New-York tribune., 1918-05-12

aIter an enlargement CduSeu ny his
affair with a young girl, the hancee of
his friend, Edgar Gley)
SOPHIE
/ implore you, Conrad, be sincere
with me- That is tho only thing I beg
of you. I underestimate could forgive
almost anything, but I entreat you, do
not act to me. Only occasionally |
catch glmpses of you through your
borrowed mask. You're hidden some
where, deep, deep down. If one could
but get at you, there's something one
could trust and pin ones faith to. At
the bottom of your soul, l feel con-
vinced you are but a child--really
child.
HERBOT
A child, perhaps; I sometimes think so.
too, yes, that accounts for many
things that puzzle me. I'll tell you
something, Sophie. Do you know when
! dream about myself I always see my
self as a little lad! I've often Won
dered suddenly why people talk to me
as if | were grown up, reasoning
man! | sometimes feel as if I'd like to
say to them, s'Let me alone; I don't
know what you mean" You've scored
a hit, my dcar' A child, that's exactly
what 7 am.
IA bellboy announces Edgar Gley,
whom Herbot has not seen since the
affair with Gley's sweetheart. Sophie
persuades him to see Gley and get the
interview over with. He does so in
another of his effective "bg scenes")
EDGAR
(After frigid greeting)
Mr.. Herbot, have question
should like to ask you-one that you
can answer quite simply with a yes or
no. Have you been Dasy's lover?
HERBOT
Have l? Mr.. Gley, you take my
breath away What shameless SLAM
EDGAR
You have to talk like that, I know,
That proves nothing at all.
HERBOT
What can l do? Won't you at least
tell me where you heard this false
hood? Have you no anonymous letter
you can show me-?
EDGAR
Let's drop all this. For the second
time ask you, Mr. Herbot, have you
been Daisy's lover?
HERBOT
No! I was not her lover!
EDGAR
The truth! The truth!
HERBOT
What is the use of words? Oh, if
any one had told me this could happen!
Forgive me. | am overcome.
(He goes to the window, stimulating
great emotion)
Ny dear man, how you simplify the
j world! Just yes and no. Just truth
and lies, faith and unfaith! If things
were simple, my young friend i
but they are not, it would be charm
ingly convenient if one could calm
ones conscience by just answering
questions. 1t would be easier for me
Gley, whom have never really known
until this moment. If you were some
one else, who did not interest me
whom I could shake off with a shrug
and put aside, could reply . protest
or swear that nothing had happened.
For nothing at all has happened from
the vulgar standpoint. To you, how
ever, / cannot tell such lies. I might
reply, eyes. Edgar Gley. Daisy has
been my mistress" and take you at
your word, send you away into the
world alone, and laugh to think that
had no more obstacles to conquer.
Well, Edgar Gley, ] have been in love
with her. I have loved Daisy like a
silly schoolboy. have sent verses to
her yes, Conrad Herbot has
written verses and paced to and fro
beneath his lady's lattice in her gar
den, like Romeo.
EDGAR
You made love to Daisy---and she
listened to you? You have letters from
her
HERBOT (evidently intending to sug-
gest that what he says is not the
truthl
| have no letters from her in my pos
session.
EDGAR
Mr.. Herbot, lies are lies. You have
gone too far to stop now. / promise
you that no one shall ever hear of
what we are saying, not even my be-
trothed. Only don't torture me-
HERBOT (after an emphatic pause.
taking a letter out of his pocket
hook)
Here is letter Daisy sent me. With
Jour permission I will read it to YOU:
Conrad Herbot--I implore you, go
away. Do not bring misery to those
who have done no harm to you. Re-
member what you have meant to me
long before I knew you. Let that suf-
iice. When next see you in YOUR
wonderful part" Well cut that OUT
Never has any man like you
It 's not so easy!" She merely
meant that she had never had a man
80 much talked about make love to her.
Now listen: "Do not forget you have a
charming wife. who in ,devotaA - ,.