UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 AT LOS ANGELES
 
 UNIVERSITY of CALIFORNB, 
 
 LOS ANGELES 
 LIBRARY
 
 THE SKIN GAME 
 
 •'^ c •■^. 
 
 O ;^ i:^ 6
 
 THE WORKS OF 
 JOHN GALSWORTHY 
 
 NOVELS 
 
 VILLA. BUBEIN : AND OTHBE ST0EIB3 
 
 THE ISLA.ND PHARISEBS V 
 
 THE MA.N OF PROPERTY •^ 
 
 THE COUNTRY HOUSE , 
 
 FRATERNITY 
 
 THE PATRIOIAN ' 
 
 THE DARK FLOWER 
 
 THE FREBLANDS 
 
 BEYOND 
 
 FIVE TALES 
 
 SAINTS' PROORBSS 
 
 IN OHANOBEY 
 
 TO LET 
 
 STUDIES 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 A MOTLEY 
 
 THE INN OP TRANQUILLITY 
 
 THE LITTLE MAN 
 
 A SHEAF 
 
 ANOTHER SHBAP 
 
 TATTERDEMALION 
 
 POEMS 
 MOODS, SONGS AND DOGQERELS 
 
 MEMORIES (IliliUSTUATED) 
 AWAKENING (ILLUSTRATED) 
 
 PLATS 
 
 FIRST SERIES: The silyer Box '^ 
 Jor 
 Strips 
 
 SECOOT) Seeobs: The Eldest Son "' / 
 The Little Diuiam ' 
 Justice y 
 
 THIRD SERIES: The Fuqitivb v/ 
 The pigeon 
 The MOB 
 
 fourth series : A bit 0' Love 
 Foundations 
 THE skin Game 
 
 Six Short plays : The first and the Last 
 THE little Man 
 hall-marked 
 Defeat 
 THE Sun 
 Punch and go 

 
 THE SKIN GAME 
 
 \ TRAGI-COMEDY IN THREE ACTS 
 
 BY 
 
 JOHN GALSWORTHY 
 
 "Who touches pitch shall be defiled" 
 
 
 = ^ ^' u' '^ ''.'^ 
 
 44890 
 
 LONDON 
 
 DUCKWORTH AND CO. 
 
 HENRIETTA ST. COVENT GARDEN
 
 ACTING RIGHTS 
 
 Professional — 
 
 Agents— CvRTis Brown Limited 
 
 6 HENRIETTA Street, Covent Garden 
 
 London W.C.2 
 
 Amateur — 
 
 Agents— Tn^ Incorporated Society 
 
 OF Authors 
 
 1 Central Buildings 
 
 ToTHiLL Street, Westminster S.W.I 
 
 To whom respectively all enquh'ies should be addressed 
 
 
 Third Impression ig2i 
 
 All rights reserved 
 Copyright in U.S.A. 
 
 Printed in Great Britain 
 hy Turnbull &• Shears, Edinburgh 
 
 r 7
 
 CHARACTERS 
 
 A Coimtry Gentleman 
 
 His Wife 
 
 His Daughter 
 
 His Agent 
 
 A man newly-rich 
 
 His Elder Son 
 
 Wife to Charles 
 
 His Younger Son 
 
 Hillcrist's Butler 
 
 Qiloe's Maid 
 
 Man and Wife ♦ 
 
 Hn.IX*R18T 
 
 Amy . 
 
 Jill ■ . 
 
 Dawkbr 
 
 hornblower 
 
 Charlbs 
 
 Chlob '^ 
 
 Rolf . 
 
 Fklt^ows 
 
 Anna 
 
 The Jackmans 
 
 An AtrcTiONKER 
 
 A Solicitor • 
 
 Two Strangers 
 
 ACT I. Hillcrist's 5/M<fy. 
 
 ACT II. 
 
 SCENE I. A month lakr. An Auction Room. 
 SCENE II. The mme evening. Chloe's Bovdoir. 
 
 ACT III. 
 
 SCENE I. The following day. Hillcrist's Study. 
 
 Morning. 
 SCENE II. The Same. Evening.
 
 ACT I
 
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 ACT I 
 
 Hillcrist's study. A fleasant room, with hoohs in 
 calf hmdings, and signs that the Hillcrists have 
 travelled, such as a large fhotografh of the Taj 
 Mahal, of Table Mountain, and the Pyramids of 
 Egypt. A large bureau [stage Right], devoted to 
 the business of a country estate. Two foxes^ 
 masks. Flowers in bowls. Deep armchairs. A 
 large French window open [at Back,] with a lovely 
 view of a slight rise of fields and trees in August 
 sunlight. A fine stone fireplace [stage Left]. A 
 door [Left]. A door opposite [Right]. General 
 colour effect — stone, and cigar-leaf brown, with 
 spots of bright colour. 
 
 [HiLLCRiST sits in a swivel chair at the bureau, busy 
 with papers. He has gout, and his left foot is 
 encased accordingly. He is a thin, dried-up man 
 of about fifty-five, with a rather refined, rather 
 kindly, and rather cranky countenance. Close to 
 him stands his very upstanding nineteen-year- 
 old daughter Jill, with dubbed hair round a pretty, 
 manly face.] 
 
 Jill. You know, Dodo, it's all pretty good rot in 
 these days. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. Cads are cads, Jill, even in these days. 
 
 a3 1
 
 2 THE SKIN GAME act i 
 
 Jill. "Wliat is a cad ? 
 
 HiLLCRiST. A self-assertive fellow, witliout a sense 
 of ouier people. 
 
 Jill. Well, Old Hornblower I'll give you. 
 
 HiLLCRisT. I wouldn't take him. 
 
 Jill. Well, you've got him. Now, Charlie — 
 Chearhe — I say — the importance of not being 
 Charhe 
 
 Hillcrist. Good heavens ! do you know their 
 Christian names ? 
 
 Jill. My dear father, they've been here seven 
 years. 
 
 Hillcrist. In old days we only knew their Chris- 
 tian names from their tombstones. 
 
 Jill. Charlie Hornblower isn't really half a bad 
 sport. 
 
 Hillcrist. About a quarter of a bad sport — I've 
 always thought out hunting. 
 
 Jill. [Pulling his hair] Now, his %vife — Chloe 
 
 Hillcrist. [Whimsical] Gad ! your mother'd have 
 a fit if she knew you called her Chloe. 
 
 Jill. It's a ripping name. 
 
 Hillcrist. Chloe ! H'm ! I had a spaniel 
 once 
 
 Jill. Dodo, you're narrow. Buck up, old darhng, 
 it won't do. Chloe has seen hfe, I'm pretty sure ; 
 that's attractive, anyway. No, mother's not in the 
 room ; don't turn your uneasy eyes. 
 
 Hillcrist. Really, my dear, you are getting 
 
 Jill. The hmit Now, Rolf 
 
 Hillcrist. What's Rolf ? Another dog ?
 
 ACT I THE SKIN GAME 3 
 
 Jill. Rolf Hornblower's a topper ; he really is a 
 nice boy. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. [With a sharp look] Oli ! lie's a nice 
 boy ? 
 
 Jill. Yes, darling. You know what a nice boy is, 
 don't you ? 
 
 HiLLCRiST. Not in these days. 
 
 Jill. Well, I'll tell you. In the first place, he's 
 not amorous 
 
 HiLLCRiST. What ! Well, that's some comfort. 
 
 Jill. Just a j oily good companion. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. To whom ? 
 
 Jill. Well, to anyone — me. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. Where ? 
 
 Jill. Anywhere. You don't suppose I confine 
 myself to the home paddocks, do you ? I'm 
 naturally rangey, Father. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. {IronicalhJ] You don't say so ! 
 
 Jill. In the second place, he doesn't hko discipline. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. Jupiter ! He does seem attractive. 
 
 Jill. In the third place, he bars his father. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. Is that essential to nice girls too ? 
 
 Jill. [With a txvirl of his hair] Fish not ! 
 Fourthly, he's got ideas. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. I knew it ! 
 
 Jill. For instance, he thinks— as I do 
 
 HiLLCRiST. Ah ! Good ideas. 
 
 Jill. [Pulling gently] Careful ! He thinks old 
 people run the show too much. He says they 
 oughtn't to, because they're so damtouchy. Are you 
 damtouchy, darling ?
 
 4 THE SKIN GAME act i 
 
 HiLLCRiST. Well, I'm — ! I don't know about 
 toucliy. 
 
 Jill. 'He says there'll be no world fit to live in till 
 we get rid of the old. We must make tliem climb a 
 tall tree, and shake them ofi it. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. [Drily] Oh ! he says that ! 
 
 Jill. Otherwise, with the way they stand on each 
 other's rights, they'll spoil the garden for the young. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. Does his father agree ? 
 
 Jill. Oh ! Eolf doesn't talk to him^ his mouth's 
 too large. Have you ever seen it, Dodo ? 
 
 HiLLCRiST. Of course. 
 
 Jill. It's considerable, isn't it ? Now yours is — 
 reticent, darhng. [Rmnpling his hair.] 
 
 HiLLCRiST. It won't be in a minute. Do you 
 reaUse that I've got gout ? 
 
 Jill. Poor ducky ! How long have we been here, 
 Dodo ? 
 
 HiLLCRiST. Since EUzabeth, anyway. 
 
 Jill. [Looking at his foot] It has its drawbacks. 
 D'you think Hornblower had a father ? I beheve 
 he was spontaneous. But, Dodo, why all this — this 
 attitude to the Horublowcrs ? 
 
 She purses her lips and makes a gesture as of 
 pushing persons away. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. Because they're pushing. 
 
 Jill. That's only because we are, as mother 
 would say, and they're not — yet. But why not let 
 them be ? 
 
 HiLLCRiST. You can't. 
 
 Jill. Why?
 
 ACT I THE SKIN GAME ^5 
 
 HiLLCRiST. It takes generations to learn to live and j-^ 
 let Uve, Jill. People like that take an ell wlien you { 
 give them an inch, / 
 
 Jill. But if you gave them the ell, they wouldn't 
 want the inch. Why should it all be such a skin game ? 
 
 HiLLCRiST. Skin game ? Where do you get your 
 Ungo ? 
 
 Jill. Keep to the point, Dodo. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. Well, Jill, all hfe's a struggle between- 
 people at different stages of development, in different ! 
 positions, with difierent amounts of social influence J 
 and property. And the only thing is to have rules V 
 of the game and keep them. New people hke the I 
 Hornblowers haven't learnt those rules ; their only I 
 rule is to get all they can. ^i 
 
 Jill. Darhng, don't prose. They're not half Ss ^ 
 bad as you think. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. Well, when I sold Hornblower Long- 
 meadow and the cottages, I certainly found him all 
 right. All the same, he's got the cloven hoof. 
 [Warming wp] His influence in Deepwater is 
 thoroughly bad ; those potteries of his are demoral- 
 ising — the whole atmosphere of the place is changing. 
 It was a thousand pities he ever came here and dis- V 
 
 covered that clay. He's brought in the modern cut- 
 throat spirit. 
 
 Jill. Cut our throat spirit, you mean. What's 
 your definition of a gentleman. Dodo ? 
 
 HiLLCRiST. {Uneasily] Can't describe— only feel it. 
 
 Jill. Oh! Try! 
 
 HiLLCRiST. Well — er — I suppose you might say —
 
 6 THE SKIN GAME act i 
 
 \ a man who keeps liis form and doesn't let life scupper 
 him out of his standards. 
 
 Jill. But suppose his standards are low ? 
 
 HiLLCRiST. [With some earneslness] I assume, of 
 course, that he's honest and tolerant, gentle to the 
 weak, and not self-seeking. 
 
 Jill. Ah ! self-seeking 1 But aren't we all, Dodo ? 
 / am. 
 
 Hillcrist. [With a smile] You ! 
 
 Jill. [Scornfully] Oh ! yes — too young to know. 
 
 Hillcrist. Nobody knows till they're under pretty 
 heavy fire, Jill. 
 
 Jill. Except, of course, mother. 
 
 Hillcrist. How do you mean — mother ? 
 
 Jill. Mother reminds me of England according to 
 herself — always right whatever she does. 
 
 Hillcrist. Ye-es. Your mother is perhaps — the 
 perfect woman 
 
 Jill. That's what I was saying. Now, no one could 
 call you perfect. Dodo. Besides, you've got gout. 
 
 Hillcrist. Yes ; and I want Fellows. Ring that 
 
 bell. 
 
 Jill. [Crossing to the bell] Shall I tell you my 
 
 definition of a gentleman ? A man who gives the 
 
 ..^ Hornblower his due. [She rings the hell] And I 
 
 ' think mother ought to call on them. Rolf says old 
 
 Hornblower resents it fearfully that she's never made 
 
 a sign to Chloe the three years she's been here. 
 
 Hillcrist. I don't interfere wiih your mother in 
 such matters. She may go and call on the devil liim- 
 self if she Ukes.
 
 ACT I THE SKIN GAME 7 
 
 Jill. I know you're ever so much better tliau 
 she is. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. That's respectful. 
 
 Jill. You do keep your prejudices out of your 
 phiz. But mother hterally looks down her nose. 
 And she never forgives an " h." They'd get the 
 " hell " from her if they took the " hinch." 
 
 HiLLCRiST. Jill — your language ! 
 
 Jill. Don't sUme out of it, Dodo. I say, mother 
 ought to call on the Hornblowers. 
 
 No answer. 
 Well? 
 
 HiLLcmsT. My dear, I always let people have the 
 last word. It makes them — feel funny. Ugh ! My 
 foot! 
 
 Enter Fellows, Left. 
 
 Fellows, send into the village and get another bottle 
 of this stuff. 
 
 Jill. I'll go, darhng. 
 
 She blows him a hiss, and goes out at the 
 window. 
 
 HiLLcmST. And tell cook I've got to go on 
 slops. This foot's worse. 
 
 Fellows. [Syni'pathetic] Indeed, sir. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. My third go this year. Fellows. 
 
 Fellows. Very annopng, sir. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. Ye — es. Ever had it ? 
 
 Fellows. I fancy I have had a twinge, sir. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. \Bri(jhlenin(j\ Have you ? Wiere ? 
 
 Fellows. In my cork wrist, sir. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. Your what ?
 
 8 THE SKIN GAME act l 
 
 Fellows. The wrist I draw corks with. 
 HiLLCRiST. [With a cackle] You'd have had more 
 than a twinge if you'd hved with my father. H'm ! 
 Fellows. Excuse me, sir — Vichy water corks, in 
 my experience, are worse than any wine. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. [Ironically] Ah ! The country's . not 
 what it was, is it, Fellows ? 
 Fellows. Getting very new, sir. 
 HiLLCRiST. [Feelingly] You're right. Has Dawker 
 come ? 
 
 Fellows. Not yet, sir. The Jackmans would Uke 
 to see you, sir. 
 HiLLCRiST. What about ? 
 Fellows. I don't know, sir. 
 HiLLCRiST. Well, show them in. 
 Fellows. [Going] Yes, sir. 
 
 HiLLCRiST turns his swivel chair round. The 
 Jackmans come in. He, a big felloiv about 
 fifty, in a labourer's dress, with eyes which 
 have more in them than his tongue can 
 express ; she, a little woman with a ivorn 
 face, a bright, quick glance, and a tongue to 
 match. 
 HiLLCRiST. Good morning, Mrs Jackman ! Morn- 
 ing, Jackman ! Haven't seen you for a long time. 
 What can I do ? [He draws in foot, and breath, with a 
 sharp hiss]. 
 
 Jackman. [In a down-hearted voice] We've had 
 notice to quit, sir. 
 HiLLCRiST. [With emphasis] What ! 
 Jackman. Got to be out this week.
 
 ACT I THE SKIN GAME 9 
 
 Mrs J. Yes, sir, indeed. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. Well, but when I sold Longmeadow 
 and the cottages, it was on the express understanding 
 that there was to be no disturbance of tenancies, 
 
 Mrs J. Yes, sir ; but we've all got to go. Mrs 
 'Arvey, and the Drews, an' us, and there isn't another 
 cottage to be had anywhere in Deepwater. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. I know ; I want one for my cowman. 
 This won't do at all. Where do you get it from ? 
 
 Jackman. Mr 'Ornblower, 'imself, sir. Just an 
 hour ago. He come round and said : " I'm sorry ; 
 I want the cottages, and you've got to clear." 
 
 Mrs J. [Bitterly'] He's no gentleman, sir ; he put 
 it so brisk. We been there thirty years, and now we 
 don't know what to do. So I hope you'll excuse us 
 coming round, sir. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. I should think so, indeed ! H'm ! 
 [He rises and limps across to the fireplace on his stick. 
 To himself] The cloven hoof. By George ! this is 
 a breach of faith. I'll write to him, Jackman. Con- 
 found it ! I'd certainly never have sold if I'd known 
 he was going to do this. 
 
 Mrs J. No, sir, I'm sure, sir. They do say it's to 
 do with the potteries. He wants the cottages for 
 his workmen. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. [Sharply] That's all very well, but he 
 shouldn't have led me to suppose that he would make 
 no change. 
 
 Jackman. [Heavily] They talk about his havin' 
 bought the Gentry to put up more chimneys there, 
 and that's why he wants the cottages.
 
 10 THE SKIN GAME act i 
 
 HtllcrIvST. The Gentry ! Impossible ! 
 
 Mrs J. Yes, sir ; it's sucli a pretty spot— looks 
 beautiful from here. [She looks out through the windoiv] 
 Lovehcst spot in all Deepwater, I always say. And 
 your father owned it, and his father before 'im. It's 
 a pity they ever sold it, sir, beggin' your pardon. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. The Gentry ! [He rings the bell]. 
 
 Mrs J. [Who has brightened up] I'm glad you're 
 goin' to stop it, sir. It does put us about. We 
 don't know where to go. I said to Mr Hornblower, I 
 said, " I'm sure Mr Hillcrist would never 'ave turned 
 
 us out." An' 'e said : " Mr Hillcrist be " beggin' 
 
 your pardon, sir. " Make no mistake," 'e said, " you 
 must go, missis." He don't even know our name ; 
 an' to come it hke this over us ! He's a dreadful new 
 man, I think, with his overridin' notions. And sich 
 a heavy-footed man, to look at. [With a sort of 
 indulgent contempt] But he's from the North, they 
 say. 
 
 Fellows has entered, Left. 
 
 Hillcrist. Ask Mrs Hillcrist if she'll come. 
 
 Fellows. Very good, sir. 
 
 Hillcrist. Is Dawker here 1 
 
 Fellows. Not yet, sir. 
 
 Hillcrist. I want to see him at once. 
 
 Fellows retires. 
 
 Jackman. Mr Hornblower said he was comin' on 
 to see you, sir. So we thought we'd step along 
 first. 
 
 Hillcrist. Quite right, Jackman. 
 
 Mrs J. I said to Jackman : " Mi- lliilcrist'll stand
 
 ACT I THE SKIN GAME 11 
 
 up for us, I know. He's a gentleman," I said. " This 
 man," I said, " don't care for tlie neighbourhood, or 
 the people ; he don't care for anything so long as he 
 makes his money, and has his importance. You 
 can't expect it, I suppose," I said ; [Bitterly] " havin' 
 got rich so sudden." The gentry don't do things like 
 that. 
 
 HiLLCRTST. [Abstracted] Quite, Mrs Jackman, quite ! 
 [To himself] The Gentry ! No ! 
 
 Mrs Hillcrist enters. A well-dressed ivoman, 
 with a firm, dear-cut face. 
 Oh ! Amy ! Mr and Mrs Jackman turned out of 
 their cottage, and Mrs Harvey, and the Drews. 
 When I sold to Hornblowcr, I stipulated that they 
 shouldn't be. 
 
 Mrs J. Our week's up on Saturday, ma'am, and 
 I'm sure I don't know where we shall turn, because 
 of course Jackman must be near his work, and I shall 
 lose me washin' if we have to go far. 
 
 Hillcrist. [With decision] You leave it to me, Mrs 
 Jackman. Good morning ! Morning, Jackman ! 
 Sorry I can't move with this gout. 
 
 Mrs J. [For them both] I'm sure we're very sorry, 
 sir. Good morning, sir. Good morning, ma'am ; 
 and thank you kindly. 
 
 They go out. 
 
 Hillcrist. Turning people out that have been 
 there thirty years. I won't have it. It's a breach 
 of faith. 
 
