W. Somerset Maugham

“ Catherine.
[Indignantly.] How can you be so ignoble?
George Winter.
[Dropping his bantering tone, quickly and sternly.] You must know me very little, Kate. My whole life is at stake, and you think I’m going to be moved by entreaties or abuse? I’m at the most critical point of my career. Part of my strength is that I never deceive myself. I’m only an adventurer. My millions are paper millions, and I want to be in such a position that if I’m in need of half a million I can go to the big men and get it, and if one of them asks me for half a million I can afford to put it down. ”

“ The only thing I ask is that you shouldn’t apply for a divorce and that you should appear with me at certain public functions.
Catherine.
[Passionately.] I want to be free. I’ve lived in an atmosphere of lies and hypocrisy till I can hardly breathe. Your good nature is merely a pose. Your generosity is merely an advertisement. You care for nothing but your own self-advancement. And I want to be rid of the horrible feeling that all sorts of shady things are going on around me that I don’t know.
George Winter. ”

“ If Anne’s heart is set upon marrying this rather foolish boy, have you the heart to prevent her?
Catherine.
I’ve sacrificed myself long enough. It’s Anne’s turn now.
George Winter.
You’ll find self-sacrifice one of the forms of self-indulgence in which people are never wildly anxious to take turn and turn about.
Catherine.
What can you do with Teddie O’Donnell? He’s no good to you.
George Winter.
I’m not sure. I like dealing with gentlemen. When they go into the City they take to dirty work with an alacrity which you often don’t find in the City man born and bred. ”

“ I’ve got to keep my seat. I want all my prestige. I can’t have a divorce. You must go to Kate at once, and tell her that the only way she can save you from prison is by telling these men who are coming from Middlepool that she has no cause for complaint against me.
Etchingham.
Good God! I’d forgotten Kate.
Bennett.
It’s only by going on now that we can save ourselves and the money that’s invested in our companies.
Etchingham.
[Irritably.] You wouldn’t have got into such a mess with Kate if you hadn’t made such a damned fool of yourself. Why couldn’t you leave these women alone?
George Winter. ”

“ James Ford.
I’ll tell you what I’ll do. If the bonds are in their place by four o’clock to-morrow I’ll say nothing.
George Winter.
[Astounded.] To-morrow? It can’t be done. It’s impossible.
James Ford.
That’s all I can do for you.
George Winter.
[Hardly knowing what he is saying.] But no one could get it. You know it’s impossible. Even if you gave me a week I couldn’t do it. I can’t, I can’t, I can’t. With the attack on us to-day we’re—we’re tottering. It’s as much as we shall be able to do to hold out till the tide turns. That’s not giving me a chance. Not a chance. To-morrow! It’s absurd! ”

“ The British people for some reason always judge moral delinquencies on the Radical side with great severity. I have always thought it a hardship that the Tories should have a sort of prescriptive right to the more amusing forms of immorality.
Catherine.
Let us understand one another plainly. Do you mean that if my husband drags Robert Colby through the Divorce Court, you’ll throw Robert overboard, even if his innocence is proved through and through?
Perigal.
My dear, no one is so innocent that there’s not occasion for many people to shake their heads and say: One never knows. ”

“ He whips himself into a rage as he flings the scornful invective at James Ford and ends up on the last words in a positive scream of fury.
George Winter.
Oh, it’s infamous. It’s damned hypocrisy. You don’t care if I’ve taken the money or not. You’re afraid of your own skin. And you’re jealous of me. It’s envy. I knew you envied me all the time. D’you think I’ve been taken in by you? You were a little tin god in Middlepool till I came along. You didn’t fight me like a man. You just sided with me, waiting for your chance to trip me up. You think when I’m gone you’ll have the field to yourself. ”

“ Catherine.
Wouldn’t it be better to stay and face it? If you’ve done wrong, can’t you accept your punishment? You’re young still.
George Winter.
They won’t have mercy on me. It’ll mean ten years. And when I come out, it’ll mean hiding, doing odd jobs, like Bennett, dirty work for other men who won’t risk their own skins. And what d’you suppose a life like that is worth to me? I want the power, and the notoriety, and the glamour. I wanted men to point me out in the street. ”

