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+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78762 ***
+
+
+
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: Macmillan Company Colophon]
+
+ THE MACMILLAN COMPANY
+ NEW YORK · BOSTON · CHICAGO · DALLAS
+ ATLANTA · SAN FRANCISCO
+
+ MACMILLAN & CO., LIMITED
+ LONDON · BOMBAY · CALCUTTA
+ MELBOURNE
+
+ THE MACMILLAN CO. OF CANADA, LTD.
+ TORONTO
+
+
+
+
+ VAN ZORN
+
+ A COMEDY IN THREE ACTS
+
+ BY
+ EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON
+
+ New York
+ THE MACMILLAN COMPANY
+ 1914
+
+ _All rights reserved_
+
+
+
+
+ COPYRIGHT, 1914
+ BY THE MACMILLAN COMPANY
+ Set up and electrotyped. Published September, 1914
+
+ COPYRIGHT IN GREAT BRITAIN,
+ All acting rights reserved by the author
+
+
+
+
+ TO
+ HERMANN HAGEDORN
+
+
+
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+
+
+
+CHARACTERS
+
+
+  VAN ZORN
+  GEORGE LUCAS
+  WELDON FARNHAM
+  OTTO MINK
+  MRS. LOVETT
+  VILLA VANNEVAR
+  JENNY
+
+
+
+
+ACT I
+
+
+  WELDON FARNHAM’S _studio in Macdougal Alley, New York. In the rear is
+      a long window, beneath which is a wide cushioned seat, extending
+      from the left wall to a vestibule on the right, from which a
+      door, front, opens into the studio. The door is hidden by a tall
+      screen. Further down on the right is another door, and still
+      further down is an antique cabinet, upon which rests a bust of
+      Shakespeare. To the left of the cabinet, well into the room, is
+      a table, upon which are a few books and, among other objects, an
+      ornamental cigar box of polished mahogany. Half way down the left
+      wall, which is built diagonally into the stage, cutting off about
+      one-third of the rear wall, is an open grate with a mantel. Well
+      to the front, on the left, is an upright wheeling easel, upon
+      which a framed portrait faces the rear. There are several chairs,
+      for the most part plain and small; but one of them, near the
+      table, to the left, is large and comfortable._
+
+  _The curtain rises, revealing_ WELDON FARNHAM _and_ OTTO MINK.
+      FARNHAM _is a well-conditioned and well-satisfied man of thirty,
+      or a little more, with a certain complacent hardness about his
+      face, which suggests an aggressiveness that does not really
+      exist. He stands surveying_ OTTO, _a younger man--short, plump,
+      pink and loquacious--who in turn stands surveying the picture on
+      the easel. His hands are in his trousers pockets, and he stands
+      from time to time on the tips of his toes during the process of
+      his scrutiny._
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_As if amused_]
+
+Well, Otto, aren’t you going to say something?
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_Slowly, with a frown_]
+
+So this is Villa Vannevar.[1]
+
+[1] Pronounced Vannee´-vr.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+Not exactly. It’s a picture of her.
+
+  [_Smiling_]
+
+You don’t care for it, I see--Lucas and Petherick think it’s rotten.
+
+OTTO
+
+Did Lucas say that?
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Still amused_]
+
+No, but he smoked it. He might as well have said it.
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_Leaving the picture and lighting a cigarette_]
+
+You can’t always tell what Old Hundred means--when he doesn’t say
+anything. Or when he does, for that matter.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Smiling_]
+
+I’m sorry, Otto, that you don’t like the picture.
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_Showing his teeth_]
+
+There’s genius in it. Is that what you wanted me to say?
+
+FARNHAM
+
+But a poor likeness--eh?
+
+OTTO
+
+Likeness?--Farnham, you make me sick.
+
+  [FARNHAM _scowls quickly and laughs_]
+
+I beg your pardon, but you do,--just now, I mean.
+
+  [_With a sniff_]
+
+You and your pictures!
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Laughing_]
+
+Are they all so bad as that, Otto?
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_Irritated_]
+
+I suppose it’s _you_ that I’m talking about, not your pictures.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_With patronage_]
+
+You don’t seem to be improving matters very much. What have _I_ done?
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_With affectionate disgust_]
+
+You? You haven’t done anything. Destiny, or something or other, has
+done it for you.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Laughing_]
+
+But I don’t believe much in destiny. I believe in work.
+
+OTTO
+
+You didn’t work very hard to get the best girl in New York.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+If I didn’t know you, Otto, I might be offended.
+
+  [_Laughing_]
+
+What’s the matter with you today, anyhow?
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_With all sincerity_]
+
+I understand. You think I’m jealous, but I’m not. I’m not such a dam
+fool.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+Otto, don’t be so impulsive.
+
+  [_He laughs_]
+
+OTTO
+
+Impulsive? You don’t know what the word means.
+
+  [_With a grimace_]
+
+You might at least look glad, or say something foolish once in a
+while,--just to let a fellow know that you’re human.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Seriously_]
+
+I’ll take back a part of what I said, Otto. There may be a large
+element of destiny in my--we’ll say my very great good fortune.
+
+  [_Laughing_]
+
+But I wouldn’t say as much as that to Van Zorn.
+
+OTTO
+
+Van Zorn? He’s a fatalist, isn’t he?
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Laughing_]
+
+I don’t know just what he is. He’s the best man living, and he’s my
+best friend.
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_Cheerfully_]
+
+And he’s worth about how many millions?
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_With animation_]
+
+I don’t know. Twenty or twenty-five. I don’t care much about that part
+of it.
+
+OTTO
+
+You know, Farnham, I believe you when you say that.
+
+  [_Moving to the Right_]
+
+If I didn’t, I shouldn’t hang around your place any more. You think you
+wouldn’t miss me if I didn’t, but you would. I’m a tender shoot, and
+I’m delicate, and you’ll be dam sorry when I’m dead.
+
+  [OTTO _pauses before the bust of Shakespeare, looks at it
+      thoughtfully, places his hat upon it carefully, and surveys the
+      result with satisfaction_. FARNHAM _watches him with patronizing
+      amusement. Presently, when the two men stand looking at each
+      other, the bell rings_]
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Looking at his watch_]
+
+That sounds like Lucas. It can’t be Mrs. Lovett--yet.
+
+OTTO
+
+It’s Old Hundred, I’ll bet a sequin. Let him in.
+
+  [FARNHAM _admits_ GEORGE LUCAS, _who is a square-jawed and somewhat
+      cadaverous looking man of thirty, with a melancholy and highly
+      intellectual face. His clothes are well kept, but unmistakably
+      the worse for wear, and there is a whimsical weariness in his
+      manner that might be suggestive of latent tragedy. He looks at_
+      FARNHAM _and_ OTTO _as if he expected them to say something_]
+
+OTTO
+
+Good morning, Phœbus-Apollo.
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_With a benignant smile_]
+
+Good morning.
+
+  [_To_ FARNHAM, _half quizzically_]
+
+Good morning.
+
+  [_He looks at the decorated bust of Shakespeare, and then at_ OTTO.
+      _He smiles once more and removes his hat, which_ FARNHAM _takes
+      and tosses on to window seat_]
+
+OTTO
+
+Have you come to join the celebration?
+
+LUCAS
+
+Celebration of what?
+
+OTTO
+
+Oh, I don’t know. You take your choice. You might celebrate the
+publication of my new book, or you might celebrate the rotation of the
+planet Neptune--on his axis. Or, you might celebrate the engagement of
+our friend Farnham to the radiant Miss Villa Vannevar.
+
+  [_Motioning towards the picture_]
+
+There she is--or, I should say, a picture of her.
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_With gathering surprise and difficulty_]
+
+I have seen the picture, but I had not heard of the engagement.
+
+  [_Giving his hand to_ FARNHAM, _but as if with unconscious
+      reluctance_]
+
+Farnham, let me congratulate you.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Taking his hand_]
+
+Thank you, Lucas.
+
+  [_As_ LUCAS _goes towards the picture_]
+
+I fear that some of us get rather more than we deserve in this life.
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_Affecting indifference_]
+
+Oh, I don’t know about that.
+
+  [_Studying the picture_]
+
+So this is Villa Vannevar.
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_Promptly, with his hands in his pockets_]
+
+That’s what _I_ said.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Comfortably_]
+
+Your congratulations are quite enough, Lucas. You needn’t feel obliged
+to praise the picture.
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_Solemnly_]
+
+I wasn’t going to praise the picture.
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_Standing on his toes and grinning at_ FARNHAM _with satisfaction_]
+
+“Heaven is not reached with a single bound.” You can’t have everything
+at once, Farnham, even if you are a genius. But you might give Lucas a
+drink, and you might give me a bottle of cold beer.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Amused_]
+
+In the morning, Otto? Isn’t this something new?
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_Nodding at the bust_]
+
+Shakespeare did it, and I wish to do everything that Shakespeare
+did--so far as in me lies.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Laughing, as if_ OTTO _were a child_]
+
+Well, all right, if I’ve got it.
+
+  [_He goes out at the right_, LUCAS _leaves the picture, frowning
+      to himself, and returns to_ OTTO, _who is standing near the
+      corner of the vestibule_. OTTO _turns_ LUCAS _gently and assists
+      him towards the cabinet, from which_ LUCAS _takes out a bottle
+      of whiskey and a glass, going with them to the table nearby._
+      FARNHAM _returns with a bottle of beer and a glass_]
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_After a look at_ LUCAS]
+
+Here you are, Stratford.
+
+  [OTTO _goes to the window seat_]
+
+Don’t you want some water, Lucas?
+
+LUCAS
+
+No, thank you. It won’t be necessary.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_With mild insistence_]
+
+Better for the heart.
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_Prying the cap from the bottle_]
+
+Lucas hasn’t got any heart.
+
+  [_He pours out a glass of beer with care_]
+
+Well, Farnham, you man of iron, _morituri salutamus_. I’m a tender
+shoot, and I shan’t be with you very long. Neither will Lucas, if he
+doesn’t drink some water one of these days.
+
+  [_There is a sinister note in his last words, and it is evidently
+      caught by the other men_]
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_With a dry flourish_]
+
+Farnham, you are a man of parts, and once more I congratulate you. I’m
+a man of parts myself, as a matter of fact, but some of my parts don’t
+exactly fit, and as a consequence
+
+  [_With a hard, insincere laugh_]
+
+as a consequence, I--I rattle. Your health and happiness.
+
+  [_He drinks, and shivers a little_]
+
+And now,
+
+  [_Exploring the table_]
+
+If you will give me a small cigar
+
+  [_He takes a large one from the box_]
+
+I’ll tell you what a great man you are going to be.
+
+  [_He puts back the bottle and moves again towards the picture_]
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Who has been watching_ LUCAS _with a patronizing smile_]
+
+And now if you two fellows will kindly make yourselves at home, I’ll
+be back in a little while. I’m going over to Petherick’s to get some
+photographs of his comical bust of Poe for Mrs Lovett; and if anyone
+comes in while I’m gone, I’ll trust you two to be agreeable.
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_Nervously_]
+
+But what does this mean, Farnham? If you expected visitors, why didn’t
+you say so?
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Soothingly_]
+
+They are coming to see the picture in its new frame.
+
+  [_Hesitating_]
+
+Of course you remember Mrs. Lovett--and Villa Vannevar?
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_In a dry voice_]
+
+Yes, I remember them. Villa Vannevar and I used to be rather good
+friends.
+
+  [_Indifferently_]
+
+But I doubt if Mrs Lovett remembers me.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_At the door_]
+
+She must.
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_Sitting down_]
+
+Why do you say that?
+
+FARNHAM
+
+She must,--for you are not the kind that women forget.
+
+  [_He laughs and goes out, and_ LUCAS _follows him with his eyes. He
+      remains for a time as if in retrospection_]
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_From the window seat, after a pause_]
+
+It seems to me that Farnham might have done a little better than that.
+
+  [LUCAS _gives him a quick look_]
+
+But I don’t know,
+
+  [_In half soliloquy_]
+
+perhaps he couldn’t, after all.
+
+  [OTTO _studies the beer-bottle as if it were a rare vase, and_
+      LUCAS, _leaning forward on his chair, rubs his fingers together
+      thoughtfully_.]
+
+OTTO
+
+Phœbus,
+
+  [LUCAS _looks at him_]
+
+wake up.
+
+LUCAS
+
+I am awake.
+
+OTTO
+
+The devil you are.
+
+  [_Getting up and stretching himself_]
+
+Let’s have another look at Farnham’s picture. Petherick thinks it’s
+rotten.
+
+  [_Mercifully_]
+
+But then, Petherick’s a sculptor.
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_Drily_]
+
+Can’t sculptors tell when things are rotten?
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_Briskly_]
+
+Apparently not--if we are to judge them by what they have done for our
+fair city.
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_Rising and smiling_]
+
+You are severe this morning, Otto.
+
+  [_In a fatherly way_]
+
+I hope you aren’t going to be severe with _me_.
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_Looking at him sharply_]
+
+I _was_ going to be--but I won’t now.
+
+  [_Frowning before the picture_]
+
+So this is Villa Vannevar.
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_Smiling_]
+
+That’s what _I_ said.
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_Still frowning_]
+
+Mrs. Weldon Farnham.
+
+  [_Throwing up his hands_]
+
+Lucas, I can’t make it sound right.
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_Drily_]
+
+What’s wrong about the sound of it? Farnham is a good fellow, isn’t he?
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_With emphasis_]
+
+He’s a fine fellow; and he’s one of his own best friends.
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_Smiling grimly_]
+
+Well, that makes for prudence--and for longevity.
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_Drily_]
+
+Very good indeed. What do you think of this picture, Phœbus, anyhow?
+
+LUCAS
+
+It’s a pretty good picture. All things are relative.
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_Promptly_]
+
+Then you agree with Petherick.
+
+LUCAS
+
+Not necessarily.
+
+  [_He looks around him uncomfortably_]
+
+But I don’t believe, Otto, that I’ll stay here any longer.
