It began fourteen months ago, after Ned Warden put me on my feet; I got a little ahead--why not get way ahead? There were plenty of men around me making their fortunes! I wanted to equal them--climb as high as they; it seemed easy enough for them, and luck had begun to come my way. We're all climbers of some sort in this world. I was a climber after wealth and everything it brings-- (He stops a moment. (BLANCHE: And I after happiness and all it brings.) [Deeply moved, his voice trembles for a moment, but only for a moment.) Don't, Blanche, or I can't finish. Well, I borrowed on some of Aunt Ruth's bonds and speculated--I made a hundred thousand in a week! I put back the bonds. But it had been so easy! I could see those bonds grinning at me through the iron side of the vault box. They seemed to smile and beckon, to beg me to take them out into the air again! They grew to be like living things to me, servants of mine to get me gold--and finally I determined to make one bigger coup than ever! I took Aunt Ruth's bonds out and all the money available in my trust, and put it all into this new company! It seemed so safe. I stood to be a prince among the richest! And, for a day or so, I've known nothing short of a miracle could save me from being wanted by the police! To-night I gave up even the miracle. That's all. It's no use saying I'm sorry. [ (A moment's pause.) (MASON: Have others suffered besides Miss Hunter?) There is some money of Aunt Ruth's left--stock I couldn't transfer. But I used the money of others--Miss Godesby and Ryder's.

Sterling Monologue from The climbers

Rehearse Sterling's monologue