 Mrs H. Do you suppose this Hornblowcr will care 
 two straws about that, Jack ?
 
 12 THE SKIN GAME act i 
 
 HiLLCRiST. He must, wlien it's put to him, if he's 
 got any decent feeling. 
 
 Mrs H. He hasn't. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. [Suddenly] The Jackmans talk of his 
 having bought the Gentry to put up more chimneys. 
 
 Mrs H. Never ! [At the window, looking out] Im- 
 possible ! It would ruin the place utterly, besides 
 cutting us ofi from the Duke's. Oh, no ! Miss 
 Mullins would never sell behind our backs. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. Anyway I must stop his turning these 
 people out. 
 
 Mrs H. [With a little smile, almost contemptuous] 
 You might have known he'd do something of the 
 sort. You will imagine people are hke yourself. Jack. 
 You always ought to make Dawker have things in 
 black and white. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. I said quite distinctly : " Of course 
 you won't want to disturb the tenancies ; there's a 
 great shortage of cottages." Hornblower told me 
 as distinctly that he wouldn't. What more do you 
 want ? 
 
 Mrs H. a man hke that thinks of nothing but the 
 short cut to his own way. [Looking out of the window 
 towards the rise] If he buys the Gentry and puts up 
 chimneys, we simply couldn't stop here. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. My father would turn in his grave. 
 
 Mrs H. It would have been more useful if he'd not 
 dipped the estate, and sold the Gentry. This Horn- 
 blower hates us ; he thinks we turn up our noses at 
 him. 
 
 HiLLCRTST. As we do, Amy.
 
 ACT I THE SKIN GAME 13 
 
 Mrs H. Who wouldn't 1 A man without tradi- 
 tions, who believes in nothing but money and push. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. Suppose he won't budge, can we do 
 anything for the Jackiuans ? 
 
 Mrs H. There are the two rooms Beaver used to 
 havCj over the stables. 
 
 Fellows enlers. 
 
 Fellows. Mr Dawker, sir. 
 
 Dawker is a shorty square, rather red-faced 
 terrier of a man^ in riding dothes and 
 gaiters. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. Ah ! Dawker, I've got gout again. 
 
 Dawker. Very sorry, sir. How de do, ma'am ? 
 
 HiLLCRiST. Did you meet the Jackmans ? 
 
 Dawker. Yeh. [He hardly ever quite finishes a word, 
 seeming to snap off their tails.] 
 
 HiLLCRiST. Then you heard ? 
 
 Dawker. [Nodding] Smart man, Hornblower ; 
 never lets grass grow. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. Smart ? 
 
 Dawker. [Grinning] Don't do to underrate your 
 neighbours. 
 
 Mrs H. a cad— I call him. 
 
 Dawker. That's it, ma'am — got all the advantage. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. Heard anything about the Gentry, 
 Dawker ? 
 
 Dawker. Hornblower wants to buy. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. Miss MulUns would never sellj would 
 
 she ? 
 Dawker. She wants to. 
 HiLLCRiST. The deuce she does !
 
 14 THE SKIN GAME act i 
 
 Dawker. He won't stick at the price either. 
 
 Mrs H. What's it worth, Dawker ? 
 
 Dawker. Depends on what you want it for. 
 
 Mrs H. Ho wants it for spite ; we want it for 
 sentiment. 
 
 Dawker. [Grinning] Worth what you Uke to give, 
 then ; but he's a rich man. 
 
 Mrs H. Intolerable ! 
 
 Dawker. [To Hillcrist] Give me your figure, sir. 
 I'll try the old lady before he gets at her. 
 
 Hillcrist. [Pondering] I don't want to buy, 
 unless there's nothing else for it. I should have to 
 raise the money on the estate ; it won't stand much 
 more. I can't beheve the fellow would be such a 
 barbarian. Chimneys within three hundred yards, 
 right in front of this house ! It's a nightmare. 
 
 Mrs H. You'd much better let Dawker make sure, 
 Jack. 
 
 Hillcrist. [Uncomfortable] Jackman says Horn- 
 blower's coming round to sec me. I shall put it to 
 him. 
 
 Dawker. Make him keener than ever. Better get 
 in first. 
 
 Hillcrist. Ape his methods ! — Ugh ! Confound 
 this gout ! [He gets hack to his chair with difficulty] 
 Look here, Dawker, I wanted to see you about 
 gates — 
 
 Fellows. [Entering] Mr Hornblower. 
 
 Hornblower enters — a man of medium 
 height, thoroughly broadened, blown out, as 
 it were, by success. He has thick, coarse
 
 ACT I THE SKIN GAME 15 
 
 darh hair, just grizzled, very bushy eyebrows, 
 a ivide mouth. He wears quite ordinary 
 doihes, as if that defjariment were in charge 
 of someone who knew about such things. He 
 has a small rose in his buttonhole, and carries 
 a Homburg hat, which one suspects will 
 look too small on his head. 
 HoRNBLOWER, Good moming ! good morning ! 
 How are ye, Dawker ? Fine morning ! Lovely 
 weather ! 
 
 His voice has a curious blend in its tone of 
 brass and oil, and an accent not quite Scotch 
 nor quite North country. 
 Haven't seen ye for a long time, Hillcript. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. [Who has risen] Not since I sold you 
 Longmeadow and those cottages, I believe. 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. Dear me, now ! that's what I came 
 about. 
 
 HiLLCEiST. [Subsiding again into his chair] For- 
 give me ! Won't you sit down ? 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. [Not Sitting] Have ye got gout ? 
 That's unfortunate. I never get it. I've no dis- 
 position that way. Had no ancestors, you see. 
 Just me own drinkin' to answer for. 
 HiLLCRiST. You're lucky. 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. I woudcr if Mrs Hillcrist thinks 
 that ! Am I lucky to have no past, ma'am ? Just 
 the future ? 
 
 Mrs H. You're sure you have the future, Mr Horn- 
 blower 1 
 
 Hoenblowrr. [With a laugh] That's your aristo-
 
 16 THE SKIN GAME act i 
 
 cratic rapier thrust. You aristocrats are very hard 
 people underneath your manners. Ye love to lay a 
 body out. But I've got the future all right. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. [Meaningly'] I've had the Jackmans 
 here, Mr Hornblower. 
 
 HORNBLOWER. Who are they — man with the httle 
 spitfire wife ? 
 
 HiLLCRiST. They're very excellent, good people, 
 and they've been in that cottage quietly thirty 
 years. 
 
 Hornblower. [Throwing out his forefinger — a 
 favourite gesture] Ah ! ye've wanted me to stir ye up 
 a bit. Deepwater needs a bit o' go put into it. 
 There's generally some go where I am. I daresay 
 you wish there'd been no " come." [He laughs]. 
 
 Mrs H. We certainly hke people to keep their 
 word, Mr Hornblower. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. Amy ! 
 
 Hornblower. Never mind, Hillcrist ; takes more 
 than that to upset me. 
 
 Mrs Hillcrist exchanges a look with Dawker, 
 who slips out unobserved. 
 
 Hillcrist. You promised me, you know, not to 
 change the tenancies. 
 
 Hornblower, Well, I've come to tell ye that I 
 have. I wasn't expecting to have the need when I 
 bought. Thought the Duke would sell me a bit down 
 there ; but devil a bit he will ; and now I must have 
 those cottages for my workmen. I've got important 
 works, ye know. 
 
 Hillcrist. [Getting heated] The Jackmans have
 
 ACT I THE SKIN GAME 17 
 
 their importance too, sir. Their heart's in that 
 cottage. 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. Havc a sense of proportion, man 
 My works supply thousands of people, and my 
 heart's in them. AVTiat's more, they make my 
 fortune. I've got ambitions — I'm a serious man. 
 Suppose I were to consider this and that, and 
 every httle potty objection — where should I get 
 to ? — nowhere ! 
 
 HiLLCRiST. All the same, this sort of thing isn't 
 done, you know. 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. Not by you because ye've got no 
 need to do it. Here ye are, quite content on what 
 your fathers made for ye. Ye've no ambitions ; and 
 ye want other people to have none. How d'ye think 
 your fathers got your land ? 
 
 HiLLCRiST. \Who has risen] Not by breaking their 
 word. 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. [Thromng out his finger'] Don't ye 
 beheve it. They got it by breaking their word and 
 turnin' out JackmanSj if that's their namCj all over 
 the place. 
 
 Mrs H. That's an insult, ]\Ir Hornblower. 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. No ; it's a repartee. If ye think 
 so much of these Jackmans, build them a cottage 
 yourselves ; ye've got the space. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. That's beside the point. You promised 
 me, and I sold on that understanding. 
 
 Hornblower. And I bought on the understandin' 
 that I'd get some more land from the Duke. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. That's nothing to do with me. 
 
 B3
 
 18 THE SKIN GAME act i 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. Yc'U fiud it Liis ; because I'm going 
 tu have tliose cottages. 
 
 HiLLCUiST. Wellj I call it yiuiply — [He checks him- 
 self]. 
 
 HoENBLOWER. Look here, Hillcrist, ye've not had 
 occasion to understand men hke me. I've got the 
 guts, and I've got the money, and I don't sit still on 
 it. I'm going ahead because I beheve in meself. 
 I've no use for sentiment and that sort of thing. 
 Forty of your Jackmans aren't worth me Uttle 
 finger. 
 
 Hillcrist. [Angry] Of all the blatant things I ever 
 heard said ! 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. Well, as we're speaking plainly, 
 I've been thinkin'. Ye want the village run your olu- 
 fashioned way, and I want it run mine. I fancy 
 there's not room for the two of us here. 
 
 Mrs H. When are you going ? 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. Never fear, Pm not going. 
 
 Hillcrist. Look here, Mr Hornblower — this 
 infernal gout makes me irritable — puts me at a dis- 
 advantage. But I should be glad if you'd kindly 
 explain yourself. 
 
 Hornblower. [With a great smile] Ca'canny; I'm 
 fra' the North. 
 
 Hillcrist. I'm told you wish to buy the Gentry 
 and put more of your chimneys up there, regardless of 
 the fact [He points through the ivindow] that it would 
 utterly ruin the house we've had for generations, and 
 all our pleasure here. 
 
 Hornblower. How the m;>n talks ! Why ! Yo'd
 
 ACT I THE SKIN GAME 19 
 
 think he owned the slcy, because his fathers built him 
 a house with a pretty view, where he's nothing to 
 Jo but hve. It's sheer want of something to do that 
 gives ye your fine sentiments, Hillcrist. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. Have the goodness not to charge me 
 with idleness. Dawker — where is he ? — [He shows 
 the bureau] When you do the drudgery of your works 
 
 as thoroughly as I do that of my estate Is it 
 
 true about the Gentry ? 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. Gospcl truc. If ye want to know, 
 my son ChearUe is bu}an' it this very minute. 
 
 Mrs H. [Turning with a start] What do you say ? 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. Ay, he's with the old lady; she 
 ^ftints to sell, an' she'll get her price, whatever it is. 
 
 Hillcrist. [With deep anger] If that isn't a skin 
 game, Mr Hornblower, I don't know what is. 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. Ah ! Ye've got a very nice ex 
 pression there. " Skin game ! " Well, bad words 
 break no bones, an' they're wonderful for hardeuin' 
 the heart. If it wasn't for a lady's presence, I could 
 give ye a specimen or two. 
 
 Mrs H. Oh ! Mr Hornblower, that need not stop 
 you, I'm sure. 
 
 Hornblower. Well, and I don't know that it 
 need. Ye're an obstruction — the Kke of you — ye're 
 in my path. And anyone in my path doesn't stay 
 there long : or, if he does, he stays there on my terms. 
 And my terms are chimneys in the Gentry where I 
 need 'em. It'll do ye a power of good, too, to know 
 that ye're not almighty. 
 
 Hillcrist. And that's being neighbourly !
 
 20 THE SKIN GAME act i 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. And how have ye tried bein' 
 neighbourly to me ? If I haven't a wife, I've got a 
 daughter-in-law. Have ye called on her, ma'am ? 
 I'm new, and ye're an old family. Yo don't hke me, 
 ye think I'm a pushin' man. I go to chapel, an' ye 
 don't hke that. I make things and I sell them, and 
 ye don't like that. I buy land, and ye don't like that. 
 It threatens the view from your windics. Well, I 
 don't like you, and I'm not goin' to put up with" 
 your attitude. Ye've had things your own way too 
 long, and now ye're not going to have them any 
 longer. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. Will you hold to your word over those 
 cottages ? 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. I'm goin' to have the cottages. I 
 need them, and more besides, now I'm to put up me 
 new works. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. That's a declaration of war. 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. Ye ncvcr said a truer word. It's 
 one or the other of us, and I rather think it's goin' to 
 be me. I'm the risin' and you're the settin' sun, as 
 the poet says. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. [Touching the hell] We shall see if you 
 can ride rough-shod hke this. We used to have 
 decent ways of going about things here. You want 
 to change all that. Well, we shall do our damnedest 
 to stop you. [To Fellows at the door] Are the Jack- 
 mans still in the house ? Ask them to be good enough 
 to come in. 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. [With the first sign of uneasiness] 
 I've seen these people. I've nothing more to say
 
 ACT I THE SKIN GAME 21 
 
 to them. I told 'em I'd give 'em five pounds to 
 cover their moving. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. It doesn't occur to you that people, 
 however humble, hke to have some say in their own 
 fate? 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. I nevcr had any say in mine till 
 I had the brass, and nobody ever will. It's all 
 hypocrisy. You county folk are fair awful hypo- 
 crites. Ye talk about good form and all that sort o' 
 thing. It's just the comfortable doctrine of the man 
 in the saddle ; sentimental varnish. Ye're every 
 bit as hard as I am, underneath. 
 
 Mrs H. [Who had been standing very still all this 
 time] You flatter us. 
 
 - HoRNBLOWER. Not at all. God helps those who 
 'elp themselves — that's at the bottom of all reUgion. 
 I'm goin' to help meself, and God's going to help me. 
 
 Mrs H. I admire your knowledge. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. We are in the right, and God helps 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. Don't ye beUeve it ; ye 'aven't got 
 the energy. 
 
 Mrs H. Nor perhaps the conceit. 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. [Throwing out his forefinger'] No, 
 no ; 'tisn't conceit to believe in yourself when ye've 
 got reason to. 
 
 The Jackmans have entered. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. I'm very sorry, Mrs Jackman, but I 
 just wanted you to reaUse that I've done my best 
 with this gentleman. 
 
 Mrs J. [Doubtfully] Yes, sir. I thought if you 
 spoke for us, he'd feel difierent-hke.
 
 22 THE SKIN GAME act i 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. One cottage is the same as another, 
 missis. I made ye a fair offer of five pounds for the 
 moving. 
 
 Jackman. [Slowly] We wouldn't take fifty to go 
 out of that 'ouse. We brought up three children 
 there, an' buried two from it. 
 
 Mrs J. [To Mrs Hillcrist] We're attached to it 
 hke, ma'am. 
 
 Hillcrist. [To Hornblower] How would you 
 hke being turned out of a place you were fond of 1 
 
 Hornblower. Not a bit. But httle considera- 
 tions have to give way to big ones. Now, missis, 
 I'll make it ten pounds, and I'll send a wagon to shift 
 your things. If that isn't fair — ! Ye'd better 
 accept, I shan't keep it open. 
 
 The Jackmans look at each other ; their faces 
 show deep anger — and the question theij ask 
 each other is which will speaJc. 
 
 Mrs J. We won't take it ; eh, George ? 
 
 Jackman. Not a farden. We come there when we 
 was married. 
 
 Hornblower. [Throwing out his finger] Ye're very 
 improvident folk. 
 
 Hillcrist. Don't lecture them, Mr Hornblower ; 
 they come out of this miles above you. 
 
 Hornblower. [Angry] Well, I was going to give 
 ye another week, but ye'U go out naxt Saturday ; 
 and take care ye're not late, or your things'U be put 
 out — ^in the rain. 
 
 Mrs H. [To Mrs Jackman] We'll send down for your 
 things, and you can come to us for the time being.
 
 ACT I THE SKIN GAME 23 
 
 Mrs Jackman drops a curtsey ; her eyes stab 
 
 HORNBLOWER. 
 
 Jackman. [Heavily, dencliing his fists] You're no 
 gentleman ! Don't put temptation in my way, that's 
 all. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. [In a low voice] Jackman ! 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. [Triumphantly] Yo liear that ? 
 That's your protegee ! Keep out o' my way, me 
 man, or I'll put the police on to ye for utterin' threats. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. You'd better go now, Jackman. 
 
 The Jackmans move to the door. 
 
 Mrs J. [Turning] Maybe you'll repent it some day, 
 sir. 
 
 They go out, Mrs Hillcrist folloiving. 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. We — cll, I'm sorry they're such 
 unreasonable folk. I never met people with less 
 notion of which side their bread was buttered. 
 
 Hillcrist. And I never met anyone so pachyder- 
 matous. 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. What's that, in Heaven's name ? 
 Ye needn' wrap it up in long words now your good 
 lady's gone. 
 
 Hillcrist. [With dignity] I'm not going in for a 
 slanging match. I resent your conduct much too 
 deeply. 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. Look here, Hillcrist, I don't object 
 to you personally ; ye seem to me a poor creature 
 that's bound to get left with your gout and yuor 
 dignity ; but of course ye can make yourself very 
 disagreeable before ye're done. Now I want to be 
 the movin' spirit here. I'm full of plans. I'm goin*
 
 24 THE SKIN GAME act i 
 
 to stand for Parliament ; I'm goin' to make this a 
 prosperous place. I'm a good-natured man if you'll 
 treat me as such. Now, you take me on as a neigh- 
 bour and all that, and I'll manage without chimneys on 
 the Gentry. Is it a bargain ? [He holds out his hwid]. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. {Ignoring it] I thought you said you 
 didn't keep your word when it suited you to break it ? 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. Now, don't get on the high horse. 
 You and me could be very good friends ; but I can 
 be a very nasty enemy. The chimneys will not look 
 nice from that windie, ye know. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. [Deeply angry] Mr Hornblower, if you 
 think I'll take your hand after this Jackman business, 
 you're greatly mistaken. You are proposing that I 
 shall stand in with you while you tyrannise over the 
 neighbourhood. Please reahse that unless you leave 
 those tenancies undisturbed as you said you would, 
 we don't know each other. 
 
 Hornblower. Well, that won't trouble me much. 
 Now, ye'd better think it over ; ye've got gout and 
 that makes ye hasty. I tell ye again : I'm not the 
 man to make an enemy of. Unless ye're friendly, 
 sure as I stand here I'll ruin the look of your place. 
 
 [The toot of a car is heard. 
 There's my car. I sent Chearhe and his wife in it 
 to buy the Gentry. And make no mistake — he's got 
 it in his pocket. It's your last chance, Hillcrist. 
 I'm not averse to you as a man ; I think ye're the 
 best of the fossils round here ; at least, I tliink ye 
 can do me the most harm socially. Gome now ! [He 
 holds out his hand again].
 
 ACT I THE SKIN GAME 25 
 
 HiLLCRiST. Not if you'd bought the Ccutry ten 
 times over. Your ways are not mine, and I'll have 
 nothing to do with you. 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. [Very angry] Eeally ! Is that so ? 
 Very well. Now ye're goin' to learn something, an' 
 it's time ye did. D'ye reahse that I'm very nearly 
 round ye ? [He draws a circle slowly in the air} I'm at 
 Uphill, the works are here, here's Longmeadow, here's 
 the Gentry that I've just bought, there's only the 
 Common left to give ye touch with the world. Now 
 between you and the Common there's the high road. 
 I come out on the high road here to your north, and 
 I shall come out on it there to your west. When I've 
 got me new works up on the Centry, I shall be maldn' 
 a trolley track between the works up to the road at 
 both ends, so my goods will be running rieht round 
 ye. How'll ye like that for a country place ? 
 
 For answer Hillcrist, wJio is angry beyond 
 the power of speech, walks, forgetting to use 
 his stick, up to the French window. While 
 he stands there, with his hack to Horn- 
 blower, the door L. is flung open, and 
 Jill enters, preceding Charles, his wife 
 Chloe, and Rolf. Charles is a goodish- 
 looking, moustached young man of ahout 
 twenty-eight, with a white rim to the collar of 
 his waistcoat, and spats. He has his hand 
 behind Chloe's back, as if to prevent her 
 turning tail. She is rather a handsome 
 young woman, with dark eyes, full red lips^ 
 and a suspicion of powder, a little under-
 
 26 THE SKIN GAME act i 
 
 dressed for the country. Rolf, who brings 
 
 up the rear, is about ticenty, with an open 
 
 face and stiffish butler-coloured hair. Jill 
 
 runs over to her father at the window. She 
 
 has a bottle. 
 