+
+  [OTTO _moves toward him_]
+
+You can entertain these women without me.
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_Backing_ LUCAS _into his chair_]
+
+There! You try that for a while. Farnham said you were to stay here
+till he came back.
+
+  [_He takes another chair and sits facing_ LUCAS]
+
+Phœbus, you may kick me if you like, but I’m sorry for you. I’m dam
+sorry.
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_With a doubtful scowl_]
+
+What do you think you are talking about, Otto?
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_Plunging_]
+
+Phœbus, I like you. I like you a lot. I’ve liked you for ten
+years--ever since I met you.
+
+  [_Pause_]
+
+So far as I count for anything, I suppose I’m as good a friend as you
+have in the world.
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_Pleased and embarrassed_]
+
+I’m glad to hear you say that, Otto.
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_With more confidence_]
+
+You’d better wait till I’m done with you.
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_Smiling_]
+
+Go on. I’m at your service.
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_Clasping his knee and becoming very serious_]
+
+Very well. Tell me when to stop.
+
+  [_Pause_]
+
+Phœbus, how much does Farnham know about you? Did he know anything
+about you before he came to New York? Let me see, that was four years
+ago.
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_Surprised_]
+
+Probably not.
+
+OTTO
+
+Well, then, did Farnham know Villa Vannevar before he came to New York?
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_Surprised_]
+
+Not to my knowledge.
+
+OTTO
+
+Am I getting too personal?
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_Fighting with his curiosity_]
+
+You haven’t said anything injurious.
+
+OTTO
+
+Good. Now does Farnham.... Oh, the devil! I suppose I ought not to ask
+you this, but I’m going to, all the same. Does Farnham know that Villa
+Vannevar cared more for you at one time than she cares now for any
+other man living?
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_Rubbing his hands slowly_]
+
+I rather think, Otto, that you may as well stop.
+
+OTTO
+
+Are you going to kick me?
+
+LUCAS
+
+No. Your motive is good, and I try to judge a fellow by his motive.
+
+  [_Taking a cheap watch from his pocket, he looks at it and shakes it
+      at his ear_]
+
+What time is it?
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_With much vigor_]
+
+Phœbus, you can’t put me off. I’ve got you now, and I’m going to tell
+you what I think of you.
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_Shaking his watch at his ear_]
+
+What do you think of me?
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_Nettled_]
+
+Well, I think you are going to the devil, for one thing.
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_Grinning_]
+
+Only going? I was told the other day that I had arrived--with banners.
+
+OTTO
+
+Did Farnham tell you that?
+
+LUCAS
+
+That was Farnham’s hidden meaning.
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_After a pause_]
+
+Well, Phœbus, I can’t speak for Farnham. But there was a time when the
+rest of us would have said that you had empires up your sleeve.
+
+  [_Impressively_]
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_Looking at his sleeve_]
+
+Then they must be there yet. I’ve never shaken them out.
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_With more fervor_]
+
+They may be there, but all the devils in hell, with microscopes,
+couldn’t find them there this morning. As you are fond of reading, you
+may have gathered, from various authorities, that empires don’t run
+themselves, exactly. When they do, they run down.
+
+LUCAS
+
+Like my watch.
+
+  [_He shakes it, and returns it to his pocket_]
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_Getting up with a sigh_]
+
+Phœbus, why don’t you try to find out where you are, and stop pickling
+your brain with rum, and quit bewildering your inferiors, and go back
+to school? If you don’t, there will be a funeral one of these days, and
+you won’t have to walk. And what I say is all as true as God made great
+whales and little squirrels.
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_Rubbing his knees and grinning_]
+
+Good. Say on.
+
+  [OTTO _gives a snort of disgust and moves towards the bust of
+      Shakespeare, his hands in his trousers’ pockets and his face
+      puckered with a scowl_]
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_Watching_ OTTO _with weary amusement_]
+
+Otto, tell me something more about this much-travelled Odysseus of many
+devices, whom Farnham calls Van Zorn.
+
+  [OTTO _removes his hat from the bust_]
+
+I thought you would do that, Otto.
+
+  [OTTO _puts his hat on his head and gives_ LUCAS _a look of
+      discouragement_]
+
+Tell me about Van Zorn, Otto, and take off your hat.
+
+  [OTTO _spins his hat at_ LUCAS, _who catches it deftly and throws it
+      over to the window seat_]
+
+I understand that he’s a fatalist--or something or other. Where does he
+live?
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_Piqued_]
+
+He doesn’t live anywhere. He doesn’t have to. He’s worth about
+twenty-five millions.
+
+LUCAS
+
+That isn’t very much. Is he in town?
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_Impatiently_]
+
+Yes, he’s in town.
+
+LUCAS
+
+How long is he going to stay?
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_Wearily_]
+
+How the devil do I know? I suppose he’ll stay as long as he likes the
+place. That’s what I should do, if I had twenty-five millions.
+
+  [_Becoming more rancid_]
+
+And then, if the fancy seized me, I should pack my suitcase and go in
+for the irrigation of Mesopotamia.
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_Still leaning forward and rubbing his hands slowly_]
+
+When is Farnham to be married?
+
+OTTO
+
+I don’t know. Didn’t you hear about the engagement?
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_Getting up and speaking without apparent interest_]
+
+No.... I don’t hear about things any more.
+
+  [_The bell rings and_ LUCAS _turns with a start_]
+
+I wonder who that is.
+
+  [_He takes his watch from his pocket nervously and pretends to look
+      at it_]
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_Smiling as he looks at his own watch_]
+
+If you wish to know what time it is, it’s five minutes to twelve.
+
+  [OTTO _opens the door and admits_ MRS. LOVETT _and_ MISS VILLA
+      VANNEVAR. MRS. LOVETT _is a short lady of fifty, with a manner
+      that is slightly affected, but not comically so. She is dressed
+      in black, and in a manner calculated to suggest rather than
+      to express mourning._ VILLA VANNEVAR _is rather tall and very
+      handsome, inclined to be unconventional and at times careless,
+      naturally vivacious, but evidently not satisfied with her
+      existence. She wears a walking suit of bright gray, with a smart
+      hat_]
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_With familiar mock-ceremony_]
+
+You are to come in--both of you--and you are to make yourselves
+entirely at home.
+
+  [_To Mrs Lovett_]
+
+The genius of the place has gone to get some photographs of your friend
+Petherick’s bust of Edgar A. Poe, the eminent literary man.
+
+  [_Turning to_ LUCAS, _who has found something interesting on the
+      table_]
+
+Both of you remember Mr. Lucas, I suppose.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_In a voice of friendly surprise_]
+
+Why it’s George!
+
+  [_She goes to him and gives him her hand, which he takes slowly, and
+      holds a little longer than he means to_]
+
+Why, Auntie, it’s George!
+
+  [_To_ LUCAS]
+
+You remember my aunt, don’t you, George?
+
+LUCAS
+
+I remember Mrs. Lovett very well.
+
+MRS. LOVETT
+
+  [_without warmth_]
+
+Of course I remember Mr. Lucas.
+
+  [_To_ OTTO]
+
+And now, Otto, you bad child
+
+  [_Holding up her finger_]
+
+oh, yes! I have read your wicked books, and I know just how bad you are
+
+  [_Laughing_]
+
+--Villa and I are perishing to see the picture in its new frame.
+
+  [_To_ VILLA]
+
+Shall we wait for dear Weldon to come back? Artists are so queer, you
+know, and
+
+  [_To_ OTTO, _with a smile_]
+
+So very sensitive.
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_Beaming_]
+
+Very sensitive indeed. Have you read my last one--_Au Cinquième_? It
+came out day before yesterday.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Amused_]
+
+I’m sorry, Otto, but we haven’t even seen it.
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_Briskly_]
+
+In that case,
+
+  [_To_ MRS. LOVETT]
+
+you cannot possibly know how bad I am.--As for the frame,
+
+  [_Moving towards the picture_]
+
+the frame is a beautiful piece of work. In point of fact, I don’t quite
+see how you are going to get along without it.
+
+  [MRS. LOVETT _follows him and they stand together before the
+      picture_. LUCAS _and_ VILLA _remain near the table, she becoming
+      very serious and he pretending, not very well, to take a humorous
+      view of the situation_]
+
+MRS. LOVETT
+
+  [_After a silence_]
+
+Aren’t you coming to see yourself, Villa?
+
+VILLA
+
+I’ll watch you and Otto--and talk with George. I know just how the
+picture looks, and I haven’t seen George for a thousand years.
+
+  [MRS. LOVETT _frowns a little and_ OTTO _smiles to himself
+      significantly_]
+
+MRS. LOVETT
+
+  [_Looking at the picture_]
+
+Oh--dear!
+
+  [_She sighs and looks at_ OTTO, _who stands on his toes for a moment
+      and then shakes his head_]
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Turning from_ LUCAS _to_ MRS. LOVETT, _and laughing_]
+
+What’s the matter, Auntie?
+
+MRS. LOVETT
+
+  [_With ample resignation_]
+
+I don’t know what to say about it.
+
+  [_She looks at_ LUCAS, _who does not see her, and then looks at_ OTTO]
+
+_You_ say something, Otto. I simply don’t know how.
+
+OTTO
+
+I would gladly be of assistance, my dear Madam, but I don’t know how to
+say anything about it either.
+
+  [_Looking at_ LUCAS]
+
+But there’s Lucas; he knows how to say something about it.
+
+MRS. LOVETT
+
+  [_After a quick frown_]
+
+Tell me the truth, Otto.
+
+  [_She sighs again_]
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Turning and laughing_]
+
+If you do, Otto, I’ll tell Weldon everything you say.
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_Looking from_ VILLA _to_ MRS. LOVETT, _with a grimace_]
+
+You seem to know the truth already. If you don’t, I cannot tell a lie.
+
+  [_Very distinctly_]
+
+In the last analysis, then, the thing is worse than--than office-hours.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_With determination_]
+
+_I’m_ going to say something now. I’m going to ask Otto to turn that
+picture to the wall until Weldon comes back. I won’t have it abused.
+
+  [_To_ LUCAS, _with sorry laugh_]
+
+The only trouble with that picture is that it isn’t _me_.
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_Drily_]
+
+Yes, that is one trouble with it.
+
+  [VILLA _looks at him strangely, and laughs again as before_. MRS.
+      LOVETT _looks at her with mild disapproval_. OTTO _grins,
+      and begins to sing the swan-song in Lohengrin with subdued
+      satisfaction as he turns the easel. As_ OTTO _comes back to
+      the center of the stage, the bell rings, and all appear to be
+      suddenly disturbed_]
+
+MRS. LOVETT
+
+Now who in the world is that? We don’t want people.
+
+LUCAS
+
+You might find out, Otto.
+
+OTTO
+
+Aye, aye, sir.
+
+  _[Becoming more exuberant, he propels himself towards the door with
+      a series of quasi-nautical hitches, trumpeting with his lips
+      the opening chorus in “Pinafore.”_ LUCAS _watches him with a
+      weary smile_, VILLA VANNEVAR _laughs, and_ MRS. LOVETT _looks
+      bewildered_. OTTO _opens the door and stands back, in whimsical
+      obeisance_]
+
+OTTO
+
+You may come in, for I know your name. Your name is Van Zorn, and I’ve
+seen you before.
+
+  [VAN ZORN ENTERS. _He is rather tall, well built, bronzed, and has
+      powerful, penetrating eyes. His manner, though courteous and
+      possibly a bit too dignified, is also a little heavy. He seems to
+      be in constant fear of being taken too seriously; and yet he is a
+      very serious person, inclined to a certain intangible melancholy
+      that is easy to recognize but difficult to describe. His voice
+      is rich, deep, and musical, his laugh is rare but pleasing, but
+      his smile is frequent and engaging. There is at times something
+      childlike in his acceptance of unusual situations and events, and
+      there is something almost unreal in his easy persistence along
+      lines that few men would ever think of pursuing. While he is for
+      the most part self explanatory, there remains a fringe of mystery
+      about him to the end_]
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Taking_ OTTO’S _hand and smiling_]
+
+And I should remember _your_ name. Your name is ...
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_Distinctly_]
+
+Mink.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_With another smile_]
+
+Indeed? Then you must have two names.
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_As the two move into the room_]
+
+I have. The grand total is Otto Mink.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+I remember now that Farnham called you Otto. I am very glad to see you
+again.
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_With expansion_]
+
+And now it devolves upon me to present a few of Farnham’s friends.
+Here, for example, is Mrs. Lovett.
+
+  [_She smiles at Otto, and receives Van Zorn with unqualified
+      approval_]
+
+And here is Miss Villa Vannevar. She’s another friend of Farnham’s, and
+you’ve met her before.
+
+  [VILLA _gives_ VAN ZORN _her hand, and he looks at her, in spite of
+      his efforts, as if he were fascinated. The two appear to be very
+      serious, until_ OTTO _presents_ LUCAS, _when she laughs--but with
+      no great amount of spirit_]
+
+And here is Mr. Lucas. Sometimes we call him Phœbus--on account of his
+sunny disposition.
+
+  [VAN ZORN _shakes hands with_ LUCAS _with great cordiality and looks
+      at him as long as he looked at_ VILLA VANNEVAR, _but with an
+      entirely different expression. There is a kindness and a certain
+      satisfaction in his eyes that surprises_ LUCAS _and embarrasses
+      him_]
+
+That object over there is a portrait of Miss Vannevar, but we are not
+to see it again until Farnham comes back. You won’t like Farnham any
+better after you see it.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Amused_]
+
+That doesn’t sound altogether complimentary to Farnham.
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_Cheerfully_]
+
+It isn’t.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+Perhaps I don’t quite understand you.
+
+OTTO
+
+You will.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_With a look of amused inquiry at_ LUCAS]
+
+You surprise me. I have come to think of Farnham as one of the best of
+living painters.
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_With his hands in his trousers’ pockets_]
+
+He is. That’s partly what ails him.
+
+MRS. LOVETT
+
+Why, Otto,--you ridiculous child!