“ There is a moment’s pause, and when George Winter speaks it is with great seriousness.
George Winter.
Now look here, Kate; listen to me carefully. You know that all our interests are in Central America. The Lewishams had it all their own way out there till I came along. They owned the railways and the mines and the trams—everything that was worth having. Well, I knew I couldn’t oust them, but I thought I could make them take me in. I’ve been fighting them tooth and nail for ten years. They’ve done all they could to smash me by fair means and foul, but they haven’t succeeded. ”

“ With a slight bow to James Ford, Catherine goes out.
George Winter.
I told you I was justified in trusting my luck. Everything is coming out right. The Lewishams won’t be able to stand against me much longer. They’ll have to take me in. We’ll combine our interests, and then we shall hold Central America in the hollow of our hands. You’ll be in it too, James. You’re going to be a richer man than you guess. And when I’m in with the Lewishams I shall bide my time. Manny Lewisham can’t last much longer, and his sons are fools. ”

“ Anne.
Oh, my dear, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to say anything that would hurt you.
Catherine.
[Recovering herself.] You haven’t. Forgive me. I didn’t mean to make a scene, but my nerves are a little upset. I’m a very weak, selfish woman, audit’s dreadfully hard to be half as angelic as you think me. I’m very glad that you’re going to marry Teddie. You’re in love with one another, and if you haven’t much money, what does it matter? I’m sure you’ll be tremendously happy.
Anne.
You are a dear. ”

“ George Winter.
Rot! I flutter the will-o’-the-wisp of gain before the covetous, and they follow. They want to make money without working for it. Well, I’m cleverer than they are. Swalecliffe gambles with his five hundred pounds. His five hundred pounds will find its way into my pocket. It’s his own look out. Each for himself and the devil take the hindmost. [With a start.] By George, I’ve got an idea.... The Lewishams can’t attack my stocks without weakening their own. We’re in the same boat, and if one of us shakes it both’ll topple out.
Etchingham. ”

“ George Winter puts up his hand for silence.
George Winter.
Gentlemen, we’ve won a great fight. We’ve won in face of a campaign of lies, of misrepresentation, and of scandal. Truth always prevails. Honesty is the best policy. ”

“ The Middlepool people are nervous about the whole thing. You know Swalecliffe—he’s the Nonconformist minister—one of those confounded busybodies who go poking their noses into everybody’s private life. He’s on my committee. He and Ford control the dissenting interest between them.... They’ve got it into their heads that they want the truth from you.
Catherine.
Me?
Lady Francis.
Who is Ford?
George Winter.
Oh, he’s the richest man in Middlepool. He’s one of my directors on the Middlepool Investment Trust. Hard as nails! Shrewd as they make ’em! But a Nonconformist to the tips of his fingers. ”

“ Bennett.
I should have to say that you agreed with us in the necessity of borrowing the bonds with the idea of putting them back as soon as we’d floated the company, and that you signed the order to the bank with full knowledge of the seriousness of your act.
George Winter.
What is truth, said jesting Pilate.
Bennett.
You’re just as deep in it as we are, my lord.
Etchingham.
Oh, my God!
George Winter.
It’s no use losing one’s head because one’s in a tight place.
Etchingham.
You’ve tricked me. You’re a common swindler. In a month we may all be in prison. ”

“ Etchingham.
Well, Catherine, I hope you’ve thought better of things.
George Winter.
Well?
[He looks at her with malicious amusement, and she, her head thrown back, stares at him with hatred and anger.
Catherine.
You think every man is a rogue, don’t you?
George Winter.
Certainly not. I think nine men out of ten are rogues or fools. That’s why I make money.
Catherine.
And what’ll you do when you come across the tenth man, who’s neither rogue nor fool?
George Winter.
[Flippantly.] Put him under a glass case.
Catherine.
You may find him awkward to deal with. Take care. ”

“ But I have never concealed from you that mine was humble.
Catherine.
[Suspiciously.] What is that paper?
George Winter.
[Ignoring the question.] That is one of the pills you had to swallow when I married you and your excellent but impoverished family. I started life with neither friend nor money, but with exceptionally fine parts. I soon discovered that the simplest way to succeed is by blackmail. It is astonishing how many men keep a large-sized skeleton in their cupboards. If you only get a sight of those discreditable bones, you can often make a whole family your bosom friends. ”