 Jill. [Sotto voce] Look, Dodo, I've brou^lit the 
 
 lot ! Isn't it a treat, dear Papa ? And here's the 
 
 stuff. Hallo ! 
 
 The. exclamation is induced by the apprehension 
 that there has been a row. IIillcrist gives 
 a stiff little bow, remaining where he is in 
 the window. Jill stays dose to him, staring 
 from one to the other, then blocks him off 
 and engages him in conversation. Charles 
 has gone up to his father, who has remained 
 W maliciouslij still, where he delivered his last 
 
 speech. Ciiloe and Rolf stand awlcwardly 
 waiting between the fireplace and the door. 
 Hornblower, Well, Chearlie ? 
 Charles. Not got it. 
 Hornblower. Not/ 
 
 Charles. I'd practically got her to say she'd sell 
 at three thousand five hundred, when that fellow 
 Dawker turned up. 
 
 Hornblower. That bull-terrier of a chap ! Why, 
 he was here a while ago. Oh — ho ! So that's it ! 
 
 Charles. I heard him gallop up. He came 
 straight for the old lady, and got her away. AVliat 
 he said I don't know ; but she came bade looking 
 wiser than an owl ; said she'd think it over, thought 
 she had other views.
 
 ACT I THE SKIN GAME 27 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. IMd ye tell lier she miglit liavo her 
 
 price 1 
 
 Charles. Practically I did. 
 
 HORNBLOWER. Well ? 
 
 Charles. She thought it would be fairer to put it 
 up to auction. There were other enquiries. Oh ! 
 She's a leery old bird— reminds me of one of those 
 pictures of Fate, don't you know. 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. Auction ! Well , if it's not gone 
 we'll get it yet. That damned httle Dawker ! I've 
 had a row with Hillcrist. 
 Charles. I thought so. 
 
 Theij are turning cautiously to look at Hill- 
 crist, when Jill stejjs forward. 
 Jill. [Flushed and determined'] That's not a bit 
 sporting of you, Mr Hornblower. 
 
 At her words Rolf comes forward too. 
 Hornblower. Ye should hear both sides before ye 
 Bay that, missy. 
 
 Jill. There isn't another side to turning out the 
 Jackmans after you'd promised. 
 
 Hornblower. Oh ! dear me, yes. They don't 
 matter a row of gingerbread to the schemes I've got 
 for betterin' this neighbourhood. 
 
 Jill. I had been standing up for you; now I 
 won't. 
 Hornblower. Dear, dear ! What'U become of 
 
 me 1 
 
 Jill. I won't say anything about the other thing 
 because I think it's beneath dignity to notice it. But 
 to turn poor people out of their cottages is a shame.
 
 28 THE SKIN GAME act i 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. Hoity me ! 
 
 KoLF. [Suddenly^ You haven't been doing that, 
 father ? 
 
 Charles. Shut up, Rolf ! 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. [Turning on Rolf] Ha ! Here's 
 a league o' youth ! My young whipper-snapper, keep 
 your mouth shut and leave it to your elders to 
 know what's right. 
 
 Under the weight of this rejoinder Rolf stands 
 biting his lips. Then he throws his head up. 
 
 Rolf. I hate it ! 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. [With real venom] Oh ! Ye hate 
 it ? Ye can get out of my house, then. 
 
 Jill. Free speech, Mr Hornblower ; don't be 
 violent. 
 
 Hornblower. Ye're right, young lady. Ye can 
 stay in my house, Rolf, and learn manners. Come, 
 Chearhe ! 
 
 Jill. [Quite softly] Mr Hornblower ! 
 
 HiLLCRiST. [From the window] Jill ! 
 
 Jill. [Impatiently] Well, what's the good of it ? 
 Life's too short for rows, and too jolly ! 
 
 Rolf. Bravo ! 
 
 Hornblower. [Who has shown a sign of weakening] 
 Now, look here ! I will not have revolt in my family. 
 Ye'U just have to learn that a man who's worked as 
 I have, who's risen as I have, and who knows the 
 world, is the proper judge of what's right and wrong. 
 I'll answer to God for me actions, and not to you 
 young people. 
 
 Jill. Poor God 1
 
 ACT I THE SKIN GAME 29 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. [Genuinely shocked] Ye blas- 
 phemous young thing ! [To Rolf] And ye're just 
 as bad, ye young freethinker. I won't have it. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. [Who has come down, liight] Jill, I wish 
 you would kindly not talk. 
 
 Jill. I can't help it. 
 
 Charles, [Putting his arm through Hornblower's] 
 Come along, father ! Deeds, not words. 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. Ay ! Deeds ! 
 
 Mrs Hillcrist and Dawker have entered by 
 the French window. 
 
 Mrs H. Quite right ! 
 
 They all turn and look at her. 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. Ah ! So ye put your dog on to 
 it. [He throws out his finger at Dawker] Very smart, 
 that — I give ye credit. 
 
 Mrs H. [Pointing to Chloe, who has stood by her- 
 self, forgotten and uncomfortable throughout the scene] 
 May I ask who this lady is ? 
 
 Chloe turns round startled, and her vanity bag 
 slips down her dress to the floor. 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. No, ma'am, ye may not, for ye 
 know perfectly well. 
 
 Jill. I brought her in, mother [She moves to 
 Chloe's side]. 
 
 Mrs H. Will you take her out again, then. 
 
 Hillcrist. Amy, have the goodness to re- 
 member 
 
 Mrs H. That this is my house so far as ladies are 
 concerned. 
 
 JiLh. Mother I
 
 30 THE SKIN GAME act i 
 
 She looks astonished at Chi.oe, who, about to 
 sj)eak, does not, fassing her eyes, with a 
 queer, half-scared expression, from Mks 
 
 HiLLCEIST to DaWKER. 
 
 \To Chloe] I'm awfully sorry. Come on 1 
 
 They go out, Left. Rolf hurries after them. 
 
 Charles. You've insulted my wife. Why ? 
 Wliat do you mean by it ? 
 
 Mrs Hillcrist simply smiles. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. I apologise. I regret extremely. 
 There is no reason why the ladies of your family 
 or of mine should be involved in our quarrel. 
 For Heaven's sake, let's fight Uke gentlemen. 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. Catchwords — sneers ! No ; we'll 
 play what ye call a sldn game, Ilillcrist, without 
 gloves on ; we won't spare each other. Ye look out 
 for yourselves, for, bcgod, after this morning I mean 
 business. And as for you, Dawker, ye sly dog, ye 
 think yourself very clever ; but I'll have the Centry 
 yet. ComCj Chearhe ! 
 
 They go out, passing Jill, who is coming in 
 again, in the doonvay. 
 
 Hillcrist. Well, Dawker ? 
 
 Dawker. [Grinning] Safe for the moment. The 
 old lady'll put it up to auction. Couldn't get her to 
 budge from that. Says she don't want to be un- 
 neighbourly to either. But, if you ask me, it's money 
 she smells ! 
 
 Jill. [Advancing] Now, mother ! 
 
 Mrs H. Well ? 
 
 Jill. Wliy did you insult licr ?
 
 ACT I THE SKIN GAME 31 
 
 Mrs H. I think I only asked you to take her 
 out. 
 
 Jill. Why ? Even if she is Old Combustiou's 
 daughter-in-law ? 
 
 Mrs H. My dear Jill, allow me to judge the sort 
 of acquaintances I wish to make [She looks at 
 Dawker]. 
 
 Jill. She's all right. Lots of wo^nen powder and 
 touch up their hps nowadays. I think she's rather 
 a good sort ; she was awfully upset. 
 
 Mrs H. Too upset. 
 
 Jill. Oh ! don't be so mysteriouSj mother. If you 
 know something, do spit it out ! 
 
 Mrs H. Do you wish me to — er — " spit it out," 
 Jack ? 
 
 Htllcrist. Dawker, if you don't mind ■ 
 
 Dawker, with a nod, passes away out of the 
 French windoio. 
 Jill, be respectful, and don't talk like a bargee. 
 
 Jill. It's no good. Dodo. It made me ashamed. 
 It's just as — as caddish to insult people who haven't 
 said a word, in your own housCj as it is to be — old 
 Hornblower. 
 
 Mrs H. You don't know what you're talking 
 about. 
 
 IIillcrist. What's the matter with young Mrs 
 Hornblower ? 
 
 Mrs H. Excuse me, I shall keep my thoughts 
 to myself at present. 
 
 She looks coldly at .Tii,l, awl goes out through 
 the French window.
 
 32 THE SKIN GAME act i 
 
 HiLLCRiST. You've thorouglily upset your mother, 
 JiU. 
 
 Jill. It's sometliing Dawker's told lier ; I saw 
 them. I dou't hke Dawker, father, he's so 
 common. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. My dear, we can't all be uncommon. 
 He's got lots of go. You must apologise to your 
 mother. 
 
 Jill. [Shaking her clubbed hair] They'll make you 
 do things you don't approve of, Dodo, if you don't 
 look out. Mother's fearfully bitter when she gets 
 her knife in. If old Hornblower's disgusting, it's no 
 reason we should be. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. So you think I'm capable — that's nicOj 
 Jill! 
 
 Jill. No, no, darhng ! I only want to warn you 
 solemnly that mother'll tell you you're fighting fair, 
 no matter what she and Dawker do. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. [Smiling] Jill, I don't think I ever saw 
 you so serious. 
 
 Jill. No. Because — [She swallows a lump in her 
 throat] Well — I was just beginning to enjoy myself ; 
 and now — everything's going to be bitter and beastly, 
 with mother in that mood. That horrible old man ! 
 Oh, Dodo ! Don't let them make you horrid ! 
 You're such a darhng. How's your gout, ducky ? 
 
 HiLLCRiST. Better ; lot better. 
 
 Jill. There, you see ! That shows ! It's going 
 to be half interesting for you, but not for — us. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. Look here, Jill — is there anything 
 between you and young what's-his-name — Rolf ?
 
 ACT I THE SKIN GAME 33 
 
 Jill. [Biting her lip] No. But — now it's all 
 spoiled. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. You can't expect me to regret that, 
 
 Jill. I don't mean any tosli about love's young 
 dream ; but I do like being friends. I want to enjoy 
 things, Dodo, and you can't do that when everybody's 
 on the hate. You're going to wallow in it, and so 
 shall I— oh ! I know I shall !— we shall all wallow, 
 and think of nothing but " one for his nob." 
 
 Hillcrist. Aren't you fond of your home ? 
 
 Jill. Of course. I love it. 
 
 Hillcrist. Well, you won't be able to Uve in it 
 unless we stop that ruffian. Chimneys and smoke, 
 the trees cut down, piles of pots. Every kind of 
 abomination. There ! [He points] Imagine ! [He 
 points through the French mndow, as if he could see those 
 chimneys rising and marring the beauty of the fields] I 
 was born here, and my father, and his, and his, and 
 his. They loved those fields, and those old trees. 
 And this barbarian, with his " improvement " 
 schemes, forsooth ! I learned to ride in the Gentry 
 meadows — prettiest spring meadows in the world ; 
 I've chmbed every tree there. Why my father ever 
 sold — ! But who could have imagined this ? And 
 come at a bad moment, when money's scarce. 
 
 Jill. [Cuddling his arm] Dodo ! 
 
 Hillcrist. Yes. But you don't love the place as 
 I do, Jill. You youngsters don't love anything, I 
 sometimes think. 
 Jill. I do. Dodo. I do ! 
 Hillcrist. You've got it all before you. But you
 
 34 THE SKIN GAME act i 
 
 may live your life and never find anything so good 
 and so beautiful as this old home. I'm not going to 
 have it spoiled without a fight. 
 
 Conscious of having betrayed sentiment, he 
 walks out at the French window, passing 
 away to the Right. Jill, following to the 
 rvindow, looks. Then throwing back her 
 head, she clasps her hands behind it. 
 Jill. Oh — oh — oh ! 
 
 A voice behind her says, '* Jill ! " She turns 
 and starts back, leaning against the right 
 lintel of the window. Rolf appears out- 
 side the window from Left. 
 Who goes there ? 
 
 Rolf. {Buttressed against the Left lintel] Enemy — 
 after Chloe's bag. 
 Jill. Pass, enemy ! And all's ill ! 
 
 Rolf passes through the window, and retrieves 
 the vanity bag from the floor where Chloe 
 dropped it, then again takes his stand 
 against the Left lintel of the French 
 window. 
 Rolf. It's not going to make any difierence, 
 is it? 
 
 Jill. You know it is. ' 
 
 Rolf. Sins of the fathers. 
 
 Jill. Unto the third and fourth generation. What 
 sin has my father committed ? 
 
 Rolf. None, in a way ; only, I've often told you 
 I don't see why you should treat us as outsiders. We 
 don't like it.
 
 ACT I THE SKIN GAME 35 
 
 Jill. Well, you shouldn't be, then; I mean, he 
 shouldn't be. 
 
 KoLF. Father's just as human as your father ; 
 he's wrapped up in us, and all his " getting on " is 
 for us. Would you hke to be treated as your mother 
 treated Chloe ? Your mother's set the stroke for 
 the- other big- wigs about here; nobody calls on 
 Chloe. And why not ? Why not ? I think it's 
 contemptible to bar people just because they're new, 
 as you call it, and have to make their position instead 
 of having it left them. 
 
 Jill. It's not because they're new, it's because— if 
 your father behaved hke a gentlemaUj he'd be 
 treated hke one. 
 
 KoLF. Would he ? I don't beUeve it. My father's 
 a very able man ; he thinks he's entitled to have 
 influence here. Well, everybody tries to keep him 
 down. Oh ! yes, they do. That makes him mad 
 and more determined than ever to get his way. You 
 ought to be just, Jill. 
 
 Jill. I am just. 
 
 Rolf. No, you're not. Besides, what's it got to 
 do with Charhe and Chloe ? Chloe's particularly 
 harmless. It's pretty sickening for her. Father 
 didn't expect people to call until Charhe married, but 
 since 
 
 Jill. I think it's all very petty. 
 
 Rolf. It is — a dog-in-the-manger business ; I did 
 think you were above it. 
 
 Jill. How would you hke to have your home 
 spoiled ?
 
 36 THE SKIN GAME act i 
 
 Rolf. I'm not going to argue. Only things don't 
 stand still. Homes aren't any more proof against 
 cliangc than anything else. 
 
 Jill. All right ! You come and try and take ours. 
 Rolf. We don't want to take your home. 
 Jill. Like the Jackmans' ? 
 
 Rolf. All right. I see you're hopelessly pre- 
 judiced. [He turns to go]. 
 
 Jill. [Just as he is vanishing— softly] Enemy ? 
 
 Rolf. [Turning] Yes, enemy. 
 
 Jill. Before the battle— let's shake hands. 
 
 They move from the lintels and grasp each 
 other's hands in the centre of the French 
 window. 
 
 curtain
 
 44890 
 
 ACT II
 
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 ACT II 
 
 SCENE I 
 
 A billiard room in a provincial hold, tvTiere things are 
 bought and sold. The scene is set weU fonvard, 
 and is not very broad ; it represents the auctioneer'' s 
 end of the room, having, rather to stage Left, a 
 narroiv table with two chairs facitig the audience, 
 where the auctioneer will sit and stand. The table 
 which is set forward to the footlights, is littered with 
 green-covered particulars of sale. The audience 
 are in effect public and bidders. There is a door 
 on the Left, level with the table. Along the back 
 wall, behind the table, are two raised benches with 
 two steps up to them, such as billiard rooms often 
 have, divided by a door in the middle of a wall, 
 which is panellal in oak. Late September sun- 
 light is coming from a skylight {not visible) on to 
 these seats. The stage is empty ivhen the curtain 
 goes up, but Dawker and Mrs Hillcrist are 
 just entering through the door at the back. 
 
 Dawker. Be out of their way here, ma'am. See 
 old Hornblower with Chearlie ? [He points doiim to 
 the audience]. 
 
 Mrs H. It begins at three, doesn't it ? 
 
 Dawker. They won't be over punctual; there's only
 
 40 THE SKIN GAME act ii 
 
 the Gentry selling. There's young Mrs Horublower 
 with the other boy — [Pointing'] over at the entrance. 
 I've got that chap I told you of down from town. 
 
 Mrs H. Ah ! make sure quite of her, Dawker. Any 
 mistake would be fatal. 
 
 Dawker. [Nodding} That's right, ma'am. Lot of 
 people — always spare time to watch an auction — ever 
 remark that ? The Duke's agent's here ; shouldn't 
 be surprised if he chipped in. 
 
 Mrs H. Where did you leave my husband ? 
 Dawker. With Miss Jill, in the courtyard. He's 
 coming to you. In case I miss him, tell him when I 
 reach his limit to blow his nose if he wants me to go 
 on ; when he blows it a second time, I'll stop for good. 
 Hope we shan't get to that. Old Hornblower 
 doesn't throw his money away. 
 
 Mrs H. What hmit did you settle ? 
 Dawker. Six thousand ! 
 
 Mrs H. That's a fearful price. Well, good luck 
 to you, Dawker ! 
 
 Dawker. Good luck, ma'am. I'll go and see to 
 that little matter of Mrs Chloe. Never fear, we'll do 
 them in somehow. 
 
 He winks, lays his finger on the side of his 
 
 nose, and goes out at the door. 
 Mrs Hillcrist mounts the two steps, sits down 
 Right of the door, and puts up a jmir of 
 long-handled glasses. Through the door 
 behind her come Chloe and Eolf. She 
 inaJces a sign for him to go^ and shuts the 
 door.
 
 sc. 1 THE SKIN GAME 41 
 
 Chloe. [At the foot of the steps — in the gangway — 
 in a slightly common accent] Mrs Hillcrist ! 
 
 Mrs H. [Not quite starting] I beg your pardon ? 
 
 Chloe. [Again] Mrs Hillcrist 
 
 Hrs H. WeU ? 
 
 Chloe. I never did you any harm. 
 
 Mrs H. Did I ever say you did ? 
 
 Chloe. No ; but you act as if I had. 
 
 Mrs H. I'm not aware that I've acted at all — as 
 yet. You are nothing to me, except as one of your 
 family. 
 
 Chloe. 'Tisn't I that wants to spoil your home. 
 
 Mrs H. Stop them then. I see your husband down 
 there with his father. 
 
 Chloe. I — I have tried. 
 
 Mrs H. [Looking at her] Oh ! I suppose such 
 men don't pay attention to what women ask them. 
 
 Chloe. [With a flash of spirit] I'm fond of my 
 husband. I 
 
 Mrs H. [Looking at her steadily] I don't quite know 
 why you spoke to me. 
 
 Chloe. [With a sort of pathetic sullenness] I only 
 thought perhaps you'd like to treat me as a human 
 being. 
 
 Mrs H. Eeally, if you don't mind, I should Hke to 
 be left alone just now. 
 
 Chloe. [Unhappily acquiescent] CextsdiAj \ I'll go 
 to the other end. 
 
 She moves to the Left, mounts the steps and sits 
 
 down. 
 RolFj looking in through the door, and seeing
 
 42 THE SKIN GAME act ii 
 
 where she is, joins her. Mrs Hillcrist 
 resettles her self a little further in on the 
 Right. 
 Rolf. [Bending over to Chloe, after a glance at 
 Mrs Hillcrist] Are you all right ? 
 Chloe. It's awfully hot. 
 
 She fans herself with the particulars of sale. 
 Rolf. There's Dawkcr. I hate that chap ! 
 Chloe. Wliere ? 
 Rolf. Down there ; see? 
 
 He points dotvn to stage Right of the room. 
 Chloe. [Drawing back in her seat with a little gasp] 
 Oh! 
 
 Rolf. [Not noticing] Who's that next him, look- 
 ing up here ? 
 
 Chloe. I don't know. 
 
 She has raised her auction programme suddenly, 
 and sits fanning herself, careftdly screening 
 her face. 
 Rolf. [Looking at her] Don't you feel vrell ? Shall 
 I get you some water 1 He gets up at her nod. 
 