+
+OTTO
+
+If you don’t believe me, ask Phœbus--I mean Lucas.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_To_ VILLA, _smiling_]
+
+I think I’ll wait and ask Farnham himself.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Laughing_]
+
+He may bite you.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+I know Farnham’s bite. It isn’t very dangerous.
+
+VILLA
+
+He thinks it is.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Moving nearer to her, as if drawn_]
+
+How soon do you expect him back?
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Suddenly serious_]
+
+At any moment.
+
+  [LUCAS _begins a silent investigation of the studio, while_ MRS.
+      LOVETT _and_ OTTO _talk together_, MRS. LOVETT _apparently amused
+      and perhaps a little scandalized by his childlike narrations. She
+      looks frequently and almost eagerly at_ VAN ZORN _and_ VILLA,
+      _who stand near the table. They seem to be laboring under a
+      mysterious constraint, which_ VILLA _tries to put off with an
+      assumed light humor_]
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Smiling_]
+
+You talk as if you thought me a doubtful character. I trust that
+Farnham hasn’t given me one.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Nervously_]
+
+Weldon has praised you so much that we are all a little afraid of you.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+I shall have to stop that.
+
+  [_Pause_]
+
+Do you remember the day when you and Mr.--
+
+  [_Glancing at_ OTTO]
+
+Mr. Mink--went over my boat with Farnham and me?
+
+VILLA
+
+Of course I do. That was the day before you sailed away to the other
+side of the world.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Earnestly_]
+
+Thank you for remembering that day.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Still nervous_]
+
+I remember the day--and I remember that you frightened me somehow.
+
+  [_Laughing_]
+
+You made me think of Captain Kidd and the Flying Dutchman--both
+together.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Smiling_]
+
+I don’t know about Captain Kidd, but I suppose I _am_ a sort of
+Dutchman.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_With a little shiver_]
+
+Not the Flying Dutchman--I hope?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_With a quaint seriousness_]
+
+No--not exactly. As a matter of fact, I have undertaken to be a doctor.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Bewildered_]
+
+Medicine, Philosophy or Divinity?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_With a melancholy laugh._]
+
+All three, in a measure--and I shall be my own patient.
+
+  [_Quite seriously_]
+
+I must have a place in the scheme of existence, and I have had a
+presentiment that I am soon to find it.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Drawing back a little and laughing_]
+
+You?... A place in the scheme of existence?... I’m beginning to be
+positively creepy. I thought you had everything.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Shaking his head_]
+
+Then you are greatly mistaken. I have nothing--yet.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Impulsively_]
+
+What a very unfortunate person! I beg your pardon a thousand times, but
+you make me laugh.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+You needn’t be apologetic, and you needn’t laugh.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Bewildered_]
+
+What--are you going to do--first?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Smiling faintly_]
+
+I have thought of several plans to make my existence worth while, but I
+am not yet sure of any of them.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_With a sigh and a laugh_]
+
+Well, I don’t know what you expect me to say. You don’t speak a
+language that a poor girl can understand.
+
+  [_She looks over her shoulder and meets the eyes of_ LUCAS, _who by
+      this time has made a circuit of the studio and taken a casual
+      inventory of its contents. She looks at him, smiling, and then
+      at_ VAN ZORN, _who is looking at_ LUCAS _with a slight frown that
+      is both friendly and inquiring_]
+
+VILLA
+
+I wonder if George--Mr. Lucas--could be of any service to you. He isn’t
+a doctor, but he knows almost everything.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Pleasantly, after a slow nod at_ LUCAS]
+
+Does he know himself?
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_With a shrug_]
+
+I regret to say that he does.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_To_ LUCAS, _distinctly_]
+
+Then Miss Vannevar is right. The man who knows himself does know almost
+everything.
+
+  [_There has been a brief pause in_ OTTO’S _animated conversation
+      with_ MRS. LOVETT, _and now_ OTTO _looks keenly at_ VILLA, VAN
+      ZORN, _and_ LUCAS]
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Laughing at_ OTTO]
+
+The man who knows himself must be inspired.
+
+  [_To_ VAN ZORN]
+
+Otto couldn’t keep from being inspired if he tried. Otto is a poet.
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_Grinning_]
+
+Do I look like one?
+
+VILLA
+
+You look like a rose of Sharon, Otto.
+
+  [_Glancing towards the door_]
+
+I thought I heard something.
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_Holding up his finger_]
+
+Hist! There it is again!
+
+  [_Going to the door mysteriously_]
+
+It’s the Thing itself.
+
+  [FARNHAM _is heard in the vestibule, singing carelessly to himself
+      the air of the Conspirators from “La Fille de Madame Angot.”_
+      OTTO _opens the door with a flourish, and_ FARNHAM _soon enters_]
+
+OTTO
+
+You are late, and the show is half over.
+
+  [_Putting his hands into his trousers’ pockets_]
+
+The next thing on the programme will be the eminent comedians, Van Zorn
+and Lucas, in “The Old Oaken Bucket.” Song and dance.
+
+MRS. LOVETT
+
+  [_With languid primness_]
+
+Otto, you might take your hat and go home.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Taking_ MRS. LOVETT’S _hand_]
+
+No, don’t send him home. He can’t help it. The trouble is in his brain.
+
+  [HE _shakes hands with_ VILLA _and smiles_]
+
+But _you_
+
+  [_Shaking hands with_ VAN ZORN _and looking at him with eager
+      satisfaction_]
+
+--you might have let a fellow know that you were coming.
+
+  [_looking around_]
+
+I suppose there is no need of introductions.
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_Beaming_]
+
+None whatever. We are all happily acquainted.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_After giving_ OTTO _a patronizing scrutiny_]
+
+There are the photographs, Mrs. Lovett, and if you don’t find them
+sufficiently bad, it won’t be Petherick’s fault. Poor Poe!
+
+  [_Nodding to_ VAN ZORN]
+
+_He_ could tell you something about Destiny, if he were alive.
+
+  [_He nods at the envelope_]
+
+MRS. LOVETT
+
+  [_Looking at one of the photographs_]
+
+Poe was a wonderful creature.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+There are no records to prove that he ever denied it.
+
+  [_To_ VILLA, _with his most confident smile_]
+
+Have you seen the picture, and the frame?
+
+  [_He gazes at the easel, frowns for a moment, and then laughs drily_]
+
+Who turned it to the wall? Did you do that, Lucas?
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Quickly_]
+
+Otto did it. I told him to.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Rather drily_]
+
+That was very considerate of you.
+
+  [HE _moves the easel back to its former position_]
+
+Well, there it is.
+
+  [_Confidently_]
+
+And now you may all do your worst. Otto and Lucas needn’t say anything,
+for I know what they think already.
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_Cheerfully_]
+
+You may not. We’ve never told you.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_With a short laugh_]
+
+Well, if you haven’t, you needn’t.
+
+  [VAN ZORN _stands before the picture and studies it ominously_]
+
+FARNHAM
+
+Well, which is it--life, or death?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_With annihilating deliberation_]
+
+I should say that it was neither. I am not satisfied with it.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_With a dry laugh_]
+
+Were you ever entirely satisfied with anything?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Gently_]
+
+We are not here on earth to be entirely satisfied, are we?
+
+FARNHAM
+
+Oh, I don’t know about that.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+I hope most sincerely that you are not satisfied with this picture.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+I thought it had a kind of merit.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Frowning_]
+
+It has. It’s a work of genius, if you like.
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_Promptly_]
+
+That’s what _I_ said.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Patiently_]
+
+I know it Otto--And now I should like to hear what Mrs. Lovett has to
+say.
+
+MRS. LOVETT
+
+But, dear Weldon, you can’t possibly care what I think--a poor old
+thing like me.
+
+  [_Looking through her glasses_]
+
+Of course you have flattered the poor child almost to death.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Genially_]
+
+I don’t see how you can say so.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_To_ VAN ZORN _and_ LUCAS]
+
+Help! help!
+
+MRS. LOVETT
+
+But you are a wonderful creature, all the same, and I shall have to
+forgive you. Two very intelligent men
+
+  [_Beaming on_ OTTO]
+
+have called you a genius, and surely that should be enough for one
+morning.
+
+OTTO
+
+Three, Mrs. Lovett, Phœbus--I mean George--called him one before you
+came in.
+
+MRS. LOVETT
+
+  [_After a look at_ LUCAS]
+
+I am very glad to hear it.
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_Briskly_]
+
+I knew you would be.
+
+  [_Going to_ LUCAS]
+
+And now, Phœbus--I mean George--it’s time for you and me to go out and
+have something to eat. I have a premonition that you and I are in a way
+to become superfluous.
+
+MRS. LOVETT
+
+  [_With motherly tolerance_]
+
+Otto, are you going to talk nonsense all the rest of your life?
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_Spinning his hat on the end of his stick_]
+
+If youth but knew.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_With animation_]
+
+Why can’t we all go out and lunch somewhere together? I’ve got some
+money.
+
+MRS. LOVETT
+
+You forget, my child, that we are to have luncheon with Mrs. Dyce.
+
+OTTO
+
+Give my love to Mrs. Dyce, and to the Pomeranian twins. And now Phœbus
+and I are going over to the Brevoort House and have something with a
+squeezed lime in it. After that we shall have a morsel of bread, and
+Phœbus will tell me what he thinks of my new book--_Au Cinquième_, I
+call it.
+
+  [_To_ VILLA]
+
+You haven’t seen it. Are you going to be at home this afternoon?
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Laughing_]
+
+Yes, Otto,--to _you_.
+
+OTTO
+
+All right. I’ll bring around a copy of _Au Cinquième_. [_cheerfully_] I
+wrote it with my heart’s blood.
+
+  [_To_ LUCAS, _briskly_]
+
+Come along, Phœbus.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Going to_ LUCAS _and holding out her hand_]
+
+Good-bye, George.
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_Taking her hand and speaking strangely_]
+
+Good-bye.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Giving_ LUCAS _his hand_]
+
+I am very glad to have met you, Mr. Lucas--very glad indeed.
+
+  [HE _speaks with a peculiar earnestness that causes_ MRS. LOVETT
+      _and_ FARNHAM _to look at each other. But_ LUCAS _appears to be
+      abstracted and indifferent_]
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_At the door, declaiming solemnly_]
+
+“So now for a season we leave you, taking with us our various musical
+instruments. Presently we shall return, bringing with us nothing but
+our accordeons.” _Auf wiedersehen._
+
+  [OTTO _and_ LUCAS _go out_. MRS. LOVETT _and_ FARNHAM _look after_
+      OTTO _and laugh_. VAN ZORN _looks at_ VILLA VANNEVAR, _who stands
+      gazing at the floor. Her face is troubled and she bites her under
+      lip as if to keep it under control_]
+
+MRS. LOVETT
+
+  [_To_ FARNHAM]
+
+Otto should be ashamed of himself.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+He will be--sometime.
+
+MRS. LOVETT
+
+He is going to take that poor unfortunate Mr. Lucas over to the
+Brevoort House and give him liquor.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_With an unfeeling grin_]
+
+I don’t see any way out of it now. As for poor Mr. Lucas, this man
+
+  [_Looking at_ VAN ZORN]
+
+will tell you that he is in the hands of Destiny--gin-rickeys and all.
+
+  [_With a laugh_]
+
+We can do nothing for him.
+
+MRS. LOVETT
+
+  [_Rising with a sigh_]
+
+It may be so, poor fellow. If he were not so thoroughly impossible, he
+would be rather interesting.
+
+  [VILLA _looks at her almost angrily_]
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+May I venture to ask, Mrs. Lovett, if you are final in your judgment?
+
+MRS. LOVETT
+
+  [_With apologetic vivacity_]
+
+Dear me, no! I don’t judge anything--not even a fly.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Smiling, as if with effort_]
+
+I am very glad, for I have begun to believe that Mr. Lucas and I may be
+of service to each other.
+
+  [VILLA _looks at him eagerly_]
+
+MRS. LOVETT
+
+  [_Puzzled and not wholly pleased_]
+
+I don’t understand what you mean, and I’m not going to try.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+I am not always sure that I understand myself.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_With a nervous laugh_]
+
+I’m glad to know it, for I’m not either.
+
+  [_To_ MRS. LOVETT]
+
+Come along, Auntie, or Mrs. Dyce’s little dogs will eat up all the
+luncheon.
+
+  [_Laughing_]
+
+Pomeranian twins!
+
+  [_Giving her hand to_ VAN ZORN]
+
+Good-bye.... I’m glad you aren’t the Flying Dutchman.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Holding her hand_]
+
+Nothing half so distinguished, I assure you.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Not wholly at ease_]
+
+Or so unfortunate.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Letting her hand go, slowly_]
+
+I am not so sure about that.
+
+VILLA
+
+Weldon thinks you are the greatest man in the world
+
+  [_To_ FARNHAM, _laughing_]
+
+--except himself.
+
+MRS. LOVETT
+
+  [_Beaming_]
+
+And the most wonderful creature.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Smiling_]
+
+Weldon has made a mistake.
+
+VILLA
+
+You are too modest.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+Do you think so?
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_With the same constrained laugh_]
+
+Perhaps I don’t know you well enough to say.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+We may come to know each other better in the future.
+
+VILLA
+
+I feel sure of that. I should like to know you better.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Smiling_]
+
+You may be disappointed in me.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_As before_]
+
+If I am, I’ll tell you so.
+
+MRS. LOVETT
+
+  [_Who has been watching the two with bewildered approval_]
+
+She means that she will say, on all occasions, the first thing that
+comes into her silly little head.--But we must go now. Good-bye.
+
+  [THEY _shake hands_. VAN ZORN _and_ VILLA VANNEVAR _look at each
+      other with a smile of half-fascinated intensity. The two women
+      go_]
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Coming from the door and touching_ VAN ZORN _on the shoulder,
+      laughing curiously_]
+
+Well, Childe Harold, for a sedate and rather melancholy Ancient
+Mariner, you seem to be getting on.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Standing in thought_]
+
+Yes, I am getting on in years.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+Oh, cheer up. We are only thirty two. “We are children still,” and we
+“grope in the dark for what the day will bring.”
