[STEVEN _enters Left and_ COAST _goes up to the mantel._
MOLES. [_To_ LOUISE.] Mr. Carley, m'm. [_To_ STEVEN.] Could I speak with you a few moments, sir?
MOLES. But have you noticed sir, this morning, United Copper is lower.
STEVEN. It can't be helped--go about your business.
MOLES. But for heaven's sake, Mr. Carley--you said yesterday if it dropped another point and we couldn't give up any more money, Lizzie and me'd both lose everything we had.
STEVEN. I'm sorrier than I can say, but there are lots of others worse off than you.
COAST. [_Cynically to_ STEVEN.] You don't mean to say you've been speculating with Moles's money.
STEVEN. It was for _himself_, not me, I put him in.
MOLES. And Lizzie, sir. And we'd counted it up, how if we made all you said, we could leave service soon, sir, and we could afford a small house in the country with say _four_ rooms and _one_ baby--Lizzie doing her own work.
LOUISE. Do you mean to say, Steve, that your own servants have lost their earnings through you?
STEVEN. [_Doggedly._] Put it that way if you like. I meant to do them a good turn.
LOUISE. But we can't let that happen; we must pay them back!
COAST. [_Amused._] Bully for you, Louise! getting generous in your old age.
LOUISE. It would ruin us socially if it got out!
MOLES. Mr. Carley said it was _sure_, ma'am.
STEVEN. For heaven's sake, Coast! Go away, Moles.
COAST. [_To_ STEVEN.] Are they holding on for you?
STEVEN. They said they'd give me till to-morrow to put up more security.
STEVEN. Say a hundred and fifty thousand.
LOUISE. He'd better hold on, Sam, hadn't he; what do you think of the stock?
LOUISE. We've got _to risk it_, anyway. Use some of my bonds, Steve.
STEVEN. You don't understand me--we can't use your security.
STEVEN. [_Rising and half turning away._] Not--again.
STEVEN. Your money is all there, all, already buried in it!
STEVEN. Yes, I wanted to win back your mother's, I wanted--
LOUISE. [_Beside herself._] You wanted! You wanted!! You wanted!!! To ruin us, that is what I should say you wanted to do!--Do you mean to say, behind my back, you've gambled away every cent I have, as well as all my mother's money!?!
LOUISE. Georgy! [_No answer; she continues hysterically._] He can't deny it; it's true! And it's rank dishonesty, that's what it is! You've robbed me, you've robbed my mother, you've robbed your own children! The papers will call you a--