 As he reaches the door, Hillcrist and Jill 
 come in. Hillcrist passes him ab- 
 stractedly with a nod, and sits down beside 
 his wife. 
 Jill. [To Rolf] Come to see us turned out ? 
 Rolf. [Emphatically] No. I'm looking after 
 Chloe ; .she's not well. 
 
 Jill. [Glancing at her] Sorry. She needn't have 
 comej I suppose 1 
 
 Rolf deigns no answer, and goes out.
 
 sc. I THE SKIN GAME 43 
 
 Jill glances at Chlob, then at her parents 
 talking in low voices, and sits down next 
 her father, who makes room, for her. 
 Mrs H. Can Dawker see you there, Jack ? 
 
 HiLLCRiST nods. 
 
 What's the time ? 
 
 HiLLCRiST. Three minutes to three. 
 
 Jill. Don't you feel beastly all down the backs of 
 your legs, Dodo ? 
 
 HiLLCRiST. Yes. 
 
 Jill. Do you, mother ? 
 
 Mrs H. No. 
 
 Jill. A wagon of old Hornblowcr's pets passed 
 while we were in the yard. It's an omen. 
 
 Mrs H. Don't be foohsh, Jill. 
 
 Jill. Look at the old brute ! Dodo, hold my hand. 
 
 Mrs H. Make sure you've got a handkerchief, Jack. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. I can't go beyond the six thousand ; I 
 shall have to raise every penny on mortgage as it is. 
 The estate simply won't stand more, Amy. 
 
 He feds in his breast focket, and pulls up the 
 edge of his handkerchief. 
 
 Jill. Oh ! Look ! There's Miss Mullins, at the 
 back ; just come in. Isn't she a spidery old chip ? 
 
 Mrs H. Come to gloat. Keally, I think her not 
 accepting your offer is disgusting. Her impartiality 
 is all humbug. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. Can't blame her for getting what she 
 can- -it's human nature. Phew ! I used to feel like 
 this before a vivd voce. Who's that next to Dawker ? 
 Jill. What a fish !
 
 44 THE SKIN GAME act ii 
 
 Mrs H. [To herself] Ah f yes. 
 
 Her eyes slide round at Chloe, sitting motion- 
 less and rather sunk in her seat, slowly 
 fanning herself with the particulars of the 
 sale. 
 Jack, go and offer her my smelling salts. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. [Taking the salts] Thank God for a 
 human touch ! 
 
 Mrs H. [Taken aback] Oh ! I 
 
 Jill. [With a quick hok at her mother, snatching the 
 salts] I will. [She goes over to Chloe with the salts] 
 Have a sniff ; you look awfully white. 
 
 Chloe. [Looking wp, startled] Oh! no thanks, I'm 
 all right. 
 Jill. No, do ! You must. 
 
 Chloe takes them. 
 Jill. D'you mind letting me see that a minute ? 
 She takes the particulars of the sale and studies 
 it, hut Chloe has buried the lower part of 
 her face in her hand and the smelling salts 
 bottle. 
 Beastly hot, isn't it ? You'd better keep that. 
 Chloe. [Her dark eyes wandering arid uneasy] 
 Rolf's getting me some water. 
 
 Jill. Why do you stay ? You didn't want to 
 come, did you ? 
 
 Chloe shakes her head. 
 All right ! Here's your water. 
 
 She hands hack the particulars and slides over 
 to her seat, passing Rolf in the gangway, 
 with her chin well up. 
 
 i
 
 sc. I THE SKIN GAME 45 
 
 Mrs Hillcrist, who has watched Chloe and 
 Jill and Dawker and his friend, makes 
 an enquiring movement ivith her hand, but 
 gets a disappointing answer. 
 
 Jill. What's the time, Dodo ? 
 
 Hillcrist. [Loohing at his watch] Three minutes 
 past. 
 
 Jill. [Sighing] Oh, hell ! 
 
 Hillcrist. Jill ! 
 
 Jill. Sorry, Dodo. I was only thinking. Look ! 
 Hero he is ! Phew ! — isn't he ? 
 
 Mrs H. 'Sh ! 
 
 The Auctioneer comes in Left and goes to the 
 table. He is a square, short, brown-faced, 
 common-looking man, with clipped grey 
 hair fitting him like a cap, and a dipped 
 grey moustache. His lids come down over 
 his quick eyes, till he can see you very 
 sharply, and you can hardly see that he can 
 see you. He can break into a smile at any 
 moment, which has no connection with him, 
 as it were. By a certain hurt look, how- 
 eoer, when bidding is sloiv, he discloses 
 that he is not merely an auctioneer, but has 
 in him elements of the human being. He 
 can wink with anyone, and is dressed in a 
 snuff-brown suit, with a perfectly un- 
 buttoned waistcoat, a low, turned-doum 
 collar, and small black and ivhite sailor- 
 knot tie. While he is settling his papers, 
 the HiLLCRiSTS settle themselves tensely.
 
 46 THE SKIN GAME act ii 
 
 Chloe has drunk her water and leaned 
 back again, with the smelling salts to her 
 nose. Roi.F leans forward in the seat 
 beside her, looking sideways at Jill. A 
 Solicitor, loith a grey beard, has joined 
 the Auctioneer at his table. 
 Auctioneer. [Tapping the table] Sorry to dis- 
 appoint you, gentlemen, but I've only one property 
 to ofier you to-day, No. 1, The Gentry, Dcepwater. 
 The second on the particulars has been withdrawn. 
 The third — that's Bidcot, desirable freehold mansion 
 and farmlands in the Parish of Kenway — we shall 
 have to deal with next week. I shall be happy to sell 
 it you then without reservation. [He looks again 
 through the particulars in his hand, giving the audience 
 time to readjust themselves to his statements] Now, 
 gen'lemen, as I say, I've only the one property to 
 sell. Freehold No. 1 — all that very desirable corn 
 and stock-rearing and parklike residential land known 
 as the Gentry, Deep water, unique property — an 
 A.l. chance to an A.l. audience. [With his smile] 
 Ought to make the price of the three we thought we 
 had. Now you won't mind hstening to the conditions 
 of sale ; Mr BUnkard'll read 'em, and they won't 
 wirry you, they're very short. 
 
 He sits down and gives two little taps on the 
 
 table. 
 The Solicitor rises and reads the conditions 
 of sale in a voice which no one practically 
 can hear. Just as he begins to read thes( 
 conditions of sale^ Gharles Hornblower
 
 sc. I THE SKIN GAME 47 
 
 enters at hack. He stands a moment, 
 glancing round at the Hillcrists and 
 twirling his moustache, then moves along 
 to his wife and touches her. 
 Charles. Chloe, aren't you well ? 
 
 In the start which she gives, her face is fullij 
 revealed to the audience. 
 Charles, Come along, out of the way of these 
 people. 
 
 He jerks his head towards the Hillcrists. 
 Chloe gives a swift look down to the stage 
 Right of the audience. 
 Chloe. No ; I'm all right ; it's hotter there. 
 Charles. [To Rolf] Well, look after her— I must 
 go back. 
 
 Role nods. Charles slides hack to the door, 
 
 with a glance at the Hillcrists, of whom 
 
 Mrs Hillcrist has heen watching like a 
 
 lynx. He goes owt^ just as the Solicitor, 
 
 finishing, sits down. 
 
 Auctioneer. [Rising and tapping] Now, gen'le- 
 
 men, it's not often a piece of land hke this comes into 
 
 the market. What's that ? [To a friend in front of 
 
 him] No better land in Deep water— that's right, Mr 
 
 Spicer. I know the village well, and a charming 
 
 place it is ; perfect locahty, to be sure. Now I 
 
 don't want to wirry you by singing the praises of this 
 
 property ; there it is — well-watered, nicely timbered 
 
 — no reservation of the timber, gen'lemeu — no 
 
 tenancy to hold you up ; free to do what you hke 
 
 with it to-morrow. You've ^ot a iewel of a site
 
 48 THE SKIN GAME act ii 
 
 there, too ; perfect position for a house. It Ues 
 between the Duke's and Squire Hillcrist's — an 
 emerald isle. [With his smile] No allusion to Ireland, 
 gen'lemen — perfect peace in the Gentry. Nothing 
 hke it in the county — a gen'leman's site, and you 
 don't get that offered you every day. [He looks down 
 towards Hornblower, stage Left] Carries the mineral 
 rights, and as you know, perhaps, there's the very 
 valuable Deepwater clay there. What am I to start 
 it at ? Can I say three thousand ? Well, anything 
 you like to give me. I'm not particular. Come now, 
 you've got more time than me, I expect. Two 
 hundred acres of first-rate grazin' and cornland, with 
 a site for a residence unequalled in the county ; and 
 all the possibihties ! Well, what shall I say ? 
 
 Bid jrom Spicer. 
 Two thousand ? [With his smile] That won't hurt you, 
 Mr Spicer. Why, it's worth that to overlook the 
 Duke. For two thousand ? 
 
 Bid from Hornblower, stage Left. 
 And five. Thank you, sir. Two thousand five 
 hundred bid. 
 
 To a friend just hdow him. 
 Come, Mr Sandy, don't scratch your head over it. 
 
 Bid from Dawker, stage Right. 
 And five. Three thousand bid for this desirable 
 property. Why, you'd think it wasn't desirable. 
 Come along, gen'lemen. A httle spirit. 
 
 A slight pause. 
 
 Jill. Why can't I see the bids. Dodo ? 
 
 HiLLCRiST. The last was Dawker's.
 
 sc. I THE SKIN GAME 49 
 
 Auctioneer. For three thousand. [Hornblower] 
 Three thousand five hundred ? May I say four 'i 
 [A bid from the centre] No, I'm not particular ; I'll 
 take hundreds. Three thousand six hundred bid. 
 [Hornblower] And seven. Three thousand seven 
 hundred, and — [He pauses, quartering the audience]. 
 
 Jill. Who was that, Dodo ? 
 
 HiLLCRiST. Hornblower. It's the Duke in the 
 centre. 
 
 Auctioneer. Come, gen'lemen, don't keep me all 
 day. Four thousand may I say ? [Dawker] Thank 
 you. We're beginning. And one ? [A bid from the 
 centre] Four thousand one hundred. [Hornblower] 
 Four thousand two hundred. May I have yours, sir ? 
 [To Dawker] And three. Four thousand three 
 hundred bid. No such site in the county, gen'lemea. 
 I'm going to sell this land for what it's worth. You 
 can't bid too much for me. [He smiles] [Horn- 
 blower] Four thousand five hundred bid. [Bid from 
 the centre] And six. [Dawker] And seven. [Horn- 
 blower] And eight. Nine, may I say ? [But the 
 centre has dried up] [Dawker] And nine. [Horn- 
 blower] Five thousand. Five thousand bid. 
 That's better ; there's some spirit in it. For five 
 thousand. 
 
 He pauses while he speaks to the Solicitor. 
 
 Hillcrist. It's a duel now. 
 
 Auctioneer. Now, gen'lemen, I'm not going to 
 give this property away. Five thousand bid. 
 [Dawker] And one. [Hornblower] And two. 
 [Dawker] And three. Five thousand three
 
 50 THE SKIN GAME act ii 
 
 hundred bid. And five, did you say, sir ? [Horn- 
 blower] Five thousand five hundred bid. 
 
 He looks at his particulars. 
 
 Jill. [Rather agonised] Enemy, Dodo. 
 
 Auctioneer. This chance may never come again. 
 
 " How you'll regret it 
 II you don't get it," 
 
 as the poet says. May I say five thousand six 
 hundred, sir ? [Dawker] Five thousand six hundred 
 bid. [Hornblower] And seven. [Dawker] And 
 eight. For five thousand eight hundred pounds. 
 We're gettin' on, but we haven't got the value 
 yet. 
 
 A slight pause, while he wipes his brow at the 
 success of his own efforts. 
 Jill. Us, Dodo ? 
 
 HiLLCRiST nods. Jill looks over at Eolp, 
 whose face is grimly set. Chloe has never 
 moved. Mrs Hillcrist whispers to her 
 husband. 
 Auctioneer. Five thousand eight hundred bid. 
 For five thousand eight hundred. Come along, 
 gen'lemen, come along. We're not beaten. Thank 
 you, sir. [Hornblower] Five thousand nine 
 hundred. And — ? [Dawker] Six thousand. Six 
 thousand bid. Six thousand bid. For six thousand ! 
 The Gentry — most desirable spot in the county — 
 going for the low price of six thousand. 
 Hillcrist. [Muttering] Low ! Heavens ! 
 Auctioneer. Any advance on six thousand ?
 
 sc. I THE SKIN GAME 51 
 
 Come, gen'lemen, we haven't dried up ? A little 
 spirit. Six thousand ? For six thousand ? For 
 six thousand pounds ? Very well, I'm sclhng. For 
 six thousand once — [He taps] For six thousand twice 
 — [He taps], 
 Jill. [Low] Oh ! we've got it ! 
 Auctioneer. And one, sir ? [Hornblower] Six 
 thousand one hundred bid. 
 
 The Solicitor touches his arm and says some- 
 thing, to which the Auctioneer responds 
 with a nod. 
 Mrs H. Blow your nosCj Jack. 
 
 Hillcrist blows his nose. 
 Auctioneer. For six thousand one hundred. 
 [Dawker] And two. Thank you. [Hornblower] 
 And three. For six thousand three hundred. 
 [Dawker] And four. For six thousand four 
 hundred pounds. This coveted property. For six 
 thousand four hundred pounds. Why, it's giving it 
 away, gen'lemen. [A pause]. 
 Mrs H. Giving ! 
 
 Auctioneer. Six thousand four hundred bid. 
 
 [Hornblower] And five. [Dawker] And six. 
 
 [Hornblower] And seven. [Dawker] And eight. 
 
 A pause, during which, through the door Lejt^ 
 
 soyneone becJcons to the Solicitor, who rises 
 
 and confers. 
 
 Hillcrist. [Muttering] I've done if that doesn't 
 
 get it. 
 
 Auctioneer. For six thousand eight hundred. 
 For six thousand eight hundred — once — [He taps]
 
 52 THE SKIN GAME act ii 
 
 twice — [He taps] For* the last time. This Jominat- 
 iug site. [ILjunuloweu] And nine. Thank you. 
 For six thousand nine hundred. 
 
 HiLLCRiST has taken out his handkerchief. 
 Jill. Oh ! Dodo ! 
 Mrs H. [Quivering] Don't give in ! 
 Auctioneer. Seven thousand may I say ? 
 [Dawker] Seven tliousand. 
 
 Mrs H. [Whispers] Keep it down ; don't show 
 him. 
 
 Auctioneer. For seven thousand — going for seven 
 thousand — once — [Taps] twice — ' [Taps] [Horn- 
 blower] And one. Thank you, sir. 
 
 HiLLCRiST blows his nose. Jill, with a choke, 
 leans hack in her seat and folds her arms 
 tightly on her chest. Mrs Hillcrist passes 
 her handkerchief over her lips, sitting 
 perfectly still. Hillcrist too is motion- 
 less. 
 The Auctioneer has paused, and is talking to 
 the SolicitoRj ivho has returned to his seat. 
 MrsH. Oh! Jack. 
 Jill. Stick it, Dodo ; stick it ! 
 Auctioneer. Now, gen'lemen, I have a bid of 
 seven thousand one hundred for the Gentry. And 
 I'm instructed to sell if I can't get more. It's a fair 
 price, but not a big price. [To his friend Mr Spicer] 
 A thumpin' price ? [With his sinile] Well, you're a 
 judge of thumpin', I admit. Now, who'll give me 
 seven thousand two hundred ? What, no one ? 
 Well, I can't make you, gen'leinen. For seven
 
 sc. I THE SKIN GAME 53 
 
 thousand one hundred. Once — [Taps] Twice — 
 [Taps]. Jill utters a little groan 
 
 HiLLCRiST. [Suddenly, in a queer voice] Two. 
 
 Auctioneer. [Turnincj xvith surprise and looking 
 up to receive Hillcrist's nod] Thank you, sir. And 
 two. Seven thousand two hundred. [lie screws him- 
 self round so as to command both Hillcrist and 
 Hornblower] May I have yours, sir ? [Horn- 
 blower] And three. [Hillcrist] And four. Seven 
 thousand four hundred. For seven thousand four 
 hundred. [Hornblower] Five. [Hillcrist] Six. 
 For seven thousand six hundred. [A pause] Weil, 
 gen'lemen, this is better, but a record property shid 
 fetch a record price. The possibiHtics are enormous, 
 [Hornblower] Eight thousand did you say, sir ? 
 Eight thousand. Going for eight thousand pounds. 
 [Hillcrist] And one. [Hornblower] And two. 
 Hillcrist] And three. [Hornblower] And four. 
 [Hillcrist] And five. For eight thousand five 
 hundred. A wonderful property for eight thousand 
 five hundred. He wipes his brow. 
 
 Jill. [Whispering] Oh, Dodo ! 
 
 Mrs H. That's enough. Jack, we must stop some 
 time. 
 
 Auctioneer. For eight thousand five hundred. 
 Once — [Taps] Twice — [Taps] [Hornblower] Six 
 hundred. [Hillcrist] Seven. May I have yours, 
 sir ? [Hornblower] Eight. 
 
 Hillcrist. Nine thousand. 
 
 Mrs Hillcrist loolcs at him, biting her lips, 
 but he is quite absorbed.
 
 54 THE SKIN GAME act ii 
 
 Auctioneer. Nine thousand for this astounding 
 property. Why, the Duke would pay that if he 
 realised he'd be overlooked. Now, sir ? [To Horn- 
 blower. No response]. Just a little raise on that. 
 [No response.] For nine thousand. The Gentry, 
 Decpwater, for nine thousand. Once — [Taps] Twice 
 —[Taps]. 
 
 Jill. [Under her breath] Ours ! 
 
 A Voice. [From far hack in the centre] And five 
 hundred. 
 
 Auctioneer. [Surprised and throwing out his arms 
 towards the voice] And five hundred. For nine 
 thousand five hundred. May I have yours, sir ? 
 [He looJcs at Hornblower. No response.] 
 
 The Solicitor speaks to him. 
 
 Mrs H. [Whispering] It must be the Duke 
 again. 
 
 Hillcrist. [Passing his hand over his brow] That's 
 stopped him, any way. 
 
 Auctioneer. [Looking at Hillcrist] For nine 
 thousand five hundred ? 
 
 Hillcrist shakes his head. 
 Once more. The Gentry, Deepwater, for nine 
 thousand five hundred. Once — [Taps] Twice — 
 [Taps] [He pauses and looks again at Hornblower 
 and Hillcrist] For the last time — at nine thousand 
 five hundred. [Taps] [With a look towards the bidder] 
 Mr Smalley. Well ! [With great satisfaction] That's 
 that ! No more to-day, gen'lemen. 
 
 The Auctioneer and Solicitor busy them- 
 selves. The room begins to empty.
 
 sc. I THE SKIN GAME 55 
 
 Mrs H. Sraalley ? Smalley ? Is tliat tlie Duke's 
 agent 1 Jack ! 
 
 HiLLCRiST, [Coming out of a sort of coma, after the 
 excitement he has been going through] What ! What ! 
 
 Jill. Oh, Dodo ! How splendidly you stuck it ! 
 
 HiLLCRiST. Phew ! What a squeak ! I was clean 
 out of my depth. A mercy the Duke chipped in 
 again. 
 
 Mrs H. [Looking at Rolf and Chloe, who are 
 standing up as if about to go] Take care ; they can 
 hear you. Find Dawker, Jack. 
 
 Below, the Auctioneer and Solicitor take up 
 
 their papers, and move out Left. 
 HiLLCRiST stretches himself, standing up, as 
 if to throw off the strain. The door behind 
 is opened, and Hornblower appears. 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. Ye ran me up a pretty price. Ye 
 bid very pluckily, Hillcrist. But ye didn't quite get 
 my measure. 
 
 Hillcrist. Oh ! It was my nine thousand the 
 Duke capped. Thank God, the Gentry's gone to a 
 gentleman ! 
 
 Hornblower. The Duke 1 [He laughs] No, the 
 Gentry's not gone to a gentleman, nor to a fool. It's 
 gone to me. 
 
 Hillcrist. What ! 
 
 Hornblower. I'm sorry for ye ; ye're not fit to 
 manage these things. Well, it's a monstrous price, 
 and I've had to pay it because of your obstinacy. I 
 shan't forget that when I come to build. 
 
