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HAWKINS

[Good] heavens, what an idea!

SELLERS
(Tapping his forehead.)

It's my idea. O yes, this is the brain that conceived it, and Dilworthy, he saw it at once. It was he that named the figures, three millions.

HAWKINS
(Aglow.)

It's worth it. It'll be worth it and more too, but is the Senator willing to take charge of the bill?

SELLERS

Willing? He jumped at it. He has grasped the subject at once. You know Dilworthy's gouty, well, to see a gouty Senator jump at a bill is one of the prettiest sights I ever saw in my life. You know there will be those without hearts, without souls, without philanthropy. They'll see a job in it, but we defy calumny.

LAURA

But is there a chance of success?

SELLERS

Of course there is Laura. [Why, it's as good as done, the Senator's a sure man, he] goes slow but sure. He carries too much solid religion about him to be frisky. He'll bring the whole religious element of the north in favor of the bill for the amelioration of the Negro.

(Turns and talks privately to LAURA.)

HAWKINS
(Excitedly.)

Day is breaking at last Nancy! Now do you wish I had taken the paltry five thousand for the land.

MRS. HAWKINS

Si, what ever you do is right and contents me, but I'm afraid of it.

[CLAY
(Outside—calls.)

Mother— Mother—]

(Enter CLAY, plainly but well dressed.)