Theft | Page 9

do? She has a will of her own--the same sort of a will that
you have. Besides, I think she knows about my--about some of
my--indiscretions.
{Starkweather}
(Slyly.)
Harmless indiscretions?
(Chalmers is about to reply, but observes Mrs. Starkweather
approaching.)
{Mrs. Starkweather}
(Speaks in a peevish, complaining voice, and during her harrangue
Starkweather immerses himself in notebook.) Oh, there you are,
Anthony. Talking politics, I suppose. Well, as soon as I get a cup of tea
we must go. Tommy is not looking as well as I could wish. Margaret
loves him, but she does not take the right care of him. I don't know
what the world is coming to when mothers do not know how to rear
their offspring. There is Margaret, with her slum kindergartens, taking
care of everybody else's children but her own. If she only performed
her church duties as eagerly! Mr. Rutland is displeased with her. I shall
give her a talking to--only, you'd better do it, Anthony. Somehow, I
have never counted much with Margaret. She is as set in doing what
she pleases as you are. In my time children paid respect to their parents.
This is what comes of speed. There is no time for anything. And now I
must get my tea and run. Connie has to dress for that dinner.
(Mrs. Starkweather crosses to table, greets others characteristically
and is served with tea by Connie.)
(Chalmers waits respectfully on Starkweather.)
{Starkweather}

(Looking up from note-book.) That will do, Tom.
(Chalmers is just starting across to join others, when voices are heard
outside rear entrance, and Margaret enters with Dolores Ortega, wife
of the Peruvian Minister, and Matsu Sakari, Secretary of Japanese
Legation--both of whom she has met as they were entering the house.)
(Chalmers changes his course, and meets the above advancing group.
He knows Dolores Ortega, whom he greets, and is introduced to
Sakari.)
(Margaret passes on among guests, greeting them, etc. Then she
displaces Connie at tea-table and proceeds to dispense tea to the
newcomers.)
(Groups slowly form and seat themselves about stage as follows:
Chalmers and Dolores Ortega; Rutland, Dowsett, Mrs. Starkweather;
Connie, Mr. Dowsett, and Hubbard.)
(Chalmers carries tea to Dolores Ortega.)
(Sakari has been lingering by table, waiting for tea and pattering with
Margaret, Chalmers, etc.)
{Margaret}
(Handing cup to Sakari.) I am very timid in offering you this, for I am
sure you must be appalled by our barbarous methods of making tea.
{Sakari}
(Bowing.) It is true, your American tea, and the tea of the English, are
quite radically different from the tea in my country. But one learns, you
know. I served my apprenticeship to American tea long years ago,
when I was at Yale. It was perplexing, I assure you--at first, only at first
I really believe that I am beginning to have a--how shall I call it?--a
tolerance for tea in your fashion.
{Margaret}

You are very kind in overlooking our shortcomings.
{Sakari}
(Bowing.) On the contrary, I am unaware, always unaware, of any
shortcomings of this marvelous country of yours.
{Margaret}
(Laughing.) You are incorrigibly gracious, Mr. Sakari. (Knox appears
at threshold of rear entrance and pauses irresolutely for a moment)
{Sakari}
(Noticing Knox, and looking about him to select which group he will
join.) If I may be allowed, I shall now retire and consume this--tea.
(Joins group composed of Connie, Mrs. Dowsett, and Hubbard.)
(Knox comes forward to Margaret, betraying a certain awkwardness
due to lack of experience in such social functions. He greets Margaret
and those in the group nearest her.)
{Knox}
(To Margaret.) I don't know why I come here. I do not belong. All the
ways are strange.
{Margaret}
(Lightly, at the same time preparing his tea.) The same Ali Baba--once
again in the den of the forty thieves. But your watch and pocket-book
are safe here, really they are.
(Knox makes a gesture of dissent at her facetiousness.) Now don't be
serious. You should relax sometimes. You live too tensely.
(Looking at Starkweather.) There's the arch-anarch over there, the
dragon you are trying to slay.

(Knox looks at Starkweather and is plainly perplexed.) The man who
handles all the life insurance funds, who controls more strings of banks
and trust companies than all the Rothschilds a hundred times over--the
merger of iron and steel and coal and shipping and all the other
things--the man who blocks your child labor bill and all the rest of the
remedial legislation you advocate. In short, my father.
{Knox}
(Looking intently at Starkweather.) I should have recognized him from
his photographs. But why do you say such things?
{Margaret}
Because they are true.
(He remains silent.) Now, aren't they? (She laughs.) Oh, you don't need
to answer. You know the truth, the whole bitter truth. This is a den