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[Glaring at, sullenly]

Oh, I don’t remember—

[Thinking apprehensively with a bitter resentment]

She doesn’t give a damn! if she loved me she’d be jealous! but she doesn’t give a damn!

[He blurts out resentfully at ]

Well, she was my mistress—for a time—I was lonely.

[Then with sudden anger turning on ]

But what’s all this to you, Marsden?

[Coolly]

Absolutely nothing. Pardon me. It was a tactless question.

[Then with continued open malice]

But I was starting to say how Sam had missed you, Darrell. It’s really remarkable. One doesn’t encounter such friendship often in these slack days. Why, he’d trust you with anything!

[Wincing—thinking]

That hurts hurts Ned  Charlie is being cruel!

[Wincing—in a forced tone]

And I’d trust Sam with anything.

Of course. He is a person one can trust. They are rare. You’re going to be amazed at the change in Sam, Darrell. Isn’t he, Nina? He’s a new man. I never saw such energy.