+
+  [_Going to the table and reaching for the cigars_]
+
+That’s what we do: we “grope in the dark for what the day will
+bring”.... Here--have a cigar.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Absently_]
+
+No, thank you.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Holding out the box_]
+
+It’s a Pedro.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+No, thank you.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Coaxingly_]
+
+Colorado.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+Not now.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Taking a cigar and putting back the box_]
+
+Well, is there anything that your serene excellency _would_ like, that
+I can give you--this fine October morning? You’ll have a drink, perhaps.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Shaking his head_]
+
+No, Farnham. But I may--I may ask you for your advice.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Lighting his cigar_]
+
+And you couldn’t possibly do better. What seems to be weighing most
+heavily on your noble mind?
+
+  [_Pointing to a chair_]
+
+Sit down.
+
+  [VAN ZORN _takes the large chair mechanically and remains for a time
+      in silence_. FARNHAM _sits expectantly in a small chair not far
+      from the table_]
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Slowly_]
+
+Farnham, I wish you would tell me something about this man Lucas....
+About his life, and his death, and his possibilities.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Laughing_]
+
+His death, did you say?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Simply_]
+
+Yes. He seems to have died.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Carelessly_]
+
+I don’t know but you are right. And if you refer to his possibilities
+in the way of drink, I can recommend him without qualifications. There
+is nothing else in town that is quite like him.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+I am not joking, I assure you.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+Neither am I. Old Hundred is no joke.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+Then you might tell me something about him. Who is he? What is he? And
+why is he where he is?
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Laughing_]
+
+Where _is_ he?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+He appears just now to be at what we might call the crossways. Whether
+he takes one way or the other, will depend upon events.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_With a short laugh_]
+
+Why don’t you say Destiny, and be done with it?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+Very well--we’ll call it Destiny. How old is Lucas?
+
+FARNHAM
+
+About twenty-nine. Abundantly old enough to know better.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_With a smile_]
+
+You might say that of _me_. It is possible that Lucas and I may have a
+great deal in common.
+
+  [_He taps the arms of his chair with his fingers and looks into the
+      distance_]
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Laughing impatiently_]
+
+I thought of that when I saw you together.
+
+  [_Crossing his legs_]
+
+Well, you ask me to tell you about Lucas, and I find that I haven’t
+much to tell. I haven’t known him very long, when it comes to that;
+but from what I have gathered and inferred, it would seem that his
+father was a good deal of a metropolitan rounder--before the days of
+the Great White Way. Whether that made any difference or not, I don’t
+know. All I can say for certain is that Lucas’s father didn’t spend all
+his evenings holding his little one on his knee, or teaching him the
+binomial theorem.
+
+  [_With a tired sigh_]
+
+Little Georgie was undoubtedly neglected. But what of it?
+
+  [_Looking at the bust_]
+
+So was Shakespeare, I fancy.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Frowning_]
+
+And Lucas’s mother?
+
+FARNHAM
+
+She had the good fortune to die. You needn’t look at me like that, for
+the old man was a bad egg.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Disappointed_]
+
+Is that the best you can do for me?
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Impatiently_]
+
+What more do you want? It’s for Lucas to do the rest. He has ability
+enough to fit out a dozen ordinary men, but he can’t use it--or he
+won’t. He isn’t peculiar to New York. You’ll find him over all the
+world.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Thoughtfully_]
+
+And Lucas has run down--like a watch.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+Yes, or rather like the Old Clock on the Stairs. And I’m afraid he’s
+past winding up.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Tapping with his fingers_]
+
+And what will be the outcome of all this?
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Weary of the subject_]
+
+Oh, I don’t know. I shouldn’t wonder if I were to take up a newspaper
+some morning and read that one George Lucas had blown the top of his
+head off in one of our public parks--probably in Washington Square,
+not far from the statue of Garibaldi. That statue beats anything of
+Petherick’s.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Slowly_]
+
+I wonder if I have made a mistake. I don’t often make mistakes in my
+judgment of men.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+That’s interesting. How about women?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+We are not talking about women--
+
+  [_With emphasis_]
+
+at present.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Laughing_]
+
+All right; excuse me. But what if you _do_ make mistakes? You can
+charge them all up to Destiny, and go on about your business. The rest
+of us poor devils, who think we are burdened with free will, have to
+pay for our mistakes--with complex interest.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+No matter about that. But what if _I_ were to run down--after the
+manner of Lucas?
+
+FARNHAM
+
+But Lucas’s case hasn’t anything to do with yours.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+How do you know?
+
+FARNHAM
+
+You couldn’t let yourself run down.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+How do you know?
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Getting up, with a laugh of protest_]
+
+Because that isn’t the way we do things nowadays--if we have any sense.
+If you say “How do you know” again, I’ll....
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+Farnham, has it occurred to you that Lucas’s problem may not be half so
+simple as you have made it out to be?
+
+FARNHAM
+
+You can’t expect me to tell you what I don’t know.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Significantly_]
+
+Or all that you do know--possibly.
+
+  [FARNHAM _says nothing, but smokes_]
+
+In the light of what you say, I wonder that you should trouble yourself
+to have this man Lucas around.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+More Destiny I suppose. We can’t beat Destiny.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+Certainly not. But Destiny can beat _us_, and it can make us do better
+than we have done in the past.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_With a sharp look_]
+
+So Lucas is going to have greatness thrust upon him, is he?
+
+  [_Laughing_]
+
+“Van Zorn and Lucas, the eminent comedians.”
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Laughing a little and looking at the bust_]
+
+I wonder what Shakespeare would do if he were in my place.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+He might kill Polonius, or he might mix himself a drink. That would
+depend entirely upon Destiny.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Drily_]
+
+Undoubtedly ... and we might say more about Destiny.... But whether or
+not we ought to say it....
+
+FARNHAM
+
+According to your convenient doctrine, I don’t see that there is
+any “ought” or “ought not” about it--unless you think you ought to
+congratulate me on my engagement to Villa Vannevar. Do you?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Distinctly, after a pause_]
+
+Most assuredly _not_.
+
+  [VAN ZORN _drums with his fingers on the arms of his chair and looks
+      straight before him_. FARNHAM _watches him with a gathering
+      hardness in his look and at length breaks the strained silence
+      with a flat laugh, to which_ VAN ZORN _pays no attention_]
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Uncomfortably_]
+
+Is this a new kind of joke that you have brought with you from India?
+If it is, I don’t seem to care much for it.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Looking at him_]
+
+I wish, Farnham, that you would wait a little before you talk like that.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_With a short laugh_]
+
+All right--I’ll wait. There’s nothing else for me to do. It’s going to
+be Destiny anyhow, and I can’t help myself.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_After getting up and looking at the picture_]
+
+Farnham, there is something wrong here.
+
+  [HE _moves slowly towards him_]
+
+There is something in the air. I can feel it. I have felt it ever since
+I came in.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Unpleasantly_]
+
+Shall I open a window and let it out?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+I think it would be quite sufficient if we were to--lift a curtain.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Drily_]
+
+On your past life?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+On mine--and yours. Past, present, and future.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+You are sure that you are quite well?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Nods slowly_]
+
+I am sure.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_With mock relief_]
+
+That’s good. Now a man in your condition ought to have a cheerful, not
+to say optimistic, outlook on life.
+
+  [HE _shrugs his shoulders and forces another laugh_]
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Distinctly_]
+
+I may not see life as it is, but I see it as I see it. And I am
+confident that I see one rather important aspect of it as it is going
+to be if you have your way. I mean, rather, if your vanity and your
+obstinacy have _their_ way.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_With a sign of resignation_]
+
+Go on.
+
+  [_Drily_]
+
+You are the best thing we have had since Samson and the foxes. Well,
+with my Vanity and your Destiny working together, we ought to arrive
+somewhere, as I have no doubt we shall.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+And where do you think we shall arrive?
+
+FARNHAM
+
+If you’ll be good enough to raise that magic curtain of yours, we may
+find out.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Frowning_]
+
+If I raise it--yes.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Nervously_]
+
+Then why the devil don’t you?
+
+  [_Laughing as before_]
+
+I can stand it--Destiny and all.
+
+  [_With assumed lightness_]
+
+I am enjoying what you say, thus far; and I have no doubt
+
+  [_Sitting down_]
+
+that I shall be interested in what may follow.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_After watching_ FARNHAM]
+
+Then I may as well come to my subject. Do you know that I have been
+coming to it for a long time--for more than four years, in fact?
+
+FARNHAM
+
+I don’t know what you are talking about, but go ahead, all the same.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+I will. And I’ll begin by asking you one or two direct questions. If
+they seem too direct, you must try to pardon me.
+
+  [_Pause_]
+
+Farnham, does the approaching unhappiness of three people, who might as
+well be happy, commend itself to you as an attractive picture, or as a
+desirable state of affairs? Have you said to yourself that your Vanity
+and my Destiny, to use your own words, might as easily work together
+for joy and for good, as for misery and for evil?
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Squirming_]
+
+What name does your doctor give to this?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+Don’t you think we are beyond that now?
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Nervously_]
+
+Beyond recovery? I hope not.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+Haven’t I raised the curtain?
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Getting up_]
+
+You have raised the devil. That’s about what you have done.
+
+  [_With another dry laugh_]
+
+What have you been doing since you went away?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Quietly_]
+
+You give me a leverage when you ask that.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Impulsively_]
+
+Then for God’s sake use it, and send this curtain of yours up a little
+higher.
+
+  [_With irony_]
+
+If I can be of any assistance....
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Distinctly_]
+
+Farnham, my career, during the past four years, has consisted for the
+most part in _seeking_ ... seeking for guidance.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_With another laugh_]
+
+You might have done worse. “He that seeketh”.... You know about that
+fellow.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Slowly, but with finality_]
+
+“Findeth.”
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_With strained humor_]
+
+Good. Are you sure you won’t have a cigar?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Solemnly_]
+
+Do you remember what the text goes on to say of him that knocketh? I
+wonder what you think would be likely to happen if I were to--knock.
+
+  [FARNHAM _moves to the fireplace and stands gazing into the grate_.
+      VAN ZORN _looks at him and waits for him to speak_]
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Slowly and incredulously_]
+
+What are you driving at, anyhow? Are you in love with Villa
+Vannevar?... You have never told me about this.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+You have not been exactly available.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+You might have come back before.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+And I might have made a mistake in doing so. I waited for what seemed
+to be the appointed time, and then I came.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+And here you are.
+
+  [_With more spirit_]
+
+Now I don’t know much about the appointed time, as you call it, but I
+suppose I do know what you mean by knocking at doors.
+
+  [_He looks at the picture and scowls_]
+
+May I ask
+
+  [_Unpleasantly_]
+
+how many times you intend to knock? And when you intend to begin?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_In a level, musical voice_]
+
+My intention was to knock once, this afternoon, if it could be arranged.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Incredulously_]
+
+You and your boat must have made a record, if that’s the way you feel.
+
+  [_As if led along reluctantly by the humor of the situation_]
+
+Well, I dare say it can be arranged--and I infer that you count on me
+to do the arranging.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+I shall never knock under other conditions.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_As before_]
+
+And what do you intend to do after you get in? Something in the
+Lochinvar line? Carry the young lady away on a horse--or in a limousine?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Seriously_]
+
+If I were to be admitted, and if I were to satisfy myself that my
+convictions are correct, that three people are on their way to
+unhappiness and disaster.... What should I do then? What ought I to do
+then?
+
+FARNHAM
+
+You look at me as if you thought I was afraid of something. I wish you
+would tell me what _I_ ought to be beginning to think of _you_.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Quietly_]
+
+You should think of me at all times as the best friend you have in the
+world.
+
+  [FARNHAM _lights a match on the box that he has taken from the mantel
+      and watches the flame until it burns down to his fingers. Then he
+      puts his hands into his pockets and looks at_ VAN ZORN _intently_]
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Distinctly_]
+
+How long has this been going on? How long have you been planning to
+marry Villa Vannevar?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Distinctly_]
+
+I said something about four years. But time, in your sense of the word,
+doesn’t mean very much to me.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Almost with a sneer_]
+
+It may come to mean more--eventually.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Nods slowly_]
+
+That remains to be seen.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_As before_]
+
+As you see it?
+
+  [VAN ZORN _nods again_]
+
+My fatalistic friend, you may not care much to know what I have been
+doing during the past four or five years, but what I have been doing
+during the past four or five minutes may be of interest to you. If so,
+I have been asking myself why it is, in spite of my agreement, that I
+have been taking the trouble to listen to you. You must be aware that
+I would not have listened to the same talk from any other man living.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_With a strange innocence_]
+
+What possible fear can you have, if you have no doubts--or misgivings?
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Scowling_]
+
+Fear? Doubts? Misgivings?--what the devil are you driving at now?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_As before_]
+
+You might lead me to believe that you think me capable of treachery.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+Treachery?
+
+  [_With a nasal laugh_]
+
+By treachery, I suppose you mean
+
+  [_Letting his words out half-angrily, in detached phrases_]
+
+the repeated visitations--of an irresistible personality--on the
+unschooled emotions--of a young lady who is about to do me the honor of
+becoming my wife.... Am I about right?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Smiling_]
+
+You speak now as if you thought me capable of almost
+anything--beginning with murder.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Trying to laugh_]
+
+No, I don’t think that. For I know now that even you have your
+limitations.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_With tightening lips_]
+
+Yes; and I am limited, for the present, at any rate, to one
+interview--subject to your consent and arrangement. If by any chance
+you should choose to change your mind....
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Half-angry_]
+
+What do you mean by that? Why should I change my mind? Just because
+you have elected to be plain crazy--with your appointed time, and
+your--your Destiny--do you think I’m going to be such an ass as to take
+you seriously? I don’t care much for this sort of thing, and I don’t
+mind telling you so; but if you insist upon making a show of yourself,
+I don’t know that I am bound by courtesy to interfere, or by law to be
+responsible--under the circumstances.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+That will be first rate--especially under the circumstances. Now let me
+be sure that we both understand. If I call to see Miss Vannevar this
+afternoon at four o’clock, by special appointment,--or, if not then, at
+the earliest opportunity....
