to miss a dividend or two; I don't see that that's reason enough for knuckling under.

 

SCANTLEBURY. [With grave discomfort.] You talk very lightly of your dividends, young man; I don't know where we are.

 

WILDER. There's only one sound way of looking at it. We can't go on ruining ourselves with this strike.

 

ANTHONY. No caving in!

 

SCANTLEBURY. [With a gesture of despair.] Look at him!

 

[ANTHONY'S leaning back in his chair.