“ You’ve been Mayor of Middlepool twice, and you’ve done a lot of work for the party. I can’t help thinking it’s almost time the Government showed some appreciation of your services.
James Ford.
You’ve mistaken your man, George Winter. I’ve worked like a nigger for thirty years. I’ve not let any chance slip by me, but I’ve never done anything that a man need be ashamed of. I’ve built up an honest business to leave to my sons, and an honest name. I’m too old to start being a rogue now. ”

“ He enters with Francis Etchingham. George Winter is a man of powerful build, with fine hair and fine eyes; he wears a short red beard. He is inclined to corpulence, but bears himself with an attractive swagger. He is a jovial, bland fellow. He appears to be the best-natured person in the world, and his great astuteness suggests itself only now and then in a look of his eyes. He has admirable control over an execrable temper. Catherine turns round with a startled cry at the sound of her husband’s voice. ”

“ I don’t imagine a parliamentary light like your friend Robert Colby would take ridicule very well. It’s only by his entire lack of humour that he’s risen to the exalted position he now adorns.
Catherine.
[Frightened.] What d’you mean, George?
George Winter.
[Good-humouredly.] My dear, I’m going to bring a counter petition, that’s all. You want to wash your dirty linen in public, let’s have an entire spring cleaning.
Catherine.
[Scornfully.] Oh, my dear George, if you only knew how indifferent I am to such a threat! We haven’t done anything with which we can reproach ourselves. ”

“ Lady Francis.
My dear, don’t be so bitter.
Anne.
One has to take people as one finds them; George has always been charming to me. If you’d only make allowances for him....
Catherine.
[Interrupting vehemently.] Oh, my dear, don’t. I’m not in the humour to stand that. Leave me to lead my own life without interference. Surely it’s enough that to bind me to him George should give you an income to marry on. ”

“ Lady Francis and Anne go out.
George Winter.
No, go to bed. You’re young, and you want your beauty sleep. I’ll be bound you’re not worried by the trains. Where’s your room?
O’Donnell.
It’s just above yours. But I sleep like a top.
George Winter.
That’s a good sign. You’ll be as great a man as I am one of these days. ”

“ My dear fellow, you’re much more comfortable here than you would be at Kensal Green.
Etchingham.
And the worst of it is.... [He breaks off.] At first I was overcome with the horror of it. But little by little I’ve got used to it, used to your being a thief and a swindler.
George Winter.
[With a chuckle.] You put things rather bluntly, don’t you?
Etchingham.
And Bennett was a convict. It all seems quite natural now. And I can talk and laugh with you. And I eat by your side every day.
George Winter.
One can’t make a fortune without taking risks.
Etchingham.
There are always those missing bonds. ”

“ Etchingham.
Well, Angela?
Lady Francis.
Oh, my dear, I hoped it was idle gossip. A man as much in the public eye as George Winter—the most prominent financier of the moment—is certain to be talked about.
Etchingham.
I suppose he’s been flirting with two or three pretty women.
Lady Francis.
I understand things are supposed to have gone rather further than that.
Etchingham.
That’s the kind of thing a tactful woman must close her eyes to. You’re a woman of the world, Kate. You know what men are. You must extend a certain degree of licence to a man of George Winter’s temperament.
Catherine. ”

“ Etchingham.
Winter, Morrison, Winter, Morrison. One vote on one side, one vote on the other. It seemed interminable.
Lady Francis.
He won by seventy-five last time.
Etchingham.
Who can tell the effect of all these rumours and suspicions and attacks? They may just have made the difference. Oh, it’s maddening.
Catherine.
Sit down, father, and rest. You look quite done up.
Etchingham.
Even George is anxious. I know his face so well. He’s trying to appear as if he were certain.
Anne.
No human being could help being anxious. ”

“ Etchingham.
I believe if he wins the election he’ll be strong enough to force the issue on them.
Catherine.
But if the mine’s worthless?
Etchingham.
We’re going to buy the shares in when the tide turns in Central America. Things are looking brighter already. He’s promised me that no one shall lose a farthing. When that’s done I go. Oh, how thankful I shall be! ”

“ Catherine gives a very slight start, and when she speaks her voice is not quite steady.
Catherine.
That might be very difficult. A man might be an object of scandal, and yet be perfectly innocent. Supposing—a malicious person brought an action for divorce against him. It might be merely an attempt at blackmail. It would be monstrous to punish him for something that wasn’t his fault. ”