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_With an incredulous laugh_]
+
+Oh, you’ll get in. You needn’t worry about that.
+
+  [_He smiles to himself and shakes his head, with a long sigh_]
+
+Shall we go out now and have something to eat?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Smiling_]
+
+Don’t you think, Farnham, that we had better give each other a short
+leave of absence?
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Drily_]
+
+As you say.
+
+  [_With a sorry laugh_]
+
+As you see it.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+Will you dine with me this evening?
+
+FARNHAM
+
+I’m sorry, but I can’t. But I’ll be here at ten, if that will do you
+any good.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Laughing a little_]
+
+Then I shall see you at ten. And you will telephone me at my
+hotel--we’ll say at three-thirty?
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_With an easy snarl_]
+
+Yes, I’ll telephone.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+The Knickerbocker.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Wearily_]
+
+I know it.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+Then I’ll say good-bye until--ten.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_More wearily_]
+
+I understood what you said. You said ten.
+
+  [_After a pause_ VAN ZORN _goes out_. FARNHAM _returns from the
+      vestibule with his hat and stick. After turning the picture to
+      the wall, he stands for a while near the window seat, shakes
+      his head slowly, puts his hat on slowly, sits down, and smiles
+      incredulously to himself. He draws figures on the floor with his
+      stick as the curtain falls_]
+
+
+CURTAIN
+
+
+
+
+ACT II
+
+
+  _A diagonal view of a room in_ MRS. LOVETT’S _house. The right
+      corner is revealed, with half of the right wall. In the corner
+      is a small grand piano, and to the right is a window. To the
+      left, half way down, is the entrance, a wide arched doorway with
+      curtains. Well down in front, somewhat to the right, is a table,
+      before which are two comfortable chairs that partly face each
+      other. Against the wall, to the left and below the entrance, is
+      a couch. There are several pictures on the walls, and over the
+      piano is a portrait of_ MRS. LOVETT’S _late husband, showing
+      the beardless face of a man of fifty, melancholy and rather
+      glowering. The room has the unmistakable appearance of a place
+      where people live and make themselves at home._
+
+  _As the curtain rises_, VILLA VANNEVAR _is at the piano, playing in
+      a listless, abstracted manner the cantabile part of Chopin’s
+      Nocturne, Op. 37, No. 2_. MRS. LOVETT, _sitting in the chair at
+      the right of the table, listens, frowns, stamps her foot, and
+      finally speaks out with evident impatience_.
+
+MRS. LOVETT
+
+Villa Vannevar, do for heaven’s sake keep still, or play something that
+has a little life in it. You play that thing as if you were crying
+through the ends of your fingers.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Turning about and facing_ MRS. LOVETT]
+
+Would you have me always laughing, Auntie--like this?
+
+  [_She makes a ridiculous face and laughs_]
+
+MRS. LOVETT
+
+No, you silly child. But you needn’t look forever as if life were
+nothing but one long funeral. I don’t like funerals.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_With a shrug_]
+
+I don’t know about that. It seems to me sometimes that funerals
+are better than weddings. When we go to funerals, we know what has
+happened; but when we go to weddings, we don’t even pretend to know
+what is _going_ to happen.
+
+  [_Looking at her foot_]
+
+I think I like funerals best.
+
+MRS. LOVETT
+
+You crazy child, you are positively wicked.
+
+VILLA
+
+Oh no, I’m not, Auntie. I’m good.
+
+  [_Getting up with a sigh_]
+
+I’m good enough to be a fool.
+
+MRS. LOVETT
+
+  [_As if scared_]
+
+Villa Vannevar!
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Laughing_]
+
+Yes, Auntie, that’s what’s the matter with me.
+
+  [_Wearily_]
+
+Otto Mink and George Lucas believe already that I _am_ one.
+
+MRS. LOVETT
+
+Child! Do you know what you are saying?
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Moving about with her hands behind her_]
+
+I know perfectly well what I’m saying. They think I’m a fool for
+marrying Weldon Farnham--when he doesn’t more than half want me.
+
+MRS. LOVETT
+
+  [_Significantly, after a pause_]
+
+You haven’t married him yet.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Trying to laugh_]
+
+No, I have not.
+
+  [_Pause_]
+
+I wonder if the other man--Mr. What-you-call-him--thinks I’m a fool.
+
+MRS. LOVETT
+
+  [_With excited sarcasm_]
+
+Don’t you know what _he_ thinks?
+
+VILLA
+
+How should I know what he thinks? I don’t even know that he thinks at
+all.
+
+  [_With a pleasant nervousness_]
+
+Do _you_ know what he thinks?
+
+MRS. LOVETT
+
+I know that he considers you a very charming person, for one thing.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Laughing_]
+
+How nice of him! He didn’t tell me so.
+
+MRS. LOVETT
+
+He may not have told _you_, but he did tell _me_. I am too old to be
+deceived.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Laughing_]
+
+Then you must be the oldest woman in the world.
+
+MRS. LOVETT
+
+  [_With decayed archness_]
+
+Possibly I am. In any case, I am old enough to see that he considers
+you not only very charming, but exceedingly impertinent.
+
+VILLA
+
+Then he must be a beast.
+
+  [_She laughs_]
+
+MRS. LOVETT
+
+He isn’t a beast. He’s a wonderful creature. And I am surprised out of
+my senses that he should be coming here to see you again this afternoon.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Laughing_]
+
+If you don’t go away with your wonderful creatures, I shall throw
+things out of the window and shriek. For Mr. Van Zorn isn’t a wonderful
+creature in the least. He’s just a big overgrown man with a heap of
+money that he doesn’t know what to do with, and he’s coming to get you
+and carry you off in a taxicab.
+
+  [SHE _sits at_ MRS. LOVETT’S _feet and looks up into her face_]
+
+And I’ll never see my Auntie any more. And then I suppose there’ll
+be nothing left for me to do but to go melancholy mad. I shall prowl
+around all by myself like a shut-up cat, and I’ll sit down in all sorts
+of corners and cry like anything.
+
+MRS. LOVETT
+
+  [_Pleased_]
+
+So you have found his name at last, have you?
+
+VILLA
+
+I like his name. It sounds like a bassoon. But I don’t like his eyes as
+well as I do the other man’s.
+
+MRS. LOVETT
+
+  [_Disturbed_]
+
+Do you mean Weldon Farnham’s?
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Calmly_]
+
+No, I was thinking for the moment of George Lucas’s eyes. Mr.
+What’s-his-name’s are too much like blue search-lights.
+
+MRS. LOVETT
+
+You needn’t call him Mr. What’s-his-name--and you needn’t mention
+George Lucas. I am sorry that he has come to be what he is, but I don’t
+care to have his name mentioned in my house.
+
+VILLA
+
+But you used to like him once, Auntie,--and this wonderful creature
+of yours liked him at first sight. As a matter of fact, he likes him
+better than he likes any of the rest of us.
+
+MRS. LOVETT
+
+Don’t talk such nonsense.
+
+VILLA
+
+I’m not talking nonsense.
+
+  [_Laughing_]
+
+Anyhow, Auntie, your wonderful creature has taken a wonderful fancy to
+George--I beg your pardon--and I don’t know how you are going to change
+the course of events, even if you tell me that I have a head like an
+Edam cheese--which I haven’t, in the least. My head makes Otto think of
+a very nice horse. He said so.
+
+MRS. LOVETT
+
+Otto may have said so because you act so much like a donkey.
+
+VILLA
+
+I don’t act in any respect like a donkey, and I don’t think you
+ought to say such things. For I am an extremely well-behaved young
+lady--except at times.
+
+  [_Pause_]
+
+If you look at me like that much longer, Auntie, I’ll say bow-bow; and
+then I’ll put both my paws on your shoulders, and then I’ll bite you.
+
+  [_She snaps her teeth and laughs_]
+
+MRS. LOVETT
+
+  [_Reluctantly_]
+
+My dear Villa, why did you bring up George Lucas’s name again?
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_With a kind of triumph_]
+
+Why do _you_ bring it up again, Auntie?
+
+  [_Pause_]
+
+At any rate, he never injured anybody.
+
+MRS. LOVETT
+
+  [_Sharply_]
+
+But he disappointed everybody--and that’s as bad as injuring them. I’m
+not sure that it isn’t worse.
+
+VILLA
+
+But something may have happened.
+
+MRS. LOVETT
+
+Something always happens. What would be the use of living if things
+didn’t happen?
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Slowly_]
+
+I know. But if they happen at the wrong time, and under the wrong
+conditions....
+
+MRS. LOVETT
+
+  [_With a sniff_]
+
+Well, what do you mean? Do you mean that when a boy with more than
+ordinary brains chooses to make an utter fool of himself, and
+continues to do so until he grows up and everybody loses all patience
+with him....
+
+  [_She stops and looks angrily at her fingers_]
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Getting up and speaking thoughtfully_]
+
+No, I don’t mean just that ... George’s father must have been a very
+strange man.
+
+MRS. LOVETT
+
+  [_Rapidly_]
+
+It doesn’t make any difference what you mean. Besides
+
+  [_Slowly, with significant vagueness_]
+
+if you consider yourself engaged to Weldon Farnham, you ought not to
+think of other men at all. And you are not supposed to know anything
+about men like George Lucas’s father.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Laughing_]
+
+You did that very badly, Auntie.
+
+  [_With mock-deliberation_]
+
+And so you want this new man with the queer name--this wonderful
+creature--all to yourself!
+
+  [_Going behind_ MRS. LOVETT _and putting her hands on her cheeks_]
+
+And you’re a dear, and you’re a pig, and you want him all to yourself,
+and it’s nearly time for him to come.
+
+MRS. LOVETT
+
+  [_Shaking her head free and looking over her shoulder_]
+
+Do you know that you grow sillier and sillier every day of your life?
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Drawing_ MRS. LOVETT _back and looking down into her eyes_]
+
+Well, would you have me stay forever and ever the same?... If you will
+roll your eyes back just a little farther, Auntie, I shall see myself
+in them--as I did when I was a little girl.
+
+  [_Pause_]
+
+THE MAID
+
+  [_In the doorway_]
+
+There is a gentleman to see Miss Villa. He gave me this card.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Taking the card and examining it_]
+
+But there’s nothing on it.
+
+  [_She gives the card to_ MRS. LOVETT _and laughs nervously_]
+
+MRS. LOVETT
+
+Dear me! I hope he isn’t going to be eccentric.
+
+VILLA
+
+He may be an anarchist or something.
+
+  [_Shrugs and laughs_]
+
+Go downstairs, Jenny, and find out the creature’s name, and what he
+wants. If he asks for fish, give him a serpent.
+
+MRS. LOVETT
+
+  [_Reprovingly_]
+
+Villa!
+
+MAID
+
+His name is Mr. Lucas.
+
+MRS. LOVETT
+
+Then why didn’t you say so?
+
+VILLA
+
+Tell him to come upstairs, Jenny.
+
+  [_The_ MAID _goes out_]
+
+MRS. LOVETT
+
+  [_Bewildered_]
+
+What in the world does this mean? And what in the world do _you_ mean
+by asking him to come upstairs?
+
+VILLA
+
+Heaven only knows, Auntie. I don’t seem to know what anything means
+today.
+
+  [MRS. LOVETT _sits and frowns, and looks at her hands_. VILLA
+      VANNEVAR _goes to the window and stands with her hands behind her
+      back. Presently_ MRS. LOVETT _turns and gazes at her, evidently
+      much disturbed, and remains gazing at her until_ LUCAS _enters_.
+      HE _is pale, and his manner shows a constraint that he cannot
+      wholly conceal. His clothes have been through some process of
+      hasty renovation since his appearance in Act I_]
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_With a certain huskiness_]
+
+I hope, Mrs. Lovett, that you will pardon this--I’ll say this last
+intrusion on my part.
+
+  [VILLA _comes to him and takes his hand cordially, looking at him as
+      if disturbed and anxious_]
+
+MRS. LOVETT
+
+  [_Without warmth_]
+
+Are you leaving New York, Mr. Lucas?
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_With assumed lightness_]
+
+Yes; and it might have been better for me if I had gone long before
+this.
+
+MRS. LOVETT
+
+Indeed?
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_With impulsive directness_]
+
+I came in the hope of seeing Miss Villa for a few moments before going
+away.
+
+MRS. LOVETT
+
+  [_Rising slowly_]
+
+Oh, I understand.
+
+  [_Reluctantly_]
+
+In that case, I will leave you two to yourselves.
+
+  [LUCAS _and_ VILLA _look at each other as she goes out. The faces of
+      both are very serious and in hers there seems to be an expression
+      of fear_]
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_After a pause_]
+
+Why did you send me a blank card?
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_With a thin laugh_]
+
+Oh, I don’t know. Because I drew it, I suppose. It wasn’t a very
+brilliant performance on my part.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_With feeling_]
+
+I don’t think it was at all brilliant--or at all kind. You ought not to
+do such things, or say such things--to me.
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_With weak humor_]
+
+I knew it wasn’t brilliant as soon as I had done it.
+
+  [_At a venture_]
+
+Your aunt was very good to leave us here together.
+
+VILLA
+
+Auntie is always good--
+
+  [_Hesitating_]
+
+or means to be.
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_With a vague smile_]
+
+I am glad to know that, for I should be sorry to leave you with an aunt
+who was not good. But I came only to say good-bye,--not to talk of
+family history, or of old times.
+
+VILLA
+
+Would any harm come of it if we did talk of old times?
+
+  [_She sits down on the chair at the right of the table_]
+
+Please sit down.
+
+LUCAS
+
+No harm, I suppose, and not much good.
+
+  [_With a forced smile_]
+
+No great good seems to have come of anything that I have done.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Frowning anxiously_]
+
+But I don’t know what you have done.
+
+  [_Trying to laugh_]
+
+You speak as mysteriously as Mr.--Mr. Van Zorn did this morning when he
+talked about his business.
