VAN. Your victim’s! you heavy swell, you—you old rascal!
AUGUS. (aside) Good gracious! he can’t be alluding to Mrs. Duval! Who can have told him? (aloud) Do you mean, seriously to say that you are the husband of—
VAN. (taking him up) The woman you have so basely turned from the paths of virtue!—of that dear being who, next to myself, I loved best in the whole world.
AUGUS. Interesting traveller! respectable individual! believe me, on my honour, there is not one word of truth in all you have been told.
VAN. It’s false, sir!
AUGUS. Sir, you are transported by rage. Your anger won’t allow you to listen to reason.
VAN. Rage! anger! I shall suffocate myself! Language falls short—words are too weak—let’s come to blows!
(drives BOBBINS round the stage, until he gets on the left of the table, L.
AUGUS. Keep your hands to yourself, can’t you? Strike me in my own home?