 Hillcrist. D'you mean to say that bid was for you ?
 
 56 THE SKIN GAME act ii 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. Of course I do. I told ye I was a 
 bad man to be up against. Perhaps ye'll believe me 
 now. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. A dastardly trick ! 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. [With venom] Wliat did ye call it 
 — a skin game 1 Remember we're playiu' a skin 
 game, Hillcrist. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. [Clenching his fists] If we were younger 
 men 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. Ay ! 'Twouldn't look pretty for 
 us to be at fisticuffs. We'll leave the figbtiu' to the 
 young ones. [He glances at Rolf and Jill ; suddenly 
 throwing out his finger at Rolf] No makin' up to 
 that young woman ! I've watched ye. And as for 
 you, missy, you leave my boy alone. 
 
 Jill. [With suppressed passion] Dodo, may I spit 
 in his eye or something ? 
 
 Hillcrist. Sit down. 
 
 Jill sits down. He stands between her and 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. 
 
 You've won this round, sir, by a foul blow. We shall 
 see whether you can take any advantage of it. I 
 beheve the law can stop you ruining my property. 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. Make your mind easy; it can't. 
 I've got ye in a noose, and I'm goin' to hang ye. 
 
 Mrs H. [Suddenly] Mr Hornblower, as you fight 
 foul — so shall we. 
 
 Hillcrist. Amy ! 
 
 Mrs H. [Paying no attention] And it will not be 
 foul play towards you and yours. You are outside 
 the pale
 
 sc. I THE SKIN GAME 57 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. Tliai's just where I am, outside 
 your pale all round ye. Ye' re not long for Deep water, 
 ma'am. Make your dispositions to go ; ye'll be out 
 in six months, I prophesy. And good riddance to 
 the neighbourhood. 
 
 They are all down on the level now. 
 
 Chloe. [Suddenly coming closer to Mrs Hillcrist] 
 Here are your salts, thank you. Father, can't 
 you — ? 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. [Surfriscd'] Can't I what ? 
 
 Chloe. Can't you come to an arrangement ? 
 
 Mrs H. Just so, Mr Hornblower. Can't you ? 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. [Looking from one to the other'] As 
 we're speakin' out, ma'am, it's your behaviour to 
 my daughter-in-law — who's as good as you — and 
 better, to my thinking — that's more than half the 
 reason why I've bought this property. Ye've fair 
 got my dander up. Now it's no use to bandy words. 
 It's very forgivin' of 3^e, Chloe, but come along ! 
 
 Mrs H. Quite seriously, Mr Hornblower, you had 
 better coine to an arrangement. 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. Mrs HiUcrist, ladies should keep 
 to their own business. 
 
 Mrs H. I will. 
 
 Hillcrist. Amy, do leave it to us men. You 
 young man {lie speaks to Role] do you support your 
 father's trick this afternoon ? 
 
 Jill looks round at Rolf, who tries to speak, 
 when Hornblower breaks in. 
 Hornblower. My trick ? And what d'ye call it, 
 to try and put me own son against me ?
 
 58 THE SKIN GAME act ii 
 
 Jill. [To Rolf] Well ? 
 
 Rolf. I don't, but 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. Tiick ? Ye young cub, be quiet. 
 Mr Hillcrist had an agent bid for biin — I had an 
 agent bid for me. Only his agent bid at the beginnin', 
 an' mine bid at the end. What's the trick in that ? 
 [He laughs'] 
 
 Hillcrist. Hopeless ; we're in different worlds. 
 HoRNBLOWER. I wish to God we were ! Come you, 
 Chloe. And you, Rolf, you follow. In six months 
 I'll have those chimneys up, and me lorries runnin' 
 round ye. 
 
 Mrs H. Mr Hornblower, if you build 
 
 HoRNBLOWER .[Looking at Mrs Hillcrist] Ye 
 know — it's laughable. Ye make me pay nine 
 thousand five hundred for a bit o' land not worth 
 four, and ye think I'm not to get back on ye. I'm 
 goin' on with as little consideration as if ye were a 
 family of blackbeetles. Good afternoon ! 
 Rolf. Father ! 
 
 Jill. Oh, Dodo ! He's obscene. 
 Hillcrist. Mr Hornblower, ray comphments. 
 
 Hornblower, with a stare at Hillcrist's 
 half -smiling face, takes Chloe' s arm, and 
 half drags her towards the door on the Left. 
 But there, in the opened doorway, are stand- 
 ing Dawker and a Stranger. They move 
 just out of the way of the exit, looking at 
 Chloe, who sways and very nearly falls. 
 Hornblower. Why ! Chloe ! What's the 
 matter ?
 
 sc. I THE SKIN GAME 59 
 
 Chloe. I don't know ; I'm not well to-day [She 
 pulls herself together with a great effort]. 
 
 Mrs H. [Who has exchanged a nod with Dawker 
 and the Stranger] Mr Hornblower, you build at 
 your peril. I warn you. 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. [Tuming round to speah] Ye think 
 yourself very cool and very smart. But I doubt this 
 is the first time ye've been up against reahties. Now, 
 I've been up against them all my hfe. Don't talk to 
 me, ma'am, about peril and that sort of nonsense ; 
 it makes no impression. Your husband called me 
 pachydermatous. I don't know Greek, and Latin, 
 and all that, but I've looked it out in the dictionary, 
 and I find it means thick-skinned. And I'm none 
 the worse for that when I have to deal with folk hke 
 you. Good afternoon. 
 
 He draws Chloe forward, and they pass through 
 the door, followed quickly by Rolf. 
 
 Mrs H. Thank you, Dawker. 
 
 She moves up to Dawker and the Stranger, 
 Left, and they talk. 
 
 Jill. Dodo ! It's awful ! 
 
 HiLLCRiST. Well, there's nothing for it now but 
 to smile and pay up. Poor old home ! It shall be 
 his wash-pot. Over the Gentry will he cast his shoe. 
 By Gad, Jill, I could cry ! 
 
 Jill, [pointingl Look ! Chloe's sitting down. 
 She nearly fainted just now. It's something to do 
 with Dawker, Dodo, and that man with him. Look 
 at mother ! Ask them ! 
 
 HiLLCRiST. Dawker !
 
 00 THE SKIN GAME act ir 
 
 Dawker comes to Mm, folloivcd hy Mrs 
 
 HiLLCRIST. 
 
 What's the mystery about young Mrs Hornblowcr ? 
 
 Dawkeu. No mystery. 
 
 HiLLCRIST. Well, what is it ? 
 
 Mrs H. You'd better not ask. 
 
 HiLLCRIST. I wish to know. 
 
 Mrs H. Jill, go out and wait for us. 
 
 Jill. Nonsense, mother ! 
 
 Mrs H. It's not for a girl to hear. 
 
 Jill. Bosh ! I read the papers every day. 
 
 Dawker. It's nothin' worse than you get there, 
 anyway. 
 
 Mrs H. Do you wish your daughter 
 
 Jill. It's ridiculous, Dodo ; you'd think I was 
 mother at my age. 
 
 Mrs H. I was not so proud of my knowledge. 
 
 Jill. No, but you had it, dear. 
 
 HiLLCRIST. What is it — what is it ? Come over 
 here, Dawker. 
 
 Dawker goes to Mm, Right, and speaks in a 
 low voice. 
 What! 
 
 Again Dawker speaks in a low voice. 
 Good God ! 
 
 Mrs H. Exactly ! 
 
 Jill. Poor thing — whatever it is ! 
 
 Mrs H. Poor thing ? 
 
 Jill. Wliat went before, mother ? 
 
 Mrs H. It's what's coming after that matters, 
 luckily.
 
 sc. I THE SKIN GAME 61 
 
 HiLLCRiST. How do you know this ? 
 
 Dawker. My friend licre [He points to the 
 Stranger] was ono of the agents. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. It's shocking. I'm sorry I heard it. 
 
 Mrs H. I told you not to. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. Ask your friend to come here. 
 
 Dawker beckons^ and the Stranger joins the 
 group. 
 Are you sure of what you've said, sir ? 
 
 Stranger. Perfectly. I remember her quite well ; 
 her name then was 
 
 HiLLCRiST. I don't want to know, thank you. 
 I'm truly sorry. I wouldn't wish the knowledge of 
 that about his womenfolk to my worst enemy. This 
 mustn't be spoken of. 
 
 Jill hugs his arm. 
 
 Mrs H. It will not be if Mr Hornblower is wise. If 
 he is not wise, it must be spoken of. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. I say no, Amy. I won't have it. It's 
 a dirty weapon. Wlio touches pitch shall be defiled. 
 
 Mrs H. Well, what weapons does he use against 
 us ? Don't be quixotic. For all we can tell, they 
 know it quite well already, and if they don't they 
 ought to. Anyway, to know this is our salvation, 
 and we must use it. 
 
 JiLL. [SoUo voce] Pitch ! Dodo ! Pitch ! 
 
 Dawker. The threat's enough ! J. P. — Chapel — 
 Future member for the constituency 
 
 HiLLCRiST. [A little more doubtfully'] To use a piece 
 of knowledge about a woman — it's repugnant. I— 
 I won't do it.
 
 62 THE SKIN GAME act ii 
 
 Mrs H. If you liad a son tricked into marrying such 
 a woman, would you wish to remain ignorant of it ? 
 
 HiLLCRisT. [Struck] I don't know — I don't know. 
 
 Mrs H. At least you'd hke to be in a position to 
 help him, if you thought it necessary ? 
 
 HiLLCRiST. Well — that — perhaps. 
 
 Mrs H. Then you agree that Mr Hornblower at 
 least should be told. What he does with the know- 
 ledge is not our afiair. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. [Half to the Stranger and half to 
 Dawker] Do you reahse that an imputation of that 
 kind may be ground for a criminal hbel action ? 
 
 Stranger. Quite. But there's no shadow of 
 doubt ; not the faintest. You saw her just now ? 
 * HiLLCRiST. I did. [Revolting again] No ; I don't 
 Uke it. 
 
 Dawker has drawn the Stranger a step or 
 two away, and they talk together. 
 
 Mrs H. [In a low voice] And the ruin of our home 1 
 You're betraying your fathers, Jack. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. I can't bear bringing a woman into it. 
 
 Mrs H. We don't. If anyone brings her in, it 
 will be Hornblower himself. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. We use her secret as a lever. 
 
 Mrs H. I tell you quite plainly : I will only consent 
 to holding my tongue about her, if you agree to 
 Hornblower being told. It's a scandal to have a 
 woman hke that in the neighbourhood. 
 
 Jill. Mother means that, father. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. Jill, keep quiet. This is a very bitter 
 position. I can't tell what to do.
 
 sc. I THE SKIN GAME 63 
 
 Mrs H. You must use this knowledge. You owe 
 it to me — to us all. You'll sec that when you've 
 thought it over. 
 
 Jill. [Softly] Pitch, Dodo, pitch 1 
 
 Mrs H. [Furiously] Jill, be quiet ! 
 
 HiLLCRiST. I was brought up never to hurt a 
 woman. I can't do it. Amy — I can't do it. I should 
 never feel hke a gentleman again. 
 
 Mrs H. [Coldly] Oh ! Very well. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. What d'you mean by that ? 
 
 Mrs H, I shall use the knowledge in my own way. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. [Staring at her] You would— against 
 my wishes ? 
 
 Mrs H. I consider it my duty. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. If I agree to Hornblower being told 
 
 Mrs H. That's all I want. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. It's the utmost I'll consent to, Amy ; 
 and don't let's have any humbug about its being 
 morally necessary. We do it to save our skins. 
 
 Mrs H. I don't know what you mean by humbug ? 
 
 Jill. He means humbug, mother. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. It must stop at old Hornblower. Do 
 you quite understand ? 
 
 Mrs H. Quite. 
 
 Jill. Will it stop ? 
 
 Mrs H. Jill, if you can't keep your impertinence 
 to yourself 
 
 HiLLCRiST. Jillj come with me. 
 
 He turns towards door, Back. 
 
 Jill. I'm sorry, mother. Only it is a skin game, 
 isn't it 1
 
 64 THE SKIN GAME act ii 
 
 Mrs H. You pride yourself on plain speecli, Jill. 
 I pride iii} ^rlf on pkiin thouglit. You will thank me 
 afterwards that I can see realities. I know we are 
 better people than these Horublovvers. Here we are 
 going to stay, and they — are not. 
 
 Jill. [Looking at her with a sort of unwilling admira- 
 tion'] Mother, you're wonderful ! 
 
 HiLLCRIST. Jill ! 
 
 Jill. Coming, Dodo. 
 
 She turns and runs to the door. They go out. 
 Mrs HiLLCRIST, with a long sigh, draws 
 herself wp, fine and proud. 
 
 Mrs II. Dawker ! 
 
 He comes to her. 
 I shall send him a note to-night, and word it so that 
 he will be bound to come and see us to-morrow 
 morning. Will you be in the study just before eleven 
 o'clock, with this gentleman ? 
 
 Dawker. [Nodding] We're going to wire for his 
 
 partner. I'll bring him too. Can't make too sure. 
 
 She goes firmly up the steps and out. 
 
 Dawker. [To the Stranger, with a wink] The 
 Squire's squeamish — too much of a gentleman. But 
 he don't count. The grey mare's all right. You 
 wire to Henry. I'm ofi to our sohcitors. We'll 
 make that old rhinoceros sell us back the Centry 
 at a decent price. These Hornblowers — [Laying 
 Ms finger on his nose] We've got 'em ! 
 
 CURTAIN
 
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 D
 
 SCENE II 
 
 Chloe's boudoir at half-'past seven the same evening. A 
 pretty room. No fictures on the walls, hut two 
 mirrors. A screen and a luxurious couch on the 
 fireplace side, stage Left. A door rather Right of 
 Centre Bach, opening inwards. A French window, 
 Right forward. A writing table^ Right Back. 
 Electric light burning. 
 
 Chloe, in a tea-gown, is standing by the forward end 
 of the sofa, very still, and very pale. Her lips are 
 parted, and her large eyes stare straight before them 
 as if seeing ghosts. The door is opened noiselessly 
 and a Woman's face is seen. It peers at Chloe, 
 vanishes, and the door is closed. Chloe raises her 
 hands, covers her eyes with them, drops them with 
 a quick gesture, and looks round her. A knock. 
 With a swift movement she slides 07i to the sofa^ 
 and lies prostrate, with eyes closed. 
 
 Chloe. [Feebly] Come in ! 
 
 Her Maid enters ; a trim, contained figure of 
 uncertain years, in a black dress ^ unth the 
 face which was peering in. 
 Yes, Anna ? 
 Anna. Aren't you going in to dinner, ma'am ? 
 Chloe. [With closed eyes] No. 
 Anna. Will yon take anything here, ma'am ? 
 
 87
 
 68 THE SKIN GAME act ii 
 
 Chloe. I'd like a biscuit and a glass of cham- 
 pagne. 
 
 The Maid, tvho is standing between sofa and 
 door, smiles. Chloe, with a swift look, 
 catches the smile. 
 Why do you smile ? 
 
 Anna. Was I, ma'am ? 
 
 Chloe. You know you were. [Fiercely] Are you 
 paid to smile at me ? 
 
 Anna. [Immovable] No, ma'am. Would you like 
 some eau de Cologne on your forehead ? 
 
 Chloe. Yes. — No. — What's the good ? [Clasping 
 her forehead] My headache won't go. 
 
 Anna. To keep lying down's the best thing for it. 
 
 Chloe. I have been — hours. 
 
 Anna. [With the smile] Yes, ma'am. 
 
 Chloe. [Gathering herself wp on the sofa] Anna ! 
 Why do you do it ? 
 
 Anna. Do what, ma'am ? 
 
 Chloe. Spy on me. 
 
 Anna. I — never ! I — ! 
 
 Chloe. To spy ! You're a fool, too. What is 
 there to spy on ? 
 
 Anna. Nothing, ma'am. Of course, if you're not 
 satisfied with me, I must give notice. Only — if I 
 were spying, I should expect to have notice given me. 
 I've been accustomed to ladies who wouldn't stand 
 such a thing for a minute. 
 
 Chloe. [Intently] Well, you'll take a month's wages 
 and go to-morrow. And that's all, now. 
 
 Anna inclines her head and goes out.
 
 sc. II THE SKIN GAME 69 
 
 Chloe, with a sort of moan, turns over and 
 buries her face in the cushion. 
 Chloe. [Sitting up] If I could see that man — if 
 
 only — or Dawker 
 
 She springs up and goes to the door, but 
 hesitates, and comes bach to the head of the 
 sofa, as Rolf comes in. During this scene 
 the door is again opened stealthily, an inch 
 or two. 
 Rolf. How's the head ? 
 
 Chloe. Beastly, thanks. I'm not going in to 
 dinner. 
 Rolf. Is there anything I can do for you ? 
 Chloe. No, dear boy. [Suddenly looking at him] 
 You don't want this quarrel with the Hillcrists to go 
 on, do you, Rolf ? 
 Rolf. No ; I hate it. 
 
 Chloe. Well, I think I might be able to atop it. 
 Will you slip round to Dawker's — it's not five minutes 
 — and ask him to come and see me. 
 
 Rolf. Father and Charlie wouldn't 
 
 Chloe. I know. But if he comes to the window 
 here while you're at dinner, I'll let him in, and out, 
 and nobody'd know. 
 Rolf. [Astonished] Yes, but what — I mean 
 
 how 
 
 Chloe. Don't ask me. It's worth the shot — that's 
 all. [Looking at her wrist-watch] To this window at 
 eight o'clock exactly. First long window on the 
 terrace, tell him. 
 
 Rolf. It's nothing CharUe would mind ?
 
 70 THE SKIN GAME act ii 
 
 CuLOE. No ; only I can't tell him— he and father 
 are so mad about it all. 
 
 Rolf. If there's a real chance 
 
 Chloe. [Going to the window and opening it] This 
 way, Rolf. If you don't come back I shall know 
 he's coming. Put your watch by mine. [Looking at 
 his watch] It's a minute fast, see 1 
 
 Rolf. Look here, Chloe 
 
 Chloe. Don't wait ; go on. 
 
 She almost pushes him out through the window, 
 closes it after him, draws the curtains again, 
 stands a minute, thinking hard ; goes to the 
 hell and rings it ; then, crossing to the 
 writing table. Right Back, she takes out a 
 chemisi's prescription. 
 
 Anna comes in. 
 Chloe. I don't want that champagne. Take this 
 to the chemist and get him to make up some of these 
 cachets quick, and bring them back yourself, 
 Anna. Yes, ma'am ; but you have some. 
 Chloe. They're too old ; I've taken two — the 
 strength's out of them. Quick, please ; I can't stand 
 this head. 
 
 Anna. [Taking the prescription — with her smile] 
 Yes, ma'am. It'll take some time — you don't want 
 me? 
 Chloe. No ; I want the cachets. 
 
 Anna goes out. 
 
 Chloe looks at her wrist-watch, goes to the 
 
 writing-table, which is old-fashioned, with a 
 
 secret drawer, looks round her, dives at the
 
 sc. II THE SKIN GAME 71 
 
 secret draiver, takes out a roll of notes and 
 a tissue paper parcel. She counts the 
 notes : " Three hundred." Slips them 
 into her breast and umoraps the little parcel. 
 It contains pearls. She slips them too into 
 her dress, looks round startled, replaces the 
 draiver, and regains her place on the sofa, 
 lying prostrate as the door opens, and 
 HoRNBLOWER comes in. She does not 
 open her eyes, and he stands looking at her 
 a moment before speaking. 
 EoRNBLOWER. [Almost softly] How are ye feelin', 
 Chloe ? 
 
 Chloe. Awful head 1 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. Can ye attend a moment ? I've 
 liad a note from that woman. Chloe sits up. 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. [Reading] " I have something of 
 the utmost importance to tell you in regard to your 
 daughter-in-law. I shall be waiting to see you at 
 eleven o'clock to-morrow morning. The matter ia 
 so utterly vital to the happiness of all your family, 
 that I cannot imagine you will fail to come." Now, 
 what's the meaning of it ? Is it sheer impudence, or 
 lunacy, or what 1 
 Chloe. I don't know. 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. [Not Unkindly] Chloe, if there's 
 anything — ye'd better tell me. Forewarn,ed's fore- 
 armed. 
 
 Chloe. There's notliing ; unless it's— [TF^'^Zt a 
 quick look at him] — Unless it's that my father was a — 
 a bankrupt.
 