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_Sitting down_]
+
+Yes, Van Zorn and I have a great deal in common.
+
+  [_He speaks and smiles with mild bitterness_]
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Quickly_]
+
+You may have. I couldn’t keep from seeing that he took a great interest
+in you this morning.
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_As if tired, but still interested_]
+
+If you could see that, you ought to be able to see almost anything. You
+ought even to be able to see what I have done.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Angry with herself_]
+
+But I didn’t mean to say that. You know I didn’t.
+
+LUCAS
+
+You might as well have meant to say it, for you must see that I have
+done nothing. Even Van Zorn took the trouble--did me the honor, if you
+insist--to see as much as that.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Lamely_]
+
+He saw that you were not--well, not quite satisfied. Isn’t that what
+you mean?
+
+LUCAS
+
+Do you know anyone who is quite satisfied?
+
+  [_Pause_]
+
+I know two or three who seem to be, but they are in asylums.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_With a forced laugh and a shiver_]
+
+Oh! So that’s where they are. I thought there must be something wrong.
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_Standing up and speaking earnestly_]
+
+You are quite right. There _is_ something wrong. We see it in the
+streets, we live it in our lives, we feel it in our hearts. And there
+you have my reason for coming to say good-bye to you.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Frightened_]
+
+You mustn’t speak like that--as if we were never to see you again.
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_As before_]
+
+And there you have my reason for wanting to go away into--what shall I
+call it?--into another kind of life, and to make a new beginning. It
+seems to be absolutely necessary, for many reasons, that I should make
+a new beginning. Yes, I want to get away from all this dust and deceit
+and disillusion; I want to get away from all this noise and poison; I
+want a place where I can be quiet for a while, away from streets and
+faces; I want a place where there are no roofs between me and the sky;
+I want a place where the sun shines down on a fellow, and where the
+stars are.... Oh yes, I know well enough what I want, and I know that
+I’ve waited too long. I might as well have gone away years ago....
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Looking down_]
+
+Yes, it might perhaps have been as well.
+
+LUCAS
+
+It would have been better--far better.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Looking up and hesitating_]
+
+Won’t you tell me where you are going?
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_After a pause_]
+
+I am going--west.
+
+VILLA
+
+You are not very confidential.
+
+LUCAS
+
+I would be more so if I could.
+
+VILLA
+
+Mightn’t it be better if you were to go in the other direction--towards
+the sunrise?... Was that a silly thing for me to say?
+
+LUCAS
+
+It will come to the same thing, for I shall follow the sun.
+
+  [_Trying to laugh_]
+
+Some people do that all their lives--in order to keep warm.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Also trying to laugh_]
+
+Is that why you are going away? But you told me why you were going. I
+forgot.
+
+LUCAS
+
+I don’t want you to forget that. What I want you to forget are some
+things that happened a long time ago.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_As before_]
+
+Do be careful. You speak as if I were a hundred years old.
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_With strange earnestness_]
+
+I’ll be very careful, or at least I’ll try to be. And will you be good
+enough to pardon me for not knowing at one time as much as I know
+now?--which God knows is little enough. I thought I knew myself then,
+but I’ve seen since that I was wrong. It was you who knew me. Yes, you
+knew me, then, and you know me still. And I am glad for that.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Doubtfully_]
+
+You don’t speak as if you were glad.... And I wonder if it is really
+worth while for us to be so serious over a matter that is--past--and--
+
+LUCAS
+
+Forgotten?
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Slowly_]
+
+No, there is nothing that I wish to forget. We all make mistakes, don’t
+we? How can we help ourselves?
+
+  [_She smiles sorrowfully_]
+
+LUCAS
+
+We were younger then than we are now.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Forcing another laugh_]
+
+I don’t know what I shall do if you keep on telling me how old I am.
+Do you know that I pulled three gray hairs out of my poor scalp this
+morning?
+
+  [_He looks at her solemnly, and her face becomes suddenly serious_]
+
+How long do you intend to stay in--the west?
+
+  [_Her question is obviously a makeshift to break the silence_]
+
+LUCAS
+
+There seems to be no answer to that question--for the present.
+
+VILLA
+
+But you are coming back sometime?
+
+LUCAS
+
+Who can tell? I may become so deeply attached to the region where I am
+going that I shall not wish to come back. Besides one has to consider
+the wisdom of his ways in this life--or he _should_ consider them.
+
+  [_He speaks with a rather disastrous attempt at lightness that serves
+      only to make_ VILLA _more dissatisfied and unhappy than before_]
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Troubled_]
+
+I don’t understand what you mean.
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_With an effort_]
+
+I don’t mean very much.
+
+  [_Smiling faintly_]
+
+But I came to say good-bye before going away--not to talk about wisdom.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Looking at him as she rises_]
+
+It was good of you to come.
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_Drearily_]
+
+It was magnanimous of me.
+
+  [_With deep feeling_]
+
+I wonder if you know how good you have been to me today?
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Trying again to laugh_]
+
+My aunt has just been telling me that I am wicked.
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_After looking about the room_]
+
+Well, good-bye.
+
+  [_He holds out his hand_]
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Holding his hand and speaking as if unwillingly_]
+
+Good-bye ... and I wish you every kind of good fortune.
+
+  [_Pause_]
+
+And I shall remember you--always--if you care.
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_With difficulty_]
+
+Always?... Thank you.... Good-bye....
+
+  [_As they stand looking into each other’s eyes, the_ MAID _appears in
+      the doorway and announces_ “MR. VAN ZORN”]
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Dropping_ LUCAS’S _hand_]
+
+Very well, Jenny. Tell him to come upstairs.
+
+  [_The_ MAID _disappears_, VILLA _and_ LUCAS _continue to look at each
+      other, and both appear now to be embarrassed. She speaks again,
+      after a pause_]
+
+Please don’t go--quite yet.
+
+LUCAS
+
+Why should I stay longer?
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Trying to laugh_]
+
+I suppose I ought to keep him waiting, but I won’t.
+
+  [_Seriously_]
+
+For you are going away, and I feel sure that he would like to see you
+before you go.... Isn’t it odd that you two should be here together
+this afternoon?
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_Drily_]
+
+It may be odd.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Nervously_]
+
+Or it may be fate. Anyhow, I shan’t let you go until you see him.
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_With tightened lips_]
+
+Apparently not, unless I run.
+
+VILLA
+
+You aren’t angry with me, are you?
+
+LUCAS
+
+I’m never angry, except with myself.
+
+  [_There is another pause, and_ VAN ZORN _enters. He looks at_ VILLA
+      VANNEVAR _and at_ LUCAS, _but shows no surprise. He smiles
+      pleasantly and shakes hands with_ VILLA]
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+Ah! I’m very glad to see you again.
+
+  [_Shaking hands with_ LUCAS]
+
+And I’m very glad to see Mr. Lucas again.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Quickly_]
+
+I thought you would be glad to see him--for he is going away.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_With a slight frown_]
+
+May I ask when he is going?
+
+  [_He turns to_ LUCAS _inquiringly_]
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_Rather thickly_]
+
+I was on the point of going when you came.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Seriously_]
+
+May I ask how long you intend to stay away?
+
+LUCAS
+
+I expect to be gone indefinitely.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_With a friendly smile_]
+
+You may shake down one of my best castles if you do that.
+
+LUCAS
+
+I should be sorry to shake down any man’s castle.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+I’m sure of that.
+
+  [_Stroking his chin thoughtfully_]
+
+I wonder, Miss Vannevar, if you would pardon me if I were to make a
+somewhat surprising request. You may think it even eccentric.
+
+MRS. LOVETT
+
+  [_Who enters while he speaks_]
+
+We like eccentric people.
+
+  [_Beaming and holding out her hand_]
+
+I’m so glad to see you.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Laughing_]
+
+But what is this awful request of yours?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+I was going to ask
+
+  [_Smiling at_ MRS. LOVETT, _who smiles in return_]
+
+if you would be kind enough to leave Mr. Lucas alone here with me for a
+few minutes. I fear that he is plotting against me, and I should like
+to know, before he leaves this house, that his plot has been abandoned.
+
+  [_With another smile_]
+
+I am quite well aware that this request is unusual.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Taking_ MRS. LOVETT _by the arm and laughing_]
+
+Oh, that’s nothing! Everything is unusual today, and it’s all the fault
+of Weldon’s picture. Come along, Auntie, and we two will wait for what
+happens.
+
+MRS. LOVETT
+
+  [_Beaming, but bewildered_]
+
+I’m sure I don’t know what any of you are talking about, but of course
+I’ll do as I’m told.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Drawing her towards the door_]
+
+Of course you will. What else can you do when two conspirators drive
+you out of your own room?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Pleased_]
+
+Thank you. And when we have conspired sufficiently, I will play on the
+piano. Then you may come back.
+
+  [_The two women go out_, VILLA VANNEVAR _singing “Quand on Conspire”
+      and laughing at the same time_]
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Still smiling_]
+
+Do you object to being corralled in this unconventional manner, Mr.
+Lucas?
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_Puzzled_]
+
+I am entirely at your service.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_In a very friendly voice_]
+
+Well, to begin, it may possibly make you feel better to know that your
+friends have been talking about you behind your back.
+
+  [_He sits down on the piano stool, with his back to the keyboard_]
+
+I refer to Farnham and myself.
+
+  [LUCAS _looks more puzzled_]
+
+I’ll be quite honest with you and tell you that I began it; and I may
+as well come to the point at once and tell you that I shall probably
+need you in my business,--assuming, you understand, that you are
+available. I have had three or four schemes in my head for some time,
+and I’m sure that you will find at least one of them congenial. Are you
+interested?
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_Taking an ivory paper cutter from the table_]
+
+Yes, I am interested, but I don’t want you to make a mistake.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Smiling_]
+
+I shall make mistakes, whether you want me to or not. And as for what
+Farnham said--to go back for a little....
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_Drily_]
+
+Let us go back, by all means. What Farnham said about me ought to make
+rather good copy.
+
+  [_Curiously_]
+
+What sort of stuff has he been telling you?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+He didn’t tell me much. In fact, far less than I hoped for.
+
+  [_Laughing a little_]
+
+So you needn’t worry about Farnham.
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_Looking at something on the wall and breaking the ivory paper
+      cutter in his abstraction_]
+
+I wasn’t worrying about Farnham.
+
+  [_Fitting the pieces together_]
+
+I was wondering about you.
+
+  [_Pause_]
+
+Do you know what you are doing?... Do you know that you are taking me
+seriously?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_With a friendly smile_]
+
+If I were not taking you seriously, I should hardly have resorted, in a
+strange house, to this method of getting hold of you.
+
+  [_Half laughing_]
+
+Don’t you care to be taken seriously? Or do you prefer to be taken as a
+joke?
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_Hesitating_]
+
+Why do you ask me if I care?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Pleasantly_]
+
+Partly for the sake of saying something, and partly because I should
+like to know.
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_With tightened lips_]
+
+Why don’t you ask me the other question--and have it off your mind?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Indulgently_]
+
+At your own suggestion, I will. I will ask if you care enough to begin
+the game all over again, and let the past sink.
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_Cynically_]
+
+The past ought to be pretty well drowned by this time.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Kindly, but very distinctly_]
+
+On the contrary, I have been led to infer that you have put yourself to
+a great deal of trouble and expense to keep it floating, so to speak.
+As a rule, I don’t mean to meddle with other people’s affairs, but in
+your case....
+
+  [_With a laugh_]
+
+I’m sure you understand me. You have a head of your own.
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_Nodding it slowly_]
+
+Yes; and only one.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+Do you think it worth saving?
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_Embarrassed_]
+
+If you insist, I--well, I suppose I do. It’s a fairly good head, in
+some respects. But why should we talk about it now?
+
+  [_He looks about him uneasily_]
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Standing up and gazing at Lucas_]
+
+Because you told me you were going away. Now I will be as frank as
+possible with you and tell you that I didn’t like your way of saying
+it, or your way of looking when you said it.
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_Wetting his lips_]
+
+You are not very clear.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Seriously_]
+
+I am as clear as I can be, without having more specific information.
+
+  [_More seriously_]
+
+I knew another fellow once who--went away; and you made me think of him.
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_Drily_]
+
+How far did he go?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Firmly_]
+
+How far did you intend to go?
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_Nervously_]
+
+You seem to have it settled that I am not going.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Smiling again_]
+
+You are not going if I can keep you in New York.
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_Throwing the broken paper cutter down on the table and putting his
+      hands in his pockets_]
+
+I thought I was going.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Frowning as he watches him_]
+
+You speak as if you had made some final preparations. Sometimes they
+are very final indeed--preparations.
+
+  [_Pause_]
+
+Will you give me an answer to my question if I ask you just what
+preparations you have made?
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_Slowly_]
+
+Yes, and I will give you more than that.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Relieved_]
+
+Good. But I’m not going to be satisfied even then. I am going to ask
+you, in addition, to dine with me this evening at the Knickerbocker,
+and I am going
+
+  [_He returns to the piano stool_]
+
+to ask you to take a small advance.
+
+  [_Taking a check book and a pen from his pocket_]
+
+If you don’t happen to need this
+
+  [_He writes as he speaks_]
+
+you needn’t use it, but I want you to take it, all the same.
+
+  [_Handing him the check_]
+
+Will you?
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_Slowly_]
+
+Yes, I will take it. And I will see you at--seven o’clock?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+Thank you.
+
+  [_He toys with his pen as if he were waiting_]
+
+LUCAS
+
+And you may do whatever you like with this.
+
+  [_He takes a small vial from his waistcoat and gives it to_ VAN ZORN,
+      _who takes it slowly_]
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Looking at the vial and scowling_]
+
+Cyanide of potassium?
+
+  [_He smiles grimly and shakes his head as he looks up_]
+
+That isn’t what you need.
+
+  [_He looks again at the vial_]
+
+K C N ... do you know what that makes me think of?
+
+  [_He looks up again and laughs drily_]
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_Uncomfortably_]
+
+Yes, I suppose I know.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Putting the vial in his pocket_]
+
+No, I don’t believe you do.
