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[Heatedly]

Don’t misunderstand me, Charlie! I’d be the first to ac- knowledge—

[A bit pathetically]

It isn’t Gordon, Charlie. It’s his memory, his ghost, you might call it, haunting Nina, whose influence I have come to dread because of the terrible change in her attitude toward me.

[His face twitches as if he were on the verge of tears—he thinks desperately]

I’ve got to tell him he will see that I acted for the best  that I was justified.

[He hesitates—then blurts out]

It may sound incredible, but Nina has begun to act as if she hated me!

[Startled]

Oh, come now!

[Insistently]

Absolutely! I haven’t wanted to admit it. I’ve refused to believe it, until it’s become too appallingly obvious in her whole attitude toward me!

[His voice trembles]

[Moved—expostulating]

Oh, now you’re becoming morbid! Why, Nina has always idolized you! What possible reason—?