STROEBEL. Of course, you do all this out of pure sense of fair
play? [He imitates the motion of counting money.]

HAUTEVILLE. Money? ... My dear fellow, with money our patrons pay
well for that very thing which they later on call indecent. You
get as much decency from us for money as you get from other
people, but believe me, we could shatter many illusions.

STROEBEL. Well, make a beginning right here.

HAUTEVILLE. It ought to be impossible here. The police have as few
illusions as we. That is, provided they are properly instructed.

STROEBEL. That's right now, put us in the same class with
yourself.

HAUTEVILLE, Why not? We and the police could easily ruin the
credit of virtue, but neither of us do it. You--you because you
regard that credit as a good substitute for the principal, and
we,--Lord, because we need this credit as well.

STROEBEL. Both of us?

HAUTEVILLE. The very moment that public virtue loses its credit,
the secret vices will drop in market value.

STROEBEL. What are you talking about anyway?

HAUTEVILLE. I'm telling you why both of us must hush things up.