+
+  [_Smiling_]
+
+It makes me think of Sir Joseph Porter, K. C. B.--in _Pinafore_. The
+last letter is different, however. How does that thing go?
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_With sardonic distinctness_]
+
+“When I was a lad, I served a term.” You may not believe it, but I did.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+Yes, I believe it. But I was thinking of the tune.
+
+  [_He turns on the stool and begins to drum with his right forefinger
+      on the piano_]
+
+Is that the way it goes?
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_With grateful impatience to get away_]
+
+Yes--and this is the way I go.
+
+  [_Grasping_ VAN ZORN’S _hand quickly_]
+
+You will say something.
+
+  [_As if he had made a discovery_]
+
+and _I_ will say something.
+
+  [_Trying to hide his emotion in his voice_]
+
+I’ll make some sort of explanation.
+
+  [LUCAS _disappears quickly into the hall and_ VAN ZORN _begins to
+      drum “When I was a lad” once more on the piano_. VILLA VANNEVAR
+      _appears in the doorway and watches him unseen. Finally she
+      laughs and begins to clap her hands_]
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Getting up_]
+
+Mr. Lucas has gone.
+
+  [_Distinctly_]
+
+But not so far as he thought he was going.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Looking about_]
+
+Did he go through the roof?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Smiling_]
+
+No, he went by the way of the stairs--and rather suddenly.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Puzzled_]
+
+Did he leave any word behind him?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+Well, yes. He told me to say something.
+
+VILLA
+
+What did he tell you to say?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Smiling_]
+
+That was all--something.
+
+VILLA
+
+Please don’t laugh at me.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+Should I be likely to do that? Especially on so slight an acquaintance?
+
+  [_He laughs a little as he speaks, but_ VILLA _remains serious_]
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Slowly_]
+
+It doesn’t seem to be slight--somehow.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_With a touch of mystery_]
+
+Perhaps it isn’t, really. We mortals know very little of ourselves, and
+far less of each other. As a consequence, we make mistakes.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Still puzzled_]
+
+Do _you_ make mistakes?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+Frequently.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_With a nervous laugh_]
+
+I’m so glad.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+Do you know that many of us waste large fractions of our short lives in
+being sorry for our mistakes--and oftentimes when we should be glad for
+them?
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Puzzled_]
+
+You said that as if you meant something.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Smiling_]
+
+It is possible that I did mean something.
+
+VILLA
+
+Now you are laughing at me again.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Easily_]
+
+Why should I laugh at you when I know that you are not happy?
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Puzzled_]
+
+Do I look as if I were not happy?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+Something has troubled you for a long time.
+
+VILLA
+
+Why do you say that?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+If I had not known it, I should not have come to this house.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Trying to laugh again_]
+
+Did I look so utterly miserable this morning that you took pity on me?
+Was it the picture? Or did you think I took too much trouble to see
+that Weldon laughed at Mr. Lucas?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Frowning strangely_]
+
+No, it was not that.
+
+VILLA
+
+You seem to know something about him.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+About Lucas?
+
+VILLA
+
+Yes. You have kept him from going away. I am sure that he wished to go.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+And I am sure that he intended to go. But I ventured to put the matter
+in a different light, and he has agreed to give New York another
+chance. New York, as I told him, is not in all respects the worst place
+in the world.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Laughing as before_]
+
+Weldon thinks it is. But I forgot to offer you a chair.
+
+  [_Takes the chair at the left of the table_]
+
+I don’t wonder that Auntie calls me all sorts of things.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+Thank you.
+
+  [_He puts his hands on the back of the chair at the left and looks at
+      her as if waiting for her to say more_]
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Looking up at him_]
+
+Yes, he thinks New York is the very worst. And that, I suppose, is one
+of the reasons why we are going to Damascus.
+
+  [_She laughs again, nervously_]
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Slowly_]
+
+Damascus?... Why Damascus?
+
+VILLA
+
+Heaven only knows. And I am stupid enough to like New York. I like even
+the ferry whistles.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+Should you care to stay here forever?
+
+VILLA
+
+No, I don’t say that. I want to go to Egypt sometime and see the
+Sphynx. There are no sphynxes in New York.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Smiling_]
+
+Are you sure of that?
+
+  [_She laughs_]
+
+There are no ferry whistles in Damascus.
+
+VILLA
+
+Why do you object to my going?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+Why should I?
+
+VILLA
+
+Why do you object to George Lucas’s going--west?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+Because I have taken a particular interest in him.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Quickly_]
+
+I’m glad of that.
+
+  [_With a slight constraint_]
+
+For I have known him all my life--and I like him.
+
+  [VAN ZORN, _who has been looking from time to time at the portrait
+      over the piano, is now gazing at it with apparently unconscious
+      intentness_]
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Glancing over her shoulder_]
+
+Did you know _him_--my uncle?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Looking at her and shaking his head_]
+
+I did not.
+
+VILLA
+
+My poor uncle Lovett was unfortunate, and I am glad for his sake that
+he is dead. Does that sound hard?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+Far from it. I have known such cases.
+
+VILLA
+
+He died in this room.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+I am not superstitious.
+
+VILLA
+
+He drank himself to death.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+I am not uncharitable.
+
+VILLA
+
+He was a good man.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+I have no doubt of it.
+
+  [_Pause_]
+
+Lucas is a good man.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Earnestly_]
+
+He _is_ good. And I hope his meeting with you may prove to be fortunate.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Steadily_]
+
+Lucas may prove to be the most fortunate of us all. Don’t you think
+it would be well for at least one of us to be fortunate, even if the
+others are not?
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Half-frightened_]
+
+The others? You say such unexpected things.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Still with his hands on the back of the chair_]
+
+Yes, the others. The others who are not going to be fortunate.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_With a shrug_]
+
+You speak like a wizard. If you are trying to cast a spell over me, you
+might as well let me know beforehand.
+
+  [_Laughing thinly_]
+
+All good wizards should do that, I think.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Firmly but rather sadly_]
+
+I should say that the spell had already been cast.
+
+VILLA
+
+But what manner of spell do you mean?
+
+  [_Nervously_]
+
+There are spells and spells, I suppose. Aren’t there?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+I might say the spell that compels you to take so much apparent
+satisfaction in being insincere.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Looking at him_]
+
+Insincere?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Nods slowly_]
+
+To yourself and to the others. To the others who are not going to be
+fortunate.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Biting her lip_]
+
+Did you come to tell me this?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+I came because I was called. You may be surprised, but there is no
+reason why you should be offended.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_With a cold but artificial laugh_]
+
+Amused, you mean.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Calmly and distinctly_]
+
+No, that is not what I mean. For you cannot possibly find it amusing
+to know that you have the happiness of at least three lives at your
+disposal.... Yes, in your power.... Do you believe, really, that
+it would be amusing to make three new contributions to the world’s
+unhappiness--much of which, from any finite point of view, is already
+unnecessary?
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Her lips tightening_]
+
+I don’t believe you realize what you are saying.
+
+  [_She rises_]
+
+No, I don’t mean that you are to go.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_She goes to the table and looks aimlessly at some objects that are
+      on it_]
+
+Will you tell me something?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Now at the right of the table, near the chair_]
+
+Willingly, if I can.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Toying with the broken paper cutter_]
+
+What did you say to Weldon Farnham about--about this? And what did he
+say to you?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+I asked him for one interview.
+
+VILLA
+
+And where do you intend to go at the end of this--one interview?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+My own way, wherever that may lie.
+
+  [_Very distinctly_]
+
+You may never see me again, but you will kindly believe me when I
+assure you that the situation before you is not--amusing.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_With half-hearted authority_]
+
+Under ordinary conditions, you must see that I could not listen any
+longer to what you are saying.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+I understand you perfectly.
+
+  [_Slowly, with a strange confidence_]
+
+I understand at the same time that these are not ordinary conditions,
+and that you and I are not ordinary people.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_With a shrug_]
+
+I am beginning to think that we are not.
+
+  [_With a reluctant smile_]
+
+Do you think we are so very important?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_With his hands on the back of the chair_]
+
+Is anything important?
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Slowly_]
+
+I wonder--sometimes. And I thought
+
+  [_Rather feebly_]
+
+that you were a friend of Weldon Farnham’s.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+His best friend, so far as I know.
+
+VILLA
+
+Does a man’s best friend try to....
+
+  [_She stops as if frightened_]
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+Yes.... If it is written so, yes.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_As if compelled_]
+
+Do you mean--“destiny?”
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+You may give it whatever name you choose. May I ask you another
+question?
+
+VILLA
+
+I suppose so.
+
+  [_With another shrug_]
+
+But you needn’t scare me.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_With a melancholy smile_]
+
+That is the last thing that I could possibly wish to do. What I have
+now to ask is this: Is it your unalterable will to deprive three
+people, including yourself, of the happiness that might as well be
+theirs?
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Trying to laugh_]
+
+Why do you speak of my “will” and of your “destiny?” Mayn’t I have a
+destiny as well as you?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Looking at the portrait_]
+
+You have one undoubtedly. And I have one interview.
+
+  [_He stands as before with his hands on the back of the chair and
+      watches her while she examines various objects on the table_]
+
+Are you sure that you know what it would mean if you were to make a
+mistake now?
+
+  [_She gives him a bewildered look that is meant to be resentful, but
+      he does not seem to notice it_]
+
+Are you sure that you are thinking of the years, and the darkness, and
+the long roads that lie in the darkness--and end there? Are such things
+important, or are they still--amusing?
+
+  [VILLA _stands looking vacantly at a picture post-card that is in her
+      hand and finally turns the card towards_ VAN ZORN, _speaking with
+      a trace of injured and half-frightened humor in her voice and
+      eyes_]
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Irrelevantly_]
+
+Did you ever see the Lion of Lucerne?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Suddenly inclined to laugh_]
+
+No.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Laughing_]
+
+I thought you had seen everything.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Shaking his head slowly_]
+
+I haven’t. I have never seen you but once, until today.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Laughing nervously_]
+
+I don’t see what the Lion of Lucerne has to do with your seeing me.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Smiling_]
+
+I don’t see what the Lion of Lucerne has to do with any of us.
+
+  [_He looks at the card and then at her, with the same melancholy and
+      inquiring smile_]
+
+I dare say that he has his good points.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Throwing down the card and putting her hands behind her_]
+
+I still think that I ought to be angry with you.
+
+  [_Ruefully_]
+
+Every nerve and fibre tells me so.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+You are too healthy to have nerves and fibres. And if you knew yourself
+better, you could not even think of being angry with _me_.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_With humor and self-assertion_]
+
+You are not an absolute mystery, and I know a great deal about you, and
+about myself--that is, for a girl who has never seen the Sphynx.
+
+  [_Taking up the card again and looking at it_]
+
+I’ll tell you something else that I know--something that I’ve known for
+a long time.
+
+  [_He nods slowly_]
+
+I have known for a long time that our ways,
+
+  [_Quickly_]
+
+Weldon’s way and mine, I mean,--have been leading us just where you
+have said they are leading us--into the dark.
+
+  [_Looking down_]
+
+And I have always been afraid of the dark.
+
+  [_With a shrug and a laugh_]
+
+I wonder whether your coming to make me tell you this may not be
+“destiny” after all.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Looking at her fixedly_]
+
+There can be no doubt about that.
+
+  [_They stand looking at each other, she with her hands behind her,
+      and he with his hands on the back of the chair. After a pause she
+      turns quietly toward the door, where the maid is seen standing_]
+
+THE MAID
+
+Mr. Mink would like to see you, Miss Villa.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Biting her lip to keep from laughing at_ VAN ZORN’S _augmented
+      solemnity_]
+
+Tell him to come up, Jenny.
+
+  [_To_ VAN ZORN]
+
+You don’t look as if you were going to be glad to see Otto. You ought
+to be, for he is a very nice boy.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Forcing a smile_]
+
+So I have been told.
+
+  [OTTO _enters briskly, with a book in his hand. Being a child
+      of nature he does not attempt to conceal his surprise at
+      discovering_ VAN ZORN _in the room_]
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_Blankly_]
+
+Oh! How do you do?... I’m afraid I’m in the way.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Laughing_]
+
+Of what, Otto? You foolish child, you are never in the way.
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_Doubtfully_]
+
+I don’t know about that. But I have come, anyhow, as I said I would.
+And here, my adorable young lady, is a copy of my latest abhorred
+twitterings. Does it look wicked?
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Taking the book and laughing at_ OTTO]
+
+It looks lovely. But why do you call it _Au Cinquième_? You don’t live
+on the fifth floor.
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_Briskly_]
+
+That isn’t necessary. All you have to do is to shut yourself up
+in almost any kind of place, have in a barrel of mangoes, and let
+imagination do the rest.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Laughing_]
+
+Mangoes?
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_Cheerfully_]
+
+Mangoes. The mango has the flavor of all the fruits. If you eat a
+barrel of ’em, you will have the wisdom of all the ages.
+
+  [_With a grimace_]
+
+Unhappily, I didn’t eat my barrel quite fast enough, and so I lost some
+of it.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Laughing_]
+
+That was too bad.
+
+  [_Looking at the book_]
+
+But I hope the critics will be good to _Au Cinquième_.
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_Shaking his head sorrowfully_]
+
+They won’t.
+
+  [_Brightening_]
+
+Do you remember my last book--_Huîtres et Chablis_?
+
+  [_She nods and laughs_]
+
+Thank you for remembering it. Well,
+
+  [_Putting his hands into his trousers pockets_]
+
+one inky-fingered imbecile advised me to write one more book
+as an antidote and to call it _Huile de Foie de Morue_, or
+Cod-liver-oil,--that being his private idea of humor. No, my dear young
+lady, Posterity is the only judge. Sometime, therefore, when I am
+gone--sometime when you are old and full of wrinkles--and rheumatism,
+if God wills it so--some far-off winter evening, for example, when
+you sit by the fire, with your cat in your lap,--say to yourself that
+Mink, who was always delicate, once took you out canoeing and contrived
+somehow to spill you into the beautiful Hudson, and that you swam
+ashore.
