The Philanderer | Page 4

get at
Grace, but strikes him in the face as she frees herself.)
CHARTERIS (shocked). Oh, Julia, Julia! This is too bad.
JULIA. Is it, indeed, too bad? What are you doing up here with that
woman? You scoundrel! But now listen to me; Leonard: you have

driven me to desperation; and I don't care what I do, or who hears me.
I'll not bear it. She shall not have my place with you--
CHARTERIS. Sh-sh!
JULIA. No, no: I don't care: I will expose her true character before
everybody. You belong to me: you have no right to be here; and she
knows it.
CHARTERIS. I think you had better let me take you home, Julia.
JULIA. I will not. I am not going home: I am going to stay
here--here--until I have made you give her up.
CHARTERIS. My dear, you must be reasonable. You really cannot
stay in Mrs. Tranfield's house if she objects. She can ring the bell and
have us both put out.
JULIA. Let her do it then. Let her ring the bell if she dares. Let us see
how this pure virtuous creature will face the scandal of what I will
declare about her. Let us see how you will face it. I have nothing to lose.
Everybody knows how you have treated me: you have boasted of your
conquests, you poor pitiful, vain creature--I am the common talk of
your acquaintances and hers. Oh, I have calculated my advantage
(tearing off her mantle): I am a most unhappy and injured woman; but I
am not the fool you take me to be. I am going to stay--see! (She flings
the mantle on the round table; puts her bonnet on it, and sits down.)
Now, Mrs. Tranfield: there is the bell: (pointing to the button beside the
fireplace) why don't you ring? (Grace, looking attentively at Charteris,
does not move.) Ha! ha! I thought so.
CHARTERIS (quietly, without relaxing his watch on Julia). Mrs.
Tranfield: I think you had better go into another room. (Grace makes a
movement towards the door, but stops and looks inquiringly at
Charteris as Julia springs up. He advances a step so as to prevent her
from getting to the door.)
JULIA. She shall not. She shall stay here. She shall know what you are,

and how you have been in love with me--how it is not two days since
you kissed me and told me that the future would be as happy as the past.
(Screaming at him) You did: deny it if you dare.
CHARTERIS (to Grace in a low voice). Go!
GRACE (with nonchalant disgust--going). Get her away as soon as you
can, Leonard.
(Julia, with a stifled cry of rage, rushes at Grace, who is crossing
behind the sofa towards door. Charteris seizes her and prevents her
from getting past the sofa. Grace goes out. Charteris, holding Julia fast,
looks around to the door to see whether Grace is safely out of the
room.)
JULIA (suddenly ceasing to struggle and speaking with the most
pathetic dignity). Oh, there is no need to be violent. (He passes her
across to the left end of the sofa, and leans against the right end,
panting and mopping his forehead). That is worthy of you!--to use
brute force--to humiliate me before her! (She breaks down and bursts
into tears.)
CHARTERIS (to himself with melancholy conviction). This is going to
be a cheerful evening. Now patience, patience, patience! (Sits on a
chair near the round table.)
JULIA (in anguish). Leonard, have you no feeling for me?
CHARTERIS. Only an intense desire to get you safely out of this.
JULIA (fiercely). I am not going to stir.
CHARTERIS (wearily). Well, well. (Heaves a long sigh. They sit silent
for awhile, Julia struggling, not to regain her self control, but to
maintain her rage at boiling point.)
JULIA (rising suddenly). I am going to speak to that woman.
CHARTERIS (jumping up). No, no. Hang it, Julia, don't let's have

another wrestling match. I have the strength, but not the wind: you're
too young for me. Sit down or else let me take you home. Suppose her
father comes in.
JULIA. I don't care. It rests with you. I am ready to go if she will give
you up: until then I stay. Those are my terms: you owe me that, (She
sits down determinedly. Charteris looks at her for a moment; then,
making up his mind, goes resolutely to the couch, sits down near the
right hand end of it, she being at the left; and says with biting
emphasis)--
CHARTERIS. I owe you just exactly nothing.
JULIA (reproachfully). Nothing! You can look me in the face and say
that? Oh, Leonard!
CHARTERIS. Let me remind you, Julia, that when first we became
acquainted,