MARCHBANKS (Coming back with renewed vehemence). You shall--you
must. If you give any explanation but the true one, you are a
liar and a coward. Tell her what I said; and how you were strong
and manly, and shook me as a terrier shakes a rat; and how I
shrank and was terrified; and how you called me a snivelling
little whelp and put me out of the house. If you don't tell her,
I will: I'll write to her.

MORELL (taken aback.) Why do you want her to know this?

MARCHBANKS (with lyric rapture.) Because she will understand me,
and know that I understand her. If you keep back one word of it
from her--if you are not ready to lay the truth at her feet as I
am--then you will know to the end of your days that she really
belongs to me and not to you. Good-bye. (Going.)

MORELL (terribly disquieted). Stop: I will not tell her.

MARCHBANKS (turning near the door). Either the truth or a lie
you MUST tell her, if I go.

MORELL (temporizing). Marchbanks: it is sometimes justifiable.

MARCHBANKS (cutting him short). I know--to lie. It will
be useless. Good-bye, Mr. Clergyman.

(As he turns finally to the door, it opens and Candida enters in
housekeeping attire.)

CANDIDA. Are you going, Eugene?(Looking more observantly at him.)