Page:Fashions for Men And The Swan Two Plays (NY 1922).pdf/48

 word of honor. I'll send you back that money the very first day I get it. Not a day later.

—[Quickly; embarrassed.] I couldn't tell you before I had hoped you'd understand. I didn't spend the fifty-one thousand kronen myself I gave them to Oscar.

—[Quickly.] That is, not for me, but for a little enterprise in Berlin in which I have bought an interest. A little shop of which I—that is, we—are to be one-fourth owners. Steger and Company! Steger—that's Steger. And the Company—that's me At first I thought of putting up my own name instead of Company, but as long as Adele got the money I decided it would be only fair to say Company, and that includes her too

—She gave the money to you?

—I didn't want it for myself. My God, I can live on bread and water. But I couldn't ask Adele to share the uncertain existence of a shop clerk That would have been, if I may say so, unscrupulous of me. I had to provide for her future.

—If she gave you the money, it's yours.

—I considered that I owed it to you to provide for her future decently. You would have every right to despise me if I hadn't.

—I must admit you managed things cleverly.

—[In an injured tone.] What do you mean