 72 THE SKIN GAME act ii 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. Hecli ! Many a man's been that. 
 Ye've never told us much about your family. 
 
 Chloe. I wasn't very proud of Lim. 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. Well, ye're not responsible for your 
 father. If that's all, it's a rehef. The bitter snobs ! 
 I'll remember it in the account I've got with them. 
 
 Chloe. Father, don't say anything to CharUe ; 
 it'll only worry him for nothing. 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. Na, no, I'll not. If / went bank- 
 rupt, it'd upset Chearlie, I've not a doubt. [He 
 laughs. Looking at her shrewdly] There's nothing 
 else, before I answer her ? 
 
 Chloe shakes her head. 
 Ye're sure ? 
 
 Chloe. [With an effort] She may invent things, of 
 course. 
 
 HoRNBLOWER, [Lost in his feud feeling] Ah ! but 
 there's such a thing as the laws o' slander. If they 
 play pranks, I'll have them up for it. 
 
 Chloe. [Timidly] Couldn't you stop this quarrel, 
 father ? You said it was on my account. But / 
 don't want to know them. And they do love their 
 old home. I Uke the girl. You don't really need to 
 bmld just there, do you ? Couldn't you stop it ? 
 Do! 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. Stop it ? Now I've bought ? Na, 
 no ! The snobs defied me, and I'm going to show 
 them. I hate the lot of them, and I hate that Uttle 
 Dawker worst of all. 
 
 Chloe. He's only their agent. 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. He's a part of the whole dog-in- 
 
 /
 
 sc. II THE SKIN GAME 73 
 
 the-manger system that stands in my way. Ye' re a 
 woman, and ye don't understand these things. Ye 
 wouldn't beheve the struggle I've had to make my 
 money and get my position. These county folk 
 talk soft sawder, but to get anything from them's 
 hke gettin' butter out of a dog's mouth. If they 
 could drive me out of here by fair means or foul, 
 would they hesitate a moment ? Not they ! See 
 what they've made me pay ; and look at this letter. 
 Selfish, mean lot o' hypocrites ! 
 Chloe. But they didn't begin the quarrel. 
 HoRNBLOWER. Not openly ; but underneath they 
 did — that's their way. They began it by thwartin' 
 me here and there and everywhere, just because I've 
 come into me own a bit later than they did. I gave 
 'em their chance, and they wouldn't take it. Well, 
 I'll show 'em what a man Uke me can do when 
 he sets his mind to it. I'll not leave much skin 
 on them. 
 
 In the intensity of his feeling he has lost sight 
 
 of her face, alive with a sort of agony of 
 
 doubt, whether to "plead with him further, or 
 
 what to do. Then, with a sivift glance at 
 
 her wrist-watch, she falls hack on the sofa 
 
 and closes her eyes. 
 
 It'll give me a power of enjoyment seein' me chimneys 
 
 go up in front of their windies. That was a bonnie 
 
 thought — that last bid o' mine. He'd got that 
 
 roused up, I beheve he never would a' stopped. 
 
 [Looking at her] I forgot your head. Well, well, 
 
 ye'll be best lyin' quiet.
 
 74 THE SKIN GAME act n 
 
 The gong sowods. 
 Shall we send ye something in from dinner ? 
 
 Chloe. No ; I'll try to sleep. Please tel) them I 
 don't want to be disturbed. 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. All right. I'll just answer this 
 note. 
 
 He sits down at her writing-table. 
 Chloe starts wp from the sofa feverisJdy, look- 
 ing at her ivatch, at the window, at her 
 watch ; then softly crosses to the window 
 and opens it. 
 HoRNBLOWER. [Finishing'] Listen ! [lie turns 
 round towards the sofa] Hallo ! Where are ye ? 
 Chloe, [At the window] It's so hot. 
 HoRNBLOWER. Here's what I've said : 
 
 " Madam,— You can tell me nothing of my 
 daughter-in-law which can affect the happi- 
 ness of my family. I regard your note as an 
 impertinence, and I shall not be with you at 
 eleven o'clock to-morrow morning. 
 " Yours truly " 
 
 Chloe. [With a suffering rnovement of her head] Oh! 
 
 —Well ! 
 
 The gong is touched a second time. 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. [Grossing to the door] Lie ye down, 
 
 and get a sleep. I'll tell them not to disturb ye ; and 
 
 I hope ye'U be all right to-morrow. Good-night, 
 
 Chloe. 
 
 Chloe. Good-night. He goes out. 
 
 After a feverish turn or two^ Celoe returns to
 
 sc. 11 THE SKIN GAME 75 
 
 the open window and waits there, half 
 screened by the curtains. The door is 
 opened inch hij inch, and Anna's head 
 peers round. Seeing ivhere Chloe is, she 
 slips in and passes behind the screen, Left. 
 Suddenly Chloe backs in from the window. 
 Chloe. [In a low voice] Come in. 
 
 She darts to the door and locks it. 
 Dawker has come in through the window and 
 stands regarding her with a half smile. 
 Dawker, Well, j'oung woman, wliat do you want 
 of me ? 
 
 In the presence of this man of her own dass, 
 there comes a distinct change in Chloe's 
 voice and manner ; a sort of frank common- 
 ness, adapted to the man she is dealing with, 
 but she keeps her voice low. 
 Chloe. You're making a mistake, you know. 
 Dawker. {With a broad mini No. I've got a 
 memory for faces. 
 Chloe. I say you are. 
 
 Dawker. [Turning to go] If that's all, you needn't 
 'ave troubled me to come. 
 
 Chloe. No. Don't go ! [With a faint smiW] You 
 are playing a game with me. Aren't you ashamed ? 
 "What harm have I done you ? Do you call this 
 cricket ? 
 Dawker. No, my girl — business. 
 Chloe. [Bitterly] WTiat have I to do with this 
 quarrel ? I couldn't help their falhng out. 
 Dawkeh. That's your misfortune.
 
 76 THE SKIN GAME act ii 
 
 Chloe. [Clas]nng her hands] You're a cruel fellow 
 if you can spoil a woman's life who never did you an 
 ounce of harm, 
 
 Dawker. So tliey donH know about you. That's 
 all right. Now, look here, I serve my employer. But 
 I'm flesh and blood too, and I always give as good as 
 I get. I hate this family of yours. There's no name 
 too bad for 'em to call me this last month, and no looks 
 too black to give me. I tell you frankly, I hate 'em. 
 
 Chloe. There's good in them same as in you. 
 
 Dawker. [With a griri] There's no good Horn- 
 blower but a dead Hornblower. 
 
 Chloe. But — but I'm not one. 
 
 Dawker. You'll be the mother of some, I shouldn't 
 wonder. 
 
 Chloe. [Stretching out her hand — patheticaUy] Oh ! 
 leave me alone, do ! I'm happy here. Be a sport ! 
 Be a sport ! 
 
 Dawker. [Disconcerted for a second] You can't get 
 at me, so don't try it on. 
 
 Chloe. I had such a bad time in old days. 
 
 Dawker shakes his head ; his grin has dis- 
 appeared and his face is like wood. 
 
 Chloe. [Panting] Ah ! do ! You might ! You've 
 been fond of some woman, I suppose. Think of her ! 
 
 Dawker. [Decisively] It won't do, Mrs Chloe. 
 You're a pawn in the game, and I'm going to use you. 
 
 Chloe. [Despairingly] WTiat is it to you ? [With 
 a sudden touch of the tigress] Look here ! Don't you 
 make an enemy of me. I haven't dragged through 
 hell for nothing. Women hke me can bite, I tell you.
 
 sc. II THE SKIN GAME 77 
 
 Dawker. That's better. I'd rather have a woman 
 threaten than whine, any day. Threaten away ! 
 You'll let 'em know that you met me in the Pro- 
 menade one night. Of course you'll let 'em know 
 that, won't you ? — or that 
 
 Chlob. Be quiet ! Oh ! Be quiet ! [Taking from 
 her bosom the notes and the pearls] Look ! There's 
 my savings — there's all I've got ! The pearls'll fetch 
 nearly a thousand. [Holding it out to hifn] Take it, 
 and drop me out — won't you ? Won't you ? 
 
 Dawker. [Passing his tongue over his lips — ivith a 
 hard little laugh] You mistake your man, missis. I'm 
 a plain dog, if you Uke, but I'm faithful, and I hold 
 fast. Don't try those games on me. 
 
 Chloe. [Losing control] You're a beast ! — a beast ! 
 a cruel, cowardly beast ! And how dare you bribe 
 that woman here to spy on me ? Oh ! yes, you do ; 
 you know you do. If you drove me mad, you 
 wouldn't care. You beast ! 
 
 Dawker. Now, don't carry on ! That won't help 
 you. 
 
 Chloe. What d'you call it — to dog a woman down 
 like this, just because you happen to have a quarrel 
 with a man 1 
 
 Dawker. Who made the quarrel ? Not me, 
 missis. You ought to know that in a row it's the 
 weak and helpless — we won't say the innocent — that 
 get it in the neck. That can't be helped. 
 
 Chloe. [Regarding him intently] I hope your 
 mother or your sister, if you've got any, may go 
 through what I'm going through ever since you got
 
 78 THE SKIN GAME act ii 
 
 on my track. I hope they'll know what fear means. 
 I hope they'll love and find out that it's hanging 
 
 on a thread, and — and Oh ! you coward, you 
 
 persecuting coward ! Call yourself a man ! 
 
 Dawker. [With his grin] Ah ! You look quite 
 pretty Uke that. By George ! you're a handsome 
 woman when you're roused. 
 
 Chloe's passion fades out as quickly as it 
 
 blazed up. She sinhs down on the sofa, 
 
 shudders, looks here and there, and then for 
 
 a moment up at him. 
 
 Chloe. Is there anything you'll take, not to spoil 
 
 my life ? [Clasping her hands on her breast ; under her 
 
 breath] Me 1 
 
 Dawker. [Wiping his brow] By God ! That's an 
 offer. [He recoils towards the window] You — you 
 touched me there. Look here ! I've got to use you 
 and I'm going to use you, but I'll do my best to let 
 you down as easy as I can. No, I don't want any- 
 thing you can give mo — that is — [He wipes his brow 
 again] I'd hke it — but I won't take it. 
 
 Chloe buries her face in her hands- 
 There ! Keep your pecker up ; don't cry. Good- 
 night ! He goes through the window. 
 Chloe. [Springing up] Ugh ! Eat in a trap ! 
 
 Rat ! 
 
 She stands listening ; flies to the door, unlocks 
 it, and, going back to the sofa, lies down and 
 closes her eyes. Charles comes in very 
 quietly and stands over her, looking to see 
 if she is asleep. She opens her eyes.
 
 sc. II THE SKIN GAME 79 
 
 Charles. Well, Clo ! Had a sleep, old girl ? 
 
 Chloe. Ye— OS. 
 
 Charles. [Sitting on the arm of the sofa and caress- 
 ing her] Feel better, dear ? 
 
 Chloe. Yes, better, Charlie. 
 
 Charles. That's right. Would you like some 
 soup ? 
 
 Chloe. [With a shudder] No 
 
 Charles. I say— what gives you these heads ? 
 You've been very on and ofi all this last month. 
 
 Chloe. I don't know. Except that — except that 
 I am going to have a child, Charhe. 
 
 Charles. After all ! By Jove ! Sure ? 
 
 Chloe. [Nodding] Are you glad ? 
 
 Charles. Well— I suppose I am. The guv'nor 
 will be mighty pleased, anyway. 
 
 Chloe. Don't tell him — yet. 
 
 Charles. All right ! [Bending over and draiving her 
 to him] My poor girl, I'm .so sorry you're seedy. Give 
 us a kiss. 
 
 Chloe puts up her face and kisses him passion- 
 ately. 
 I say, you're hke fire. You're not feverish ? 
 
 Chloe. [With a laugh] It's a wonder if I'm not. 
 Charhe, are you happy with me ? 
 
 Charles. What do you think ? 
 
 Chloe. [Leaning against him] You wouldn't easily 
 beheve things against me, would you 1 
 
 Charles. What ! Thinking of those Hillcrists ? 
 What the hell that woman means by her attitude 
 towards you Wlien I saw her there to-day, I had
 
 80 THE SKIN GAME act ii 
 
 all my work cut out not to go up and give lier a bit 
 of my mind. 
 
 Chloe. [Watching Mm stealthily'] It's not good for 
 me, now I'm like this. It's upsetting me, Charlie. 
 
 Charles. Yes ; and we won't forget. We'll make 
 'em pay for it. 
 
 Chloe. It's wretched in a little place hke this. I 
 say, must you go on spoihng their home ? 
 
 Charles. The woman cuts you and insults you. 
 That's enough for me. 
 
 Chloe. [Timidly] Let her. I don't care ; I can't 
 bear feeling enemies about, Charhe, I — get nervous- — 
 I 
 
 Charles. My dearvgirl ! What is it ? [He looks at 
 her intently]. 
 
 Chloe. I suppose it's — being hke this. [Suddenly] 
 But, Charhe, do stop it for my sake. Do, do ! 
 
 Charles. [Patting her arm] Come, come ; I say, 
 Chloe ! You're making mountains. See things in 
 proportion. Father's paid nine thousand five hundred 
 to get the better of those people, and you want him 
 to chuck it away to save a woman who's insulted you. 
 That's not sense, and it's not business. Have some 
 pride. 
 
 Chloe. [Breathless] I've got no pride, Charhe. I 
 want to be quiet — that's all. 
 
 Charles. Well, if the row gets on your nerves, I 
 can take you to the sea. But you ought to enjoy a 
 fight with people hke that. 
 
 Chloe. [With calculated bitterness] No, it's nothing, 
 of course — what / want.
 
 sc. II THE SKIN GAME 81 
 
 Charles. Hallo ! Hallo ! You are, on the 
 jump ! 
 
 Chloe. If you want me to be a good wife to you, 
 make father stop it. 
 
 Charles. [Standing wp] Now, look here, Chloe, 
 what's behind this ? 
 
 Chloe. [Faintly'] Behind ? 
 
 Charles. You're carrying on as if — as if you were 
 really scared ! We've got these people. We'll have 
 them out of Deepwater in six months. It's absolute 
 ruination to their beastly old house ; we'll put the 
 chimneys on the very edge, not three hundred yards 
 off, and our smoke'll be drifting over them half the 
 time. You won't have this confounded stuck-up 
 woman here much longer. And then we can really 
 go ahead and take our proper place. So long as 
 she's here, we shall never do that. We've only to 
 drive on now as fast as we can. 
 
 Chloe. [With a gesture] I see. 
 
 Charles. [Again looking at her] If you go on hke 
 thjs^ you know, I shall begin to think there's some- 
 thing you 
 
 Chloe [softly] CharUe ! 
 
 He comes to her. 
 Love me ! 
 
 Charles. [Embracing her] There, old girl ! I 
 know women are funny at these times. You want a 
 good night, that's all. 
 
 Chloe. You haven't finished dinner, have you ? 
 Go back, and I'll go to bed quite soon. Charlie, 
 don't stop loving me. 
 
 1,3
 
 82 THE SKIN GAME act ii 
 
 Charles. Stop ? Not mucli. 
 
 While he is again embracing her, Anna steals 
 from behind the screen to the door, ojpens it 
 noiselessly, and passes through, but it clicks 
 as she shuts it. 
 Chloe. [Starting violently'] Oli — li ! 
 Charles. What is it ? Wliat is it ? You are 
 nervy, my dear. 
 
 Chloe. [Looking round with a little laugh] I don't 
 know. Go on Charlie. I'll be all right when this 
 head's gone. 
 
 Charles. [Stroking her forehead and looking at her 
 doubtfully] You go to bed ; I won't be late coming up. 
 He turns and goes, blowing a kiss from the 
 doorway. When he is gone, Chloe gets 
 up and stands in precisely the attitude in 
 which she stood at the beginning of the Act, 
 thinking, and thinking. And the door is 
 opened, and the face of the Maid peers 
 round at her. 
 
 CURTAIN
 
 ACT III
 
 ACT III 
 
 SCENE I 
 
 Morning 
 IIillcrist's study next morninij. 
 
 Jill, coming from Left, looks in al the open 
 French window. 
 Jill. [Speaking to Rolf, invisible] Come in here. 
 There's no one. 
 
 She goes in. Rolf joins her, coming from the 
 garden. 
 Rolf. Jill, I just wanted to say — Need we ? 
 
 Jill nods. 
 Seeing you yesterday — it did seem rotten. 
 Jill. We didn't begin it. 
 Rolf. No ; but you don't understand. If you'd 
 
 made yourself, as father has 
 
 Jill. I hope I should be sorry. 
 Rolf. [Reproachfully] That isn't Uke you. Really 
 he can't help thinldng he's a pubhc benefactor. 
 
 Jill. And we can't help thinldng he's a pig. 
 Sorry ! 
 
 Rolf. If the survival of the fittest is right 
 
 Jill. He may be fitter, but he's not going to 
 survive. 
 
 85
 
 86 THE SKIN GAME act hi 
 
 Rolf. [Distracted] It looks like it though. 
 
 Jill. Is that all you came to say ? 
 
 Rolf. No. Suppose we joined, couldn't we stop 
 it? 
 
 Jill. I don't feel Uke joining. 
 
 Rolf. We did shake hands. 
 
 Jill. One can't fight and not grow bitter. 
 
 Rolf. / don't feel bitter. 
 
 Jill. Wait ; you'll feel it soon enough. 
 
 Rolf. Why ? [Attentively] About Chloe ? I do 
 think your mother's manner to her is 
 
 Jill. Well ? 
 
 Rolf. Snobbish. Jill laughs. 
 
 She may not be your class ; and that's just why it's 
 snobbish. 
 
 Jill. I think you'd better shut up. 
 
 Rolf. What my father said was true ; your 
 mother's rudeness to her that day she came here, has 
 made both him and Charlie ever so much more bitter. 
 Jill whistles the Habanera from " Carmen.'''' 
 [Staring at her^ rather angrily] Is it a whistUng 
 matter ? 
 
 Jill. No. 
 
 Rolf. I suppose you want me to go ? 
 
 Jill. Yes. 
 
 Rolf. All right. Aren't we ever going to be 
 friends again ? 
 
 Jill, [Looking steadily at him] I don't expect so. 
 
 Rolf. That's very — horrible. 
 
 Jill. Lots of horrible things in the world. 
 
 Rolf. It's our business to make them fewer, Jill.
 
 sc. I THE SKIN GAME 87 
 
 Jill. [Fiercely'\ Don't be moral. 
 Rolf. [Hurt] That's the last thing I want to be. I 
 only want to be friendly. 
 Jill. Better be real first. 
 
 Rolf. From the big point of view 
 
 Jill. There isn't any. We're all out for our own. 
 And why not ? 
 
 Rolf. By jove, you have got 
 
 Jill. Cynical ? Your father's motto — " Every 
 man for himself." That's the winner — hands down. 
 Good-bye ! 
 Rolf. Jill ! Jill ! 
 
 Jill. [Putting her hands behind her hack, hums] — 
 " If auld acquaintance be forgot 
 
 And days of auld lang syne " 
 
 Rolf. Don't! 
 
 With a pained gesture he goes out towards Left, 
 
 through the French window. 
 Jill, who has broken off the song, stands with 
 her hands clenched and her lips quivering. 
 
 Fellows enters Left. 
 Fellows. Mr Dawker, Miss, and two gentlemen. 
 Jill. Let the three gentlemen in, and me out. 
 
 She passes him and goes out Left. 
 
 And immediately Dawker and the Two 
 
 Strangers come in. 
 
 Fellows. I'll inform Mrs Hillcrist, sir. The 
 
 Squire is on his rounds. He goes out Left. 
 
 The Three Men gather in a discreet knot at 
 
 the big bureau, having glanced at the two 
 
 doors and the open French window.
 
 88 THE SKIN GAME act hi 
 
 Dawker. Now this may come into Court, you 
 know. If there's a screw loose anywhere, better 
 mention it. [To Second Stranger] You knew her 
 personally ? 
 
 Second S. What do you think ? I don't take 
 girls on trust for that sort of job. She came to us 
 highly recommended, too ; and did her work very 
 well. It was a double stunt — to make sure — wasn't 
 it, George ? 
 
 First S. Yes ; we paid her for the two \dsit3. 
 
