Scorn of Women: A Play In Three Acts

by Jack London

(Lightly.)

I must say you are untying the knots fast.

VANDERLIP

(With touch of anger.)

I'm untying nothing. I'm going to begin tying. What I'm going to do is to play my game, and you're going to play it with me, my lady.

(His speech grows slow and clear again.) Do you know what my game is?

(Freda shakes her head.)

It's not palavering, and being society-monkey, and ducking, and bowing, and scraping, and giving crooked talk, and saying smart things, and that sort of stuff. It's just this—

(He takes hold of her other arm with other hand, and puts the pressure on with both hands. At first she merely winces but he grips until she cries aloud in pain. Maid shows alarm for first time, and starts hastily forward.)

That's it. Muscle's my game—the only game I can play, and I've been a fool to go out of my class.