Page:Fashions for Men And The Swan Two Plays (NY 1922).pdf/128

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Oscar—I acted honestly and fairly toward you.

Juhasz—Let us say you did.

Oscar—And certainly Adele did.

Juhasz—That's true.

Oscar—And now look at me. . . . I had no supper last night, if you want to know it. . . . Neither I nor your wife.

Juhasz—When you can't buy her supper, then she's my wife, eh?

Oscar—Go on and joke about it. . . . But we went to bed without supper.

Juhasz—But then . . . she was your wife.

Oscar—Your jokes don't alter the facts. You are responsible for this.

Juhasz—For what?

Oscar—For the fact that we are starving. For the fact that I am shabby. And for . . . [raises his trousers leg] the fact that my socks are in holes. . . . And for the boycott against me. . . . But if you don't care whether your former wife starves or not——[Juhasz reaches for his purse. Oscar puts out a firm, protesting hand.] No, my friend, no! [Heroically.] We don't accept alms. . . . Believe me, you'd be the last I'd come to for a job if I had only myself to consider. You can imagine what I went through before I brought myself to the point of crossing your threshold. And now if, after all, you send me away too——