 Second S. I should know her in a minute ; strik- 
 ing loolcing girl ; had something in her face. Dare- 
 say she'd seen hard times. 
 
 First S. We don't want pubUcity. 
 
 Dawker. Not Ukely. The threat'll do it ; but the 
 stakes are hea^'7 — and the man's a slogger ; we must 
 be able to push it home. If you can both swear to 
 her, it'll do the trick. 
 
 Second S. And about — I mean, we're losing time, 
 you know, coming down here. 
 
 Dawker. [With a nod at First Stranger] 
 George here knows me. That'll be all right. I'll 
 guarantee it well worth your while. 
 
 Second S. I don't want to do the girl harm, if she's 
 married. 
 
 Dawker. No, no ; nobody wants to hurt her. We 
 just want a cinch on this fellow till he squeals. 
 
 They separate a little as Mrs IIillcrist enters 
 from Right. 
 
 Dawker. Good morning, ma'am. My friend's 
 partner. Hornblower coming ?
 
 sc. I THE SKIN GAME 89 
 
 Mrs H. At eleven. I had to send up a second 
 note, Dawker. 
 
 Dawker. Squire not in ? 
 
 Mrs H. I haven't told him. v 
 
 Dawker. [Nodding] Our friends might go in here \ 
 [Pointing RigJit] and we can use 'em as we want 'em. ^ 
 
 Mrs H. [To the Strangers] Will you make your- 
 selves corafortable ? . ^ 
 She holds the door open, and they pass her into N 
 the room, Right. 
 
 Dawker. [Showing document'] I've had this drawn 
 and engrossed. Pretty sharp work. Conveys the 
 Gentry, and Longmeadow, to the Squire at four 
 thousand five hundred. Now, ma'am, suppose Horn- 
 blower puts his hand to that, he'll have been done in 
 the eye, and six thousand all told out o' pocket. 
 You'll have a very nasty neighbour here. 
 
 Mrs H. But we shall still have the power to dis- 
 close that secret at any time. 
 
 Dawker. Yeh ! But things might happen here 
 you could never bring home to him. You can't trust 
 a man hke that. He isn't goin' to forgive me, I know. 
 
 Mrs H. [Regarding him keenly] But if he signs, we 
 couldn't honourably 
 
 Dawker. No, ma'am, you couldn't ; and I'm sure 
 I don't want to do that girl a hurt, I just mention 
 it because, of course, you can't guarantee that it 
 doesn't get out. 
 
 Mrs H. Not absolutely, I suppose. 
 
 A look passes between them, which neither of 
 than has quite sanctioned.
 
 90 THE SKIN GAME act hi 
 
 There's his car. It always seems to make more 
 noise than any other. 
 
 Dawker. He'll kick and flounder — but you leave 
 him to ask what you want, ma'am ; don't mention 
 this [He puts the deed hack into Ms 'pocket}. The 
 Gentry's no mortal good to him if he's not going to 
 put up works ; I should say he'd be glad to save what 
 he can. 
 
 Mrs Hillcrist inclines her head. Fellows 
 enters Left. 
 
 Fellows. [ApologeticaUy] Mr Hornblower, ma'am ; 
 by appointment, he says. 
 
 Mrs H. Quite right, Fellows. 
 
 Hornblower comes in, and Fellows goes out. 
 
 Hornblower [Without salutation] I've come to 
 ask ye point blank what ye mean by writing me these 
 letters. [He takes out two letters] And we'll discuss it 
 in the presence of nobody, if ye please. 
 
 Mrs H. Mr Dawker knows all that I know, and 
 more. 
 
 Hornblower. Does be ? Very well ! Your 
 second note says that my daughter-in-law has bed 
 to me. Well, I've brought her, and what ye've got 
 to say — if it's not just a trick to see me again — ye'll 
 say to her face. [He takes a step towards the window] 
 
 Mrs H. Mr Hornblowerj you had better decide 
 that after hearing what it is — we shall be quite ready 
 to repeat it in her presence ; but we want to do as 
 httle harm as possible. 
 
 Hornblower. [Stopping] Oh ! ye do ! Well, 
 what Ues have ye been hearin' ? Or what have ye
 
 sc. I THE SKIN GAME 91 
 
 made up ? You and Mr Dawker ? Of course ye 
 know there's a law of Ubel and slander. I'm not the 
 man to stop at that. 
 
 Mrs H. [Calmly] Are you famiUar with the law of 
 divorce, Mr Hornblower ? 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. [Taken aback] No, I'm not. That 
 
 is 
 
 Mrs H. Well, you know that misconduct is re- 
 quired. And I suppose you've heard that cases are 
 
 arranged. 
 Hornblower. 1 know it's all very shocking— what 
 
 about it ? 
 
 Mrs H. When cases are arranged, Mr Hornblower, 
 the man who is to be divorced often visits an hotel 
 with a strange woman. I am extremely sorry to 
 say that your daughter-in-law, before her marriage, 
 was in the habit of being employed as such a woman. 
 
 Hornblower. Ye dreadful creature I 
 
 Dawker. [QuicUy] All proved, up to the hilt ! 
 
 Hornblower. I don't beheve a word of it. Ye're 
 lyin' to save your skins. How dare ye tell me such 
 monstrosities ? Dawker, I'll have ye in a criminal 
 
 court. 
 
 Dawker. Rats 1 You saw a gent with me yester- 
 day ? Well, he's employed her. 
 
 Hornblower. A put-up job 1 Conspiracy ! 
 
 Mrs H. Go and get your daughter-in-law. 
 
 Hornblower. [With the first sensation of being m 
 a net] It's a foul shame— a lying slander I 
 
 Mrs H. If so, it's easily disproved. Go and fetch 
 her.
 
 92 THE SKIN GAME act hi 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. [Seeing them unmoved] I will. I 
 don't believe a word of it. 
 Mrs II. I hope you are right. 
 
 HoRNBLowER goes out hy the French tvindow. 
 Dawker slips to the door Right, opens it, 
 and speaks to those within. Mrs Hill- 
 CRIST stands moistening her lips, and 
 passing her handkerchief over them. Horn- 
 blower returns, preceding Chloe, strung 
 up to hardness and defiance. 
 HoRNBLowER. Now then, let's have this impudent 
 story torn to rags. 
 Chloe. What story ? 
 Hornblower. That you, my dear, were a woman 
 
 —it's too shockin'— I don't know how to tell ye 
 
 Chloe. Go on ! 
 
 Hornblower. Were a woman that went with 
 men, to get them their divorce. 
 Chloe. Who says that ? 
 
 Hornblower. That lady [Sneering] there, and her 
 bull-terrier here. 
 
 Chloe. [Facing Mrs Hillcrist] That's a charit- 
 able thing to say, isn't it ? 
 Mrs H. Is it true ? 
 Chloe. No. 
 
 Hornblower. [Furiously] There ! I'll have ye 
 both on your knees to her ! 
 Dawker. [Opening the door Right] Come in. 
 
 The First Stranger comes in. Chloe, 
 with a visible effort, turns to face him. 
 First S. How do you do, Mrs Vano ?
 
 sc. I THE SKIN GAME 93 
 
 Chloe. I don't know you. 
 
 First S. Your memory is bad, ma'am. You 
 knew me yesterday well enough. One day is not 
 a long time, nor are three years. 
 Chloe. Wlio are you ? 
 
 First S. Come, ma'am, come ! The Custer case. 
 Chloe. I don't know you, I say. [To Mrs Hill- 
 crist] How can you be so vile ? 
 
 First S. Let me refresh your memory, ma'am. 
 [Producing a notdiook] Just on three years ago : 
 " Oct. 3. To fee and expenses Mrs Vane with Mr 
 
 C , Hotel Beaulieu, Twenty pounds. Oct. 10, 
 
 Do., Twenty pounds." [To Hornblower] Would 
 you hke to glance at this book, sir ? You'll see 
 they're genuine entries. 
 
 Hornblower makes a motion to do so, hut 
 checks himself and looks at Chloe. 
 Chloe. [Hysterically] It's all Ues — Hes ! 
 First S. Come, ma'am, we wish you no harm. 
 Chloe. Take me away. I won't be treated like 
 this. 
 Mrs H. [In a low voioel Confess. 
 Chloe. Lies ! 
 
 Hornblower. Were ye ever called Vane ? 
 Chloe. No, never. 
 
 She makes a movement towards the window, hut 
 Dawker is in the way, and she halts. 
 First S. [Ofening the door Right] Henry. 
 
 The Second Stranger comes in quicMy. At 
 sight of him Chloe throivs wp her hands, 
 gasps, breaks down stage Left, and stands
 
 94 THE SKIN GAME act hi 
 
 covering her face, with her hands. It is so 
 complete a confession that Hornblower 
 stands staggered ; and, taking out a coloured 
 handkerchief , wifes his brow. 
 Dawker. Are you convinced ? 
 Hornblower. Take those men away. 
 Dawker. If you're not satisfied, we can get other 
 e^ndence ; plenty. 
 
 Hornblower. [Looking at Chloe] That's enough. 
 Take them out. Leave me alone with her. 
 
 Dawker takes them out Right. 
 Mrs Hillcrist passes Hornblower and goes 
 out at the window. Hornblower moves 
 down a step or two towards Chloe. 
 Hornblower. My God ! 
 
 Chloe. [With an outburst] Don't tell CharUe ! 
 Don't tell Charlie ! 
 Hornblower. Chearlie ! So that was your manner 
 
 of Ufe I 
 
 Chloe utters a moaning sound. 
 So that's what ye got out of by marryin' into ray 
 family ! Shame on ye, ye Godless thing ! 
 
 Chloe. Don't tell Charhe I 
 
 Hornblower. And that's all ye can say for the 
 wreck ye've wrought. My family, my works, my 
 future ! How dared ye ! 
 
 Chloe, If you'd been me ! 
 
 Hornblower. An' these Hillcrista. The skin 
 game of it ! 
 
 Chloe. [Bre/Uhless] Father ! 
 
 Hornblower. Don't call me that, woman !
 
 sc. I THE SKIN GAME 95 
 
 Chloe. [Desperate] I'm going to have a child. 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. God ! Ye are ! 
 
 Chloe. Your grandchild. For the sake of it, do 
 what these people want ; and don't tell anyone — 
 Don't tell Charlie ! 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. [Again wiping his forehead] A 
 secret between us. I don't know that I can keep it. 
 It's horrible. Poor ChearUe ! 
 
 Chloe, [Suddenly fierce] You must keep it, you 
 shall ! I won't have him told. Don't make me 
 desperate ! I can be — I didn't hve that hfe for 
 nothing. 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. [Staring at her revealed in a new 
 light] Ay ; ye look a strange, wild woman, as I see ye. 
 And we thought the world of ye ! 
 
 Chloe. I love Charlie ; I'm faithful to him. I 
 can't live without him. You'll never forgive me, I 
 
 know ; but Charlie ! [Stretching out her hands.] 
 
 HoRNBLOWER makes a bewildered gesture with 
 his large hands. 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. I'm all at sea here. Go out to the 
 car and wait for me. 
 
 Chloe passes him and goes out, Left. 
 [Muttering to himself] So I'm down ! Me enemies 
 put their heels upon me head ! All ! but we'll see 
 yet! 
 
 He goes up to the mndow and beckons towards 
 the Right. 
 
 Mrs Hillcrist comes in. 
 What d'ye want for this secret ? 
 
 Mrs H. Nothin:;.
 
 96 THE SKIN GAME act hi 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. Indeed ! Wonderful !— the trouble 
 ye've taken for — nothing. 
 
 Mrs H. If you harm us we shall harm you. Any 
 use whatever of the Gentry 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. For which ye made me pay nine 
 thousand five hundred pounds. 
 
 Mrs H. We will buy it from you. 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. At what price 1 
 
 Mrs H. The Gentry at the price Miss Mullins would 
 have taken at first, and Longmeadow at the price you 
 gave us— four thousand five hundred altogether. 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. A fine price, and me six thousand 
 out of pocket. Na, no ! I'll keep it and hold it over 
 ye. Ye daren't tell this secret so long as I've got it. 
 
 Mrs H. No, Mr Hornblower. On second thoughts, 
 you must sell. You broke your word over the Jack- 
 mans. We can't trust you. We would rather have 
 our place here ruined at once, than leave you the 
 power to ruin it as and when you Uke. You will sell 
 us tho Gentry and Longmeadow now, or you know 
 what will happen. 
 
 HORNBLOWER. [WHtMng] I'll not. It's blackmail. 
 
 Mrs H. Very well then ! Go your own way and 
 we'll go ours. There is no witness to this conversa- 
 tion. 
 
 Hornblower. [Venoinously] By heaven, ye're a 
 clever woman. Will ye swear by Ahuighty God that 
 you and your family, and that agent of yours, won't 
 breathe a word of this shockin' thing to mortal soul. 
 Mrs H. Yes, if you sell. 
 HoRNBLOWER. Where's Dawker ?
 
 sc. I THE SKIN GAME 97 
 
 Mrs H. [Going to the door, Right] Mr Dawker ! 
 
 Dawker comes in. 
 HoRNBLOWER. I suppose ye've got your iniquity 
 ready. 
 
 Dawker grins and produces the document. 
 It's mighty near conspiracyj this. Have ye got a 
 Testament ? 
 Mrs H. My word mil be enough, Mr Hornblower. 
 HoRNBLOWER. Ye'll pardon me — I can't make it 
 solemn enough for you. 
 Mrs H. Very well ; here is a Bible. 
 
 She takes a small Bible from the bookshelf. 
 Dawker. [Spreading document on bureau] This is 
 a short conveyance of the Gentry and Longmeadow — 
 recites sale to you by Miss MulUns of the first, John 
 Hillcrist of the second, and whereas you have agreed 
 for the sale to said John Hillcrist, for the sum of four 
 thousand five hundred pounds, in consideration of the 
 said sum, receipt whereof, you hereby acknowledge you 
 do convey all that, etc. Sign here. I'll witness. 
 
 Hornblower. [To Mrs Hillcrist] Take that 
 
 Book in your hand, and swear first. I swear by 
 
 Almighty God never to breathe a word of what I 
 
 know concerning Chloe Hornblower to any hving soul. 
 
 Mrs H. No, Mr Hornblower ; you will please sign 
 
 first. We are not in the habit of breaking our words. 
 
 Hornblower, after a furious look at them^ 
 
 seizes a pen, runs his eye again over the 
 
 deed, and signs, Dawker witnessing. 
 
 To that oath, Mr Hornblower, we shall add the words, 
 
 " So long as the Hornblower family do us no harm." 
 
 g3
 
 98 THE SKIN GAME act hi 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. [Withasnarl] Take it in your hands, 
 botla of ye, and together swear. 
 
 Mrs H. [Taking the BooJc] I swear that I will 
 breathe no word of what I know concerning Chloe 
 Hornblower to any Uving soul, so long as the Horn- 
 blower family do us no harm. 
 Dawker. I swear that too. 
 Mrs H. I engage for my husband. 
 Hornblower. Where are those two fellows ? 
 Dawker. Gone. It's no business of theirs. 
 Hornblower. It's no business of any of ye what 
 has happened to a woman in the past. Ye know that. 
 Good-day ! 
 
 He gives them a deadly look, and goes out, Left, 
 followed by Dawker. 
 Mrs H. [With her hand on the Deed] Safe ! 
 
 HiLLCRiST enters at the French window, 
 followed by Jill. 
 [Holding up the Deed] Look ! He's just gone ! I 
 told you it was only necessary to use the threat. He 
 caved in and signed this ; we are sworn to say 
 nothing. We've beaten him. 
 
 Hillcrist studies the Deed. 
 Jill. [Awed] We saw Chloe in the car. How did 
 she take it, mother ? 
 
 Mrs H. Denied, then broke down when she saw 
 our witnesses. I'm glad you were not here, Jack. 
 Jill. [Suddenly] I shall go and see her. 
 Mrs H. Jill, you will not ; you don't know what 
 she's done. 
 
 Jill. I shall. She must be in an a,vdu\ state.
 
 sc. I THE SKIN GAME 99 
 
 HiLLCRiST. My dear, you can do her no good. 
 
 Jill. I tliink I can, Dodo. 
 
 Mrs H. You don't understand human nature. 
 We're enemies for life with those people. You're 
 a httle donkey if you think anything else. 
 
 Jill. I'm going, all the same. 
 
 Mrs H. Jack, forbid her. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. [Ldfting an eyebrow] Jill, be reasonable. 
 
 Jill. Suppose I'd taken a knock hke that, Dodo, 
 I'd be glad of friendhness from someone. 
 
 Mrs H. You never could take a knock hke that. 
 
 Jill. You don't know what you can do till you 
 try, mother. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. Let her go. Amy. I'm sorry for that 
 young woman. 
 
 Mrs H. You'd be sorry for a man who picked your 
 pocket, I beheve. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. I certainly should ! Deuced httle he'd 
 get out of it, when I've paid for the Gentry. 
 
 Mrs H. [Bitterly] Much gratitude I get for saving 
 you both our home ! 
 
 Jill. [Disarmed] Oh ! Mother, we are grateful 
 Dodo, show your gratitude. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. Well, my dear, it's an intense rehef . I'm 
 not good at showing my feehngs, as you know. What 
 d'you want me to do ? Stand on one leg and crow ? 
 
 Jill. Yes, Dodo, yes ! Mother, hold him while I — 
 [Suddenly she stops, and all the fun goes out of her] No ! 
 I can't ! — I can't help thinking of her. 
 
 Curtain faUs for a Minute.
 
 SCENE II 
 Evening 
 
 When it rises again, the room is empty and dark, save 
 for moonlight coming in through the French 
 vnndow, which is open. 
 The -figure of Chloe, in a black doak^ wppears outside 
 in the moonlight ; she peers in, moves past, comes 
 hack, hesitatingly enters. The doak, fallen hack, 
 reveals a white evening dress ; and that magpie 
 figure stands poised watchfully in the dim light, 
 then flaps unhappily Left and Right, as if she could 
 not keep still. Suddenly she stands listening. 
 Kolf's Voice. {Outside'\ Chloe! Chloe! [lie 
 appears]. 
 
 Chloe. [Going to the window] What are you doing 
 here ? 
 
 Rolf. What are you ? I only followed you. 
 Chloe. Go away ! 
 
 Rolf. What's the matter ? Tell me ! 
 Chloe. Go away, and don't say anything. Oh ! 
 The roses ! [She has put her nose into some roses in a 
 howl on a big stand dose to the vnndow] Don't they 
 smell lovely ? 
 Rolf. What did Jill want this afternoon I 
 
 100
 
 sc. II THE SKIN GAME 101 
 
 Chloe. I'll tell you nothing. Go away ! 
 Rolf, I don't like leaving you here in this state. 
 Chloe. What state ? I'm all right. Wait for me 
 down in the drive, if you want to. 
 
 Rolf starts to go, stops, looks at her, and does go. 
 Chloe, with a little moaning sound, -flutters 
 again, niagpie-like, up and down, then 
 stands by the window listening. Voices 
 are heard. Left. She darts out of the 
 window and away to the Right, as Hillcrist 
 and Jill come in. They have turned up 
 the electric light, and come down in front of 
 the fireplace, where Hillcrist sits in an 
 armchair, and Jill on the arm of it. They 
 are in undress evening attire. 
 Hillcrist. Now, tell me. 
 
 Jill. There isn't much, Dodo. I was in an awful 
 funk for fear I should meet any of the others, and of 
 course I did meet Rolf, but I told him some he, and 
 he took me to her room — boudoir, they call it — isn't 
 boudoir a " dug-out " word ? 
 
 Hillcrist. [Meditatively'] The sulking room. 
 WeU? 
 
 Jill. She was sitting Uke this. [She buries her chin 
 in her hands, with her elbows on her knees'] And she 
 said in a sort of fierce way : " What do you want ? " 
 And I said : " I'm awfully sorry, but I thought you 
 might Uke it." 
 Hillcrist. Well ? 
 
 Jill. She looked at me hard, and said : " I suppose 
 ynu know all about it." And I said : " Oulv
 
 102 THE SKIN GAME act hi 
 
 vagaely," because of course I don't. And she said : 
 " Well, it was decent of you to come." Dodo, she 
 looks like a lost soul. What has she done ? 
 
 HiLLCRiST. She committed her real crime when 
 she married young Hornblower without telhng him. 
 She came out of a certain world to do it. 
 
