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[Struggling—shakenly]

No, I think I’d better—

[Thinking desperately]

Got to go! can’t go! got to go!

Oh, come on, old man!

[Thinking]

He must stay and after lunch we’ll tell Sam.

[With certainty]

He’ll stay.

[Meaningly]

And we want to have a long talk with you after lunch, Sam—don’t we, Ned?

[ ''does not answer. She goes out, right'']

[Vaguely making talk]

I got Charlie to lie down. He’s all in, poor guy.

[Then trying to face who keeps looking away from him]

What did Nina mean, you want a long talk with me? Or is it a secret, Ned?

[Controlling an impulse toward hysterical laughter]

A secret? Yes, you bet it’s a secret!

[He flings himself in the chair at left, keeping his face averted]

[His thoughts bitter and desperate like a cornered fugitive’s]