_Jessie._ It's nothing, Dad.

_Dad._ How do you know it's nothing?

_Jessie._ I want to show you the bills.

_Dad._ Well, wait just a moment. The bills won't run away.

_Jessie (aside to Bob)._ Lost!

_Dad._ Why, what's that? Isn't that Jack's voice? Why-why-good God!
_(Jack appears in doorway, with Belle on His arm, Dolly and Bill
behind him. All stare.)_

_Jack (staggers to chair with Belle)._ Excuse me, please. _(He
proceeds to loosen Belle's coat, tears away her collar. She is half
fainting.)_ Get me a glass of wine! Quick! _(Bob obeys.)_ A fan,
somebody! _(Jessie seizes a newspaper and hands it to him. Dolly
kneels at Belle's other side.)_ She'll be all right in a
moment--she's exhausted. Ah! Better? _(He rises and speaks swiftly,
intensely.)_ You see what's the matter. The girl is ill; she's
nearly dying. I had to get help for her. _(To Bob.)_ You must excuse
me, old man. I had to give up the wager. This was too much for me.
You see--_(Hesitates.)_ I guess you were right. I ran into the
reality of life, and it floored me. You may kid me all you please,
I'll take my medicine. But there was this girl--I had to come back,
you see. _(To Dad.)_ Excuse me, Dad, for making such a mess of it.
But I couldn't punish this girl for my sins. I had to give up my
quarter of a million, and save her life.