 Jill. Oh ! [Staring in front of her] Is it very awful 
 in that world. Dodo ? 
 
 HiLLCRiST. [Uneasy] I don't know, Jill. Some 
 can stand it, I suppose ; some can't. I don't know 
 which sort she is. 
 
 Jill. One thing I'm sure of : she's awfully fond of 
 Chearhe. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. That's bad ; that's very bad. 
 
 Jill. And she's frightened, horribly. I think 
 she's desperate. 
 
 Hillcrist. Women hke that are pretty tough, 
 Jill ; don't judge her too much by your own 
 feeUngs. 
 
 Jill. No ; only — Oh ! it was beastly ; and of 
 course I dried up. 
 
 Hillcrist. [Feelingly] H'm ! One always does. 
 But perhaps it was as well ; you'd have been blunder- 
 ing in a dark passage. 
 
 Jill. I just said : " Father and I feel awfully 
 sorry ; if there's anything we can do " 
 
 Hillcrist, That was risky, Jill. 
 
 Jill. [Disconsolately] I had to say something. I'm 
 glad I went, anyway. I feel more human. 
 
 Hillcrist. We had to fight for our home. I 
 should have felt hke a traitor if I hadn't.
 
 sc. II THE SKIN GAME 103 
 
 Jill. I'm not enjoying home to-night, Dodo. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. I never could hate properly ; it's a 
 confounded nuisance. 
 
 Jill. Mother's fearfully bucked, and Dawker's 
 simply oozing triumph. I don't trust him, Dodo ; 
 he's too — not pugiUstic — the other one with a pug — 
 naceous. 
 
 Hillcrist. He is rather. 
 
 Jill. I'm sure he wouldn't care tuppence if CQiloe 
 committed suicide. 
 
 Hillcrist. [Rising uneasily] Nonsense ! Non- 
 sense 1 
 
 Jill. I wonder if mother would. 
 
 Hillcrist. [Turning his face towards the window] 
 What's that ? I thought I heard — [Louder] Is there 
 anybody out there ? 
 
 No answer. Jill springs up and runs to the 
 window. 
 
 Jill. You ! [She dives through to the Right, and 
 returns, holding Chloe's hand and drawing her 
 forward] Come in ! It's only us ! [To Hillcrist] 
 Dodo! 
 
 Hillcrist. [Flustered, but making a show of 
 courtesy] Good evening ! Won't you sit down ? 
 
 Jill. Sit down ; you're all shaky. 
 
 She makes Chloe sit down in the armchair, 
 out of which they have risen, then locks 
 the door, and closing the windows, draws 
 the curtains hastily over them. 
 
 Hillcrist. [Aivkivard and expectant] Can I do 
 anything for you ?
 
 104 THE SKIN GAME act hi 
 
 Chloe. I couldn't bear it — lie's coining to ask 
 you 
 
 HiLLCRIST. Who ? 
 
 Chloe. My husband. [She draws in her breath with 
 a long shudder, then seems to seize her courage in her 
 hands] I've got to be quick. He keeps on asking — 
 be knows there's something. 
 
 HiLLCRIST. Make your mind easy. We shan't tell 
 him. 
 
 Chloe. [Appealing] Oh ! that's not enough. Can't 
 you tell him something to put him back to thinking 
 it's all right ? I've done him such a wrong. I didn't 
 realise till after — I thought meeting him was just a 
 piece of wonderful good luck, after what I'd been 
 through. I'm not such a bad lot — not really. 
 
 She stops from the over -quivering of her lips. 
 
 Jill, standing beside the chair, strokes her 
 
 shoulder. Hillcrist stands very still, 
 
 painfully biting at a finger. 
 
 You see, my father went bankrupt, and I was in a 
 
 shop till 
 
 HiLLCRIST. [Soothingly, and to prevent disclosures] 
 Yes, yes ; yes, yes ! 
 
 Chloe. I never gave a man away or did anything 
 
 I was ashamed of — at least — I mean, I had to make 
 
 my living in all sorts of ways, and then I met CharUe. 
 
 Again she stopped from the quivering of her lips. 
 
 Jill. It's all right. 
 
 Chloe. He thought I was respectable, and that 
 was such a rehef, you can't think, so — so I let him. 
 
 Jill. Dodo ! It's awful !
 
 sc. II THE SKIN GAME 105 
 
 HiLLCRIST. It is ! 
 
 Chloe. And after I married him, you see, I fell 
 in love. If I had before, perhaps I wouldn't have 
 dared — only, I don't know — you never know, do you ? 
 When there's a straw going, you catch at it. 
 
 Jill. Of course you do. 
 
 Chloe. And now, you see, I'm going to have a 
 child. 
 
 Jill. [Aghast] Oh ! Are you ? 
 
 Hillcrist. Good God ! 
 
 Chloe. [Dully] I've been on hot bricks all this 
 month, ever since — that day here. I knew it was 
 in the wind. What gets in the wind never gets out. 
 [She rises and throws out her arms] Never ! It just 
 blows here and there, [Desolately] and then blows 
 home. [Her voice changes to resentment] But I've paid 
 for being a fool — 'tisn't fun, that sort of hfe, I can 
 tell you. I'm not ashamed and repentant, and all 
 that. If it wasn't for him ! I'm afraid he'll never 
 forgive me ; its' such a disgrace for him — and then, 
 to have his child ! Being fond of him, I feel it much 
 worse than anything I ever felt, and that's saying a 
 good bit. It is. 
 
 Jill. [Energetically] Look here ! He simply 
 mustn't find out. 
 
 Chloe. That's it ; but it's started, and he's bound 
 to keep on because he knows there's something. A 
 man isn't going to be satisfied when there's something 
 he suspects about his wife. Charhe wouldn't — 
 never. He's clever, and he's jealous ; and he's 
 coming here.
 
 106 THE SKIN GAME act hi 
 
 She stops, and looks round wildly, listening. 
 
 Jill. Dodo, what can we say to put him clean ofE 
 the scent ? 
 
 HiLLCRiST. Anything in reason. 
 
 Chloe. [Catching at this straiv] You will ! You 
 see, I don't know what I'll do. I've got soft, being 
 looked after — he does love me. And if he throws me 
 off, I'll go under — that's all. 
 
 Hillcrist. Have you any suggestion ? 
 
 Chloe. [Eagerly] The only thing is to tell him 
 something positive, something he'll beheve, that's 
 not too bad — hke my having been a lady clerk with 
 those people who came here, and having been dis- 
 missed on suspicion of taking money. I could get 
 him to beUeve that wasn't true. 
 
 Jill. Yes ; and it isn't — that's splendid ! You'd 
 be able to put such conviction into it. Don't you 
 think so, Dodo ? 
 
 Hillcrist. Anything I can. I'm deeply sorry. 
 
 Chloe. Thank you. And don't say I've been 
 here, wiU you ? He's very suspicious. You see, he 
 knows that his father has re-sold that land to you ; 
 that's what he can't make out — that, and my coming 
 here this morning ; he knows something's being kept 
 from him ; and he noticed that man with Dawker 
 yesterday. And my maid's been spying on me. It's 
 in the air. He puts two and two together. But I've 
 told him there's nothing he need worry about ; 
 nothing that's true. 
 
 Hillcrist, What a coil ! 
 
 Chloe. I'm very honest and careful about money.
 
 sc. II THE SKIN GAME 107 
 
 So he won't believe tliat about me, and tbe old man 
 wants to keep it from Charlie, I know. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. That does seem the best way out. 
 Chloe. [With a touch of defiance] I'm a true wife 
 to him. 
 Jill. Of course we know that. 
 HiLLCRiST. It's all unspeakably sad. Deception's 
 
 horribly against the grain — but 
 
 Chloe. [Eagerly] When I deceived him, I'd have 
 deceived God Himself — I was so desperate. You've 
 never been right down in the mud. You can't 
 understand what I've been through. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. Yes, yes, I daresay I'd have done the 
 
 same. I should be the last to judge 
 
 Chloe covers her eyes with her hands. 
 There, there ! Cheer up ! 
 
 He puts his hand on her arm. 
 Jill. [To herself] Darhng Dodo ! 
 Chloe. [Starting] There's somebody at the door. 
 I must go ; I must go. 
 
 She runs to the window and slips through the 
 curtains. 
 
 The handle of the door is again turned. 
 Jill. [Dismayed] Oh ! It's locked — I forgot. 
 
 She springs to the door, unlocks and opens it, 
 while HiLLCRiST goes to the bureau and sits 
 down. 
 It's all right, Fellows ; I was only saying something 
 rather important. 
 
 Fellows. [Coming in a step or two and closing the 
 door behind him] Certainly, Miss. Mr Charles 'Orn-
 
 108 THE SKIN GAME act iii 
 
 blower is in the hall. Wants to see you, sir, or Mrs 
 Hillcrist. 
 Jill. What a bore ! Can you Bee him, Dodo ? 
 Hillcrist, Er — yes. I suppose so. Show him 
 in here. Fellows. 
 
 As Fellows goes out, Jill runs to the win- 
 dow, hut has no time to do more than 
 adjust the curtains and spring over to stand 
 by her father, before Charles comes in. 
 Though in evening clothes, he is white and 
 dishevelled for so spruce a young man. 
 Charles. Is my wife here ? 
 Hillcrist. No, sir. 
 Charles. Has she been ? 
 Hillcrist. This morning, I behove, Jill ? 
 Jill. Yes, she came this morning. 
 Charles. [Staring at her] I know that — now, I 
 mean ? 
 Jill. No. 
 
 Hillcrist shakes his head. 
 Charles. Tell me what was said this morning. 
 Hillcrist. I was not here this morning. 
 Charles. Don't try to put me off. I know too 
 much. [To Jill] You. 
 Jill. Shall I, Dodo 1 
 
 Hillcrist. No ; I will. Won't you sit down ? 
 Charles. No. Go on. 
 Hillcrist. [Moistening his lips] It appears, Mr 
 
 Hornblower, that my agent, Mr Dawker 
 
 Charles, who is breathing hard, utters a sound 
 of anger.
 
 sc. II THE SKIN GAME 109 
 
 — that ray agent happens to know a firm, who in old 
 days employed your wife. I should greatly prefer 
 not to say any more, especially as we don't believe 
 the story. 
 
 Jill. No ; we don't. 
 
 Chaeles. Go on ! 
 
 HiLLCRiST. [Getting up] Come ! If I were you, I 
 should refuse to Usten to anything against my wife. 
 
 Charles. Go on, I tell you. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. You insist ? Well, they say there 
 was some question about the accounts, and your wife 
 left them under a cloud. As I told you, we don't 
 beheve it. 
 
 Charles. [Passionately] Liars ! 
 
 He makes a rush for the door. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. [Starting] What did you say ? 
 
 Jill. [Catching his arm] Dodo ! [Sotto voce] We 
 are, you know. 
 
 Charles. [Turning hack to them] Why do you tell 
 me that he ? When I've just had the truth out 
 of that httle scoundrel ! My wife's been here ; she 
 put you up to it. 
 
 The face of Chloe is seen transfixed between the 
 curtains^ farted by her hands. 
 She — she put you up to it. Liar that she is — a 
 hving lie. For three years a hving lie ! 
 
 HiLLCRiST, whose face alone is turned towards 
 the curtains, sees that listening face. His 
 hand goes wp from uncontrollable emotion. 
 And hasn't now the pluck to tell me. I've done with 
 her. I won't own a child by such a woman.
 
 110 THE SKIN GAME act hi 
 
 With a little sighing sound Chloe drops the 
 curtain and vanishes. 
 HiLLCRiST. For God's sake, man, think of what 
 you're saying. She's in great distress. 
 Charles. And what am I ? 
 Jill. She loves you, you know. 
 Charles. Pretty love ! That scoundrel Dawker 
 told me — told me — Horrible ! Horrible ! 
 
 HiLLCRiST. I deeply regret that our quarrel should 
 have brought this about. 
 
 Charles. [With intense bitterness] Yes, you've 
 smashed my hfe. 
 
 Unseen by them, Mrs Hillcrist has entered 
 and stands by the door, Left. 
 Mrs H. Would you have wished to hve on in 
 ignorance 1 
 
 They all turn to look at her. 
 Charles. [With a ivri thing movement] I don't know. 
 But — you — you did it. 
 Mrs H. You shouldn't have attacked us. 
 Charles. What did we do to you — compared ^vith 
 this? 
 Mrs H. All you could. 
 
 Hillcrist. Enough, enough ! What can we do 
 to help you ? 
 Charles. Tell me where my wife is. 
 
 Jill draws the curtains apart — the window is 
 open — Jill looTcs out. They wait in 
 silence. 
 Jill. We don't know. 
 Charles. Then she was here ?
 
 sc. II THE SKIN GAME 111 
 
 HiLLCRiST. Yes, sir ; and she heard you. 
 Charles. All the better if she did. She knows 
 how I feel. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. Brace up ; be gentle with her. 
 
 Charles. Gentle ? A woman who — who 
 
 HiLLCRiST. A most unhappy creature. Come ! 
 Charles. Damn your sympathy ! 
 
 He goes out into the moonlight, passing away 
 Left. 
 Jill. Dodo, we ought to look for her ; I'm awfully 
 afraid. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. I saw her there — listening. With 
 child ! Who knows where things end when they once 
 begin ? To the gravel pit, Jill ; I'll go to the pond. 
 No, we'll go together. 
 
 They go out. 
 
 Mrs HiLLCRiST comes down to the fireplace, 
 
 rings the bell and stands there, thinking. 
 
 Fellows enters. 
 
 Mrs H. I want someone to go down to Mr Dawker's. 
 
 Fellows. Mr Dawker is here, ma'am, waitin' to 
 
 see you. 
 
 Mrs H. Ask him to come in. Oh ! and Fellows, 
 you can tell the Jackmans that they can go back to 
 their cottage. 
 Fellows. Very good, ma'am. 
 
 He goes out. 
 
 Mrs HiLLCRiST searches at the bureau, finds 
 
 and takes out the deed. Dawker comes in ; 
 
 he has the appearance of a man whose 
 
 temper has been badly ruffled.
 
 112 THE SKIN GAME act hi 
 
 Mrs H. Charles Hornblower — how did it 
 happen ? 
 
 Dawker. He came to me. I said I knew nothing. 
 He wouldn't take it ; went for me, abused me up hill 
 and down dale ; said he knew everything, and then 
 he began to threaten me. Well, I lost my temper, 
 and I told him. 
 
 Mrs H. That's very serious, Dawker, after our 
 promise. My husband is most upset. 
 
 Dawker. [Sullenly] It's not my fault, ma'am ; 
 he shouldn't have threatened and goaded me on. 
 Besides, it's got out that there's a scandal ; common 
 talk in the village — not the facts, but quite enough 
 to cook their goose here. They'll have to go. Better 
 have done with it, anyway, than have enemies at your 
 door. 
 
 Mrs H. Perhaps ; but — Oh ! Dawker, take charge 
 of this, [She hands him the deed] These people are 
 desperate — and — I'm not sure of my husband when 
 his feehngs are worked on. 
 
 The sound of a car stopping. 
 
 Dawker. [At the window, looking to the Left] Horn- 
 blower's, I think. Yes, he's getting out. 
 
 Mrs H. [Bracing herself] You'd better wait, then. 
 
 Dawker. He mustn't give me any of his sauce ; 
 I've had enough. 
 
 The door is opened and Hornblower enters, 
 pressing so on the heels of Fellows that 
 the announcement of his name is lost. 
 
 Hornblower. Give me that deed ! Ye got it out 
 of me by false pretences and treachery. Ye swore
 
 sc. II THE SKIN GAME 113 
 
 that nothing should be heard of this. Why ! me own 
 servants know ! 
 
 Mrs H. That has nothing to do with us. Your 
 son came and wrenched the knowledge out of Mr 
 Dawker by abuse and threats ; that is all. You will 
 kindly behave yourself here, or I shall ask that you 
 be shown out. 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. Give me that deed, I say ! [He 
 suddenly turns on Dawker] Ye Uttle ruffian, I see 
 it in your pocket. 
 
 The end indeed is projecting from Dawker's 
 
 breast pocket. 
 
 Dawker. [Seeing re-d^ Now, look 'ere, 'Ornblower, 
 
 I stood a deal from your son, and I'll stand no more. 
 
 HoRNBLOWER. [To Mrs Hillcrist] I'll ruin your 
 
 place yet ! [To Dawker] Ye give me that deed, or 
 
 I'll throttle ye. 
 
 He closes on Dawker, and makes a snatcli at 
 the deed. Dawker springs at him, and 
 the two stand swaying, trying for a grip at 
 each other^s throats. Mrs Hillcrist tries 
 to cross and reach the bdl, but is shut off by 
 their swaying struggle. 
 Suddenly Rolf appears in the window, looks 
 wildly at the struggle, and seizes Dawker's 
 hands, which have reached Hornblower's 
 throat. Jill, who is following, rushes up 
 to him and clutches his arm. 
 Jill. Rolf ! All of you ! Stop ! Look ! 
 
 Dawker's hand relaxes, and he is swung 
 round. Hornblower staggers and re- 
 
 Tl8
 
 114 THE SKIN GAME act hi 
 
 covers himself, gasping for breath. All 
 turn to the window, outside which in the 
 moonlight Hillcrist and Charles Horn- 
 blower have Chloe's motionless body in 
 their arms. 
 In the gravel pit. She's just breatMng ; that's all. 
 Mrs H. Bring her in. The brandy, Jill ! 
 HoRNBLOWER. No. Take her to the car. Stand 
 back, young woman ! I want no help from any of 
 ye. Rolf — Chearhe — take her up. 
 
 They lift and bear her away, Left. Jill 
 follows. 
 Hillcrist, ye've got me beaten and disgraced here- 
 abouts, ye've destroyed my son's married hfe, and 
 ye've killed my grandchild. I'm not staying in this 
 cursed spot, but if ever I can do you or yours a hurtj 
 I will. 
 
 Dawker. [Mutteri7ig] That's right. Squeal and 
 threaten. You began it. 
 
 Hillcrist. Dawker, have the goodness ! Horn- 
 blower, in the presence of what may be death, with 
 all my heart I'm sorry. 
 Hornblower. Ye hypocrite ! 
 
 He passes them with a certain dignity, and goes 
 
 out at the window, following- to his car. 
 Hillcrist, who has stood for a moment stock- 
 still, goes slowly forward and sits in his 
 swivel chair. 
 Mrs H. Dawker, please tell Fellows to telephone 
 to Dr Robinson to go round to the Hornblowers at 
 orux
 
 sc. II THE SKIN GAME 115 
 
 Dawker, fingering the deed, and with a noise 
 that sounds like " The cur ! " goes out, 
 Left. 
 [At the fLreflace] Jack ! Do you blame me ? 
 HiLLCRiST. {Motionlessl No. 
 Mrs H. Or Dawker ? He's done his best. 
 HiLLCRIST. No. 
 
 Mrs H. [Af'proaching'] Wliat is it ? , 
 HiLLCRIST. Hypocrite ! 
 
 Jill comes running in at the window. 
 Jill. Dodo, she's moved ; she's spoken. It may 
 not be so bad. 
 HiLLCRIST. Thank God for that ! 
 
 Fellows enters, Left. 
 Fellows. The Jackmans, ma'am. 
 HiLLCRIST. Who ? AVhat's this ? 
 
 The Jackmans have entered, standing dose to 
 the door. 
 Mrs J. We're so glad we can go back, sir — ma'am, 
 we just wanted to thank you. 
 
 There is a silence. They see that they are not 
 welcome. 
 Thank you kindly, sir. Good-night, ma'am. 
 
 They shuffle out. 
 HiLLCRIST. I'd forgotten their existence. [He gets 
 up] WTiat is it that gets loose when you begin a 
 fight, and makes you what you think you're not ? 
 What bhnding evil ! Begin as you may, it ends in 
 this — sldn game ! Skin game ! 
 
 Jill. [Rushing to hini] It's not you. Dodo ; it's 
 not you, beloved Dodo. 
 
 \
 
 116 THE SKIN GAME act hi 
 
 HiLLCRiST. It is me. For I am, or should be, 
 master in this house ! 
 
 Mrs H. I don't understand. 
 
 HiLLCRiST. When we began this fight, we had 
 clean hands — are they clean now ? What's gentihty 
 worth if it can't stand fire ? 
 
 CURTAIN 
 
 ■r' O d. 
 
 1/4 G2» 
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