PARTISAN REVIEW
487
There is a knock at the door.
PETER
and
SHELLEY
do not re–
spond. The door is opened and Shelley's
FATHER
appears. He is
a well-dressed) distraught man in his forties; he carries a small
suitcase. He enters and he and
SHELLEY
stare at each other.
PETER
(amiably):
How do you do? Have we met? Are you looking
for someone? Why have you entered our apartment without knock–
ing? Are you a stranger here? This is my building, didn't you see
the sign downstairs -
condemned by order of the fire department?
(he laughs)
Not looking for a place to hide out, are you? What
is your business with Mrs. Raven and myself?
FATHER: ... Mrs. Raven ...?
SHELLEY
shakes her head) no) as if answering her father against
her will.
FATHER
(quietly):
What's happened to you?
SHELLEY
stares at him and does not reply.
FATHER
is stunned)
baffled. He keeps passing his fingers through his hair.
PETER:
If
you have any questions, address them to me. Why don't
you introduce yourself? My name is Peter
V.,
a friend of the
young lady's, a businessman, a kind of Ariel-
FATHER
(to
SHELLEY): My God, you've lost weight.... What's
happened to you? Are you sick? Your hair has been cut so short....
PETER
(trying to shake hands with him):
I
said my name is Peter
V., I
am a businessman and a friend of the young lady's. You'd
better shake hands with me. I'll call the police and- have you
thrown out. I don't think you're a gentleman, to walk in here like
this....
I
have friends among the police.
I
have friends every–
where. You'd better explain yourself.
FATHER: You know who I am.
PETER: What do you want with us?
FATHER: I want to take her back with me...
SHELLEY
turns away; she laughs contemptuously.
PETER
joins
in her laughter and manages to force
FATHER
to shake hands
with him.
PETER: But what is your claim? Who are you?
FATHER: You know who I am, I'm Shelley's father.
PETER: The
girl
in this room with us is not necessarily Shelley. She is
not necessarily your daughter. Are you making a claim?
FATHER: What did you do to her? She's sick, isn't she?
PETER:
I
saved her life.
