LAURA. It's nothing, but it worries my father, you know. [pause.] I
thought we should be alone this afternoon, but I find that my father
is coming and... and Mr. Baker is coming also. So I mayn't have time
to say all I wished to say to you. But I must thank you for coming.

MONTAGUE. I was very glad to come, Miss Hegan.

LAURA. I can appreciate your embarrassment at being asked to . . .

MONTAGUE. No!

LAURA. We must deal frankly with each other. I know that you did not
want to come. I know that you have tried to put an end to our
friendship.

MONTAGUE. [Hesitates.] Miss Hegan, let me explain my position.

LAURA. I think I understand it already. You have found evil conditions
which you wish to oppose, and you were afraid that our friendship
might stand in the way.

MONTAGUE. [In a low voice.] Miss Hegan, I came to New York an entire
stranger two years ago, and my brother introduced me to his rich
friends. By one of them I was asked to take charge of a law case. It
was a case of very great importance, which served to give me an
opening into the inner life of the city. I discovered that, in their
blind struggle for power, our great capitalists had lost all sense of
the difference between honesty and crime. I found that trust funds
were being abused . . . that courts and legislatures were being
corrupted . . . the very financial stability of the country was being