MISS CONNOLLY: I can’t let you have a light. The bulb’s burned out, and I haven’t a spare one in the house.

JAMES: I don’t mind the darkness.

MISS CONNOLLY: I promise nothing, mind. You should have come in the morning. He’s best after breakfast.

JAMES: I won’t be here. I’m only passing through.

MISS CONNOLLY: Then what kind of instruction are you expecting?

JAMES: Instruction was your word.

She goes out impatiently, shutting the door behind her, crosses the sitting room and goes out by the other door. Now we can hardly make out James at all. He sits quietly until the others return. When he hears them speaking, he approaches the door and listens. We hear their voices first on the stairs outside the sitting room, or rather Miss Connolly’s voice.

MISS CONNOLLY (voice): And when can I find you capable? Answer me that. (Father Callifer enters, followed by Miss Connolly. He has a stubbly, worn face with bloodshot eyes: a dirty wisp of a Roman collar has been made by twisting and folding a handkerchief round the top of his shirt.) I’m waiting for an answer. (The priest goes to the mantelpiece and places his hands on it as though for support. He has his back to Miss Connolly and the audience.) They’d have written to the Bishop long before this if I’d let them. (A pause.) Don’t think they haven’t learnt what happened in your last parish and the one before that. If I hadn’t begged them time and again to give you a chance, if only for my sake—

CALLIFER (not turning): Your sake?

MISS CONNOLLY: I’ve been the priest’s housekeeper here for twenty years and never had a breath of scandal before. But unless you give me your solemn honest-to-God promise you’ll keep off the liquor I’ll not be preventing them any longer writing to the Bishop.

CALLIFER: Let them write.

MISS CONNOLLY: If they do it will be the end of you. You won’t find another bishop to take you.

CALLIFER (swinging suddenly round): Do you think I’d mind that? Let them take away my faculties. Don’t threaten a convict with the loss of his chains.

MISS CONNOLLY: Speak lower if you don’t want to advertise your shame to a stranger.

CALLIFER: Go and fetch the man, whoever he is.

MISS CONNOLLY: I’m going to have my say first. Here they want a priest with the faith in him. Don’t turn away and pretend you don’t understand.

CALLIFER: Fetch him in, I say.

MISS CONNOLLY: You and I have got to have this out once and for all. (With a slight softening): It’s for your sake I’m speaking.