+
+VILLA
+
+And nearly died laughing.
+
+OTTO
+
+Oh, very well. But I can assure you both
+
+  [_Looking at_ VAN ZORN, _who has been listening rather wearily_]
+
+that my neglected afflatus is of no manner of importance when compared
+with a bit of history that occurred about half an hour ago on Broadway,
+not far from Forty-second Street. It will do no good for me to tell it,
+for neither of you will believe it,--unless you believe in Noah’s Ark,
+and such like.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Quickly_]
+
+We do believe in Noah’s Ark, and you will please go on. Sit down and
+tell us about it.
+
+  [_She sits on the piano stool_]
+
+OTTO
+
+I’d better not. I might not be able to get up again. Well then, it’s
+about Phœbus--Old Hundred--Lucas.... O Lord!
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_With a quick frown of inquiry_]
+
+Has anything happened to Lucas?
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_Looking from one to the other_]
+
+It isn’t easy to talk about.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Impatiently_]
+
+But tell me what you mean, Otto.
+
+OTTO
+
+I mean
+
+  [_Folding his arms_]
+
+that Old Hundred has refused a gin-rickey.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Forgetting herself_]
+
+Oh!... But after all, was that so very wonderful?
+
+  [_Her manner reveals her suppressed excitement_]
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_Innocently_]
+
+You speak as if you thought so.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_More naturally_]
+
+I spoke because I was glad. It was the only thing for him to do, and I
+was afraid that he could never do it.
+
+  [_Eagerly again_]
+
+Are you sure that he has done it, Otto,--or is this only once?
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_With a queer smile of reminiscence_]
+
+He has done it fast enough, if I know anything about him.
+
+  [_To_ VAN ZORN, _with sudden expansion_]
+
+You see, this friend of ours fills himself with fluid extract of early
+death for certain years, and then, all of a sudden, on Broadway, not
+far from Forty-second Street, he slaps a fellow kindly on the shoulder
+and tells a fellow that he, Phœbus, has been born again. That was
+it,--“born again.”
+
+  [_To_ VILLA, _who has risen to her feet in her excitement_]
+
+The man is illuminated, I tell you. There is something in his eyes.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_With tightening lips_]
+
+Let us hope it is not dust.
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_Standing on his toes_]
+
+No, the dust is in _our_ eyes, if anywhere. Or it was.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_To_ VAN ZORN, _gratefully_]
+
+Not in _yours_, at any rate.... And you have been the cause of it all!
+
+  [OTTO _looks at_ VAN ZORN _in amazement_]
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_As before_]
+
+On the contrary, I don’t know that I have ever been the cause of
+anything. But I agree with you in saying that this was the only course
+for him to take, although I have never shared your fear that he would
+not take it.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Still wondering_]
+
+But how did you know anything about him?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Smiling faintly_]
+
+Oh, there are signs. Moreover, I permitted Farnham to tell me as much
+as he would about Lucas’s early life.
+
+VILLA
+
+But he cannot possibly know much about it.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Thoughtfully_]
+
+He spoke, I think, of an eccentric father.
+
+  [_He glances at the portrait of_ LOVETT]
+
+VILLA
+
+Weldon was not here in those days and perhaps it was as well that he
+was not,--for he might not have understood.
+
+  [_As if to correct herself_]
+
+I mean that men like Weldon find it hard to measure the importance of
+things that happen in other people’s lives. They can’t do otherwise, I
+suppose.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+All of which being granted, there still remains no room for doubt as to
+Farnham’s friendliness towards Lucas.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Vexed_]
+
+I didn’t mean that. I don’t see how I came to speak as I did.
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_Going to_ VILLA]
+
+I’m very much afraid that you must put _me_ down as the tender and
+innocent cause. Pardon my interruption, and--beware the book.
+
+  [_After a somewhat bewildered pause_]
+
+Good afternoon.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_As he is going_]
+
+Is there very much about Nineveh in it?
+
+  [_She laughs rather thinly_]
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_With a grimace_]
+
+Nineveh occurs but twice, and Babylon has disappeared entirely.
+
+  [_He bows with exaggerated deference and disappears_]
+
+  [_After_ OTTO’S _departure there is a pause_. VILLA _sits down in the
+      large chair at the left of the table, while_ VAN ZORN _stands
+      looking at the portrait. Both have become very serious, and_
+      VILLA’S _voice and manner reveal more and more constraint and
+      emotion during the following scene_]
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Trying to smile_]
+
+What do you think of Otto, now?
+
+  [_Pause_]
+
+Wasn’t it strange--what he told us about George?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Standing near his chair_]
+
+Was it any stranger than my coming to this house?
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Embarrassed_]
+
+But your coming was different, and I knew just when to expect you.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+Did you know just _why_ you were to expect me?
+
+VILLA
+
+Well, no,--not quite.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+Were you a little offended at my request to see you?
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Slowly_]
+
+No.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+You must at least have thought it very unusual.
+
+VILLA
+
+Possibly.
+
+  [_With a faint smile_]
+
+But one looks for unusual things from you, somehow.... But I shouldn’t
+have said that. I beg your pardon.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+I am asking myself whether or not I should beg _your_ pardon.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Her voice trembling_]
+
+For telling me the truth?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+No; but for remaining here when you must be wishing that I would go
+away.
+
+  [_She pauses, rises quickly from her chair, and stands before him.
+      She can hardly control herself. He looks into her eyes and then
+      turns away_]
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Almost beseeching him_]
+
+No, you must not do that! You must not go yet!... I can’t let you go
+until I tell you something.
+
+  [_She moves back to her chair and sits down slowly_]
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Unhappily, but with dignity_]
+
+I don’t wish you to tell me anything unless you are sure that I should
+hear it; and I don’t wish to take advantage of your perplexity--or of
+your unhappiness. You will understand that, I am sure; and you will
+agree with me, no doubt, when I say that my position has already become
+rather--well, say strange, to use your own word.
+
+  [_With unconscious bitterness_]
+
+It will serve as well as another.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Impulsively_]
+
+I don’t care how strange it is, or how strange you are, so long as I
+know that I can trust you. If you were not strange, I might not have
+the courage to ask you to help me.... I wonder if I ought to wait until
+I know you better.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_With deep feeling_]
+
+You will never know me better, and I shall be always at your service.
+
+  [_With a bitter smile_]
+
+“They also serve who only stand and wait.”
+
+  [_Pause_]
+
+Even the blind can serve, in their limited way.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Choking_]
+
+You must not say that again. You must not....
+
+  [_Her voice breaks completely. She throws herself forward, laying her
+      head and arms upon the table. Her whole body shakes, as if the
+      prisoned emotion of years were finally asserting itself._ VAN
+      ZORN _stands with his hands on the back of his chair and looks
+      down at her with a great sorrow in his eyes. Finally he turns
+      from her to the part of the table that is near him and absently
+      picks up the pieces of ivory that_ LUCAS _has broken_]
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Fitting the pieces together, and speaking with difficulty_]
+
+Then you are not going to Damascus, after all.
+
+  [VILLA’S _body still shakes with her emotion, and she makes no sign
+      to show that she has heard him. He looks down at her as the
+      curtain falls_]
+
+
+CURTAIN
+
+
+
+
+ACT III
+
+
+  FARNHAM’S _studio, a little after ten in the evening. When the
+      curtain rises the room is dark, save for the light of the fire
+      which is now burning in the grate._
+
+  FARNHAM _is lying stretched on the window seat. Presently he gets
+      up rather lazily, turns on the light, looks at his watch and
+      stands in the middle of the room with his hands thrust deep into
+      the pockets of a black velvet house coat. Apart from this coat
+      he is in evening dress. He moves about aimlessly, yawns, and
+      takes a cigar from the box on the table. As he is lighting it,
+      the bell rings. He remains motionless for a little while, and a
+      strange hard smile comes over his face. Finally, with a shrug of
+      his shoulders he goes to the door and admits_ VAN ZORN, _who is
+      dressed in ordinary business clothes. His face wears a serious
+      expression and he greets_ FARNHAM _with a kindly but somewhat
+      uncanny smile. Then he looks towards the portrait on the easel,
+      which has been moved back to its original place in Act I._
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Still smiling drily_]
+
+For such a demon of punctuality, it seems to me that you are a bit late.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Smiling as before_]
+
+Am I so insufferably punctual that I cannot have five minutes’ grace?
+
+  [_He takes off his overcoat_]
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Taking his coat and hat and putting them on the window seat_]
+
+Oh, no offence. You have made your own reputation.
+
+  [VAN ZORN _goes to the fire_]
+
+Are you cold?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+It’s rather cool outside.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_With a grin_]
+
+I noticed that when I came out of the subway. Aren’t you going to sit
+down?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+Presently.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+Take your time about it. Have a cigar.
+
+  [_He holds out the box and smiles_]
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+I’ll take one later, if you don’t mind.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+It’s a Pedro.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+Not now.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Coaxingly_]
+
+Colorado.
+
+  [VAN ZORN _shakes his head and smiles patiently_]
+
+Very well. Pardon me if I appear to urge you.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+I can think of no one who should ask me to pardon him.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+You remind me of the noble Spaniard who had no enemies because he had
+killed them all.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Smiling faintly_]
+
+I have never killed anybody, to my knowledge. I may once have had
+something to do with bringing a man back to life again.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+That was good. Did he thank you for it?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+He didn’t say very much.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+They don’t as a rule, I believe. By the way,
+
+  [_Grinning_]
+
+when do you intend to tackle Old Hundred?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Frowning slightly_]
+
+I dined with Lucas this evening--if you mean Lucas.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Surprised_]
+
+Oho! You did?--Did he get drunk?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+He did not.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Not too pleasantly_]
+
+Oh well, you needn’t be discouraged over that. There’ll be time enough
+between now and midnight.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Distinctly_]
+
+There will be time enough between now and midnight for more things than
+you may have considered.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Puzzled_]
+
+I have no doubt of it. But no matter about Lucas. Tell me something
+more about your destiny.
+
+  [_Drily_]
+
+How _is_ your destiny this evening, anyway?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Still standing by the fire_]
+
+My destiny is a very good destiny, but unfortunately it has encountered
+one that is better.--Unfortunately for myself I mean,--not in any sense
+for others.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Patronizingly_]
+
+You are a good fellow--altogether too good to be put at a disadvantage.
+But this once--only this once, upon my word--I can’t help repeating
+that I didn’t think much of it. One interview, and all that sort of
+thing. You see, it wasn’t quite in your line.
+
+  [_Pause_]
+
+Well, how much am I to know?--and how soon am I to know it?
+
+  [_Drily_]
+
+Suppose you sit down in that chair.
+
+  [_Indicating the large chair_]
+
+The consequent relaxation may be a good thing for you.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+Thank you, I will.
+
+  [_He sits down and begins to drum with his fingers on the arms of the
+      chair_]
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Sitting down_]
+
+Now you look more comfortable.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Abruptly_]
+
+I told you, Farnham, that I thought Lucas and I might possibly be of
+service to each other.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Wearily_]
+
+Can’t you forget Lucas for the rest of this evening? Granting all his
+noble qualities--including his indefatigable industry--I don’t yet
+understand that you came here to talk about him.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Earnestly_]
+
+Farnham, if you had known what you were asking, you would never have
+asked me to forget Lucas this evening. I may forget my name, and my
+age, and my way to Forty-second Street, but I shall not be likely to
+forget Lucas this evening.
+
+  [_Pause_]
+
+You told me this morning, I believe, that you had had enough of him for
+one day.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Puzzled and irritated_]
+
+Most assuredly I did, and I meant what I said. I’ll be as glad as
+anybody if you can straighten him out, but what the devil sense is
+there in harping on him from morn till dewy eve? Why not let Lucas go
+for the present?
+
+  [_Becoming more incisive_]
+
+You started out this afternoon, I believe, to acquire some very special
+information that doesn’t seem to be forthcoming.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Slowly_]
+
+It will come.... And as for letting Lucas go--
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Throwing up his hands_]
+
+Good God!
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Calmly_]
+
+--letting Lucas go will be very difficult. In fact, it will be out
+of the question. Instead of letting Lucas go, I fear that we shall be
+under the necessity of letting Lucas come.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Unpleasantly_]
+
+What are you talking about? I didn’t ask him to come, did I?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_As before_]
+
+You did not, and _I_ did not.
+
+  [_Drumming with his fingers_]
+
+But he is coming all the same. I have no doubt that he has been
+coming--through the ages.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Laughing drily_]
+
+So that’s it. More of your infernal Destiny, I suppose.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Earnestly_]
+
+Whatever you do, Farnham, you had better wait a while before you begin
+to find fault with Destiny. For I should be inclined to say that you
+are going to be far more fortunate than I am, or am ever likely to be.
+
+  [_He looks thoughtfully about the studio_]
+
+FARNHAM
+
+Oh, you needn’t try to smooth it over like that. I only meant that I
+was looking forward to this evening for a different kind of talk from
+this.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Quietly_]
+
+You will have it yet.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Wearily_]
+
+With Lucas?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_With deliberation_]
+
+Farnham, if I don’t give you certain information that you have every
+reason to expect, it is because I don’t feel that I am in a position to
+give it. But I will say,
+
+  [_Smiling_]
+
+at the risk of my life, that Lucas has been straightened out. I don’t
+know just how I know it, but I know it.
+
+  [_With another smile_]
+
+Your engaging friend Otto brought the news this afternoon--
+
+  [_Casually_]
+
+not long after Lucas left Mrs. Lovett’s house.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Rising and speaking sharply_]
+
+Lucas at Mrs Lovett’s house?... You are keeping something back from me,
+and I should like very much to know what it is.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Reluctantly_]
+
+Yes, I am keeping something back. And I have something else that I was
+requested, and finally persuaded, to give to you this evening. I would
+rather not do it, but it may be as well that I should.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_With dry fervor_]
+
+I hope it will be something more tangible than what you have been
+giving me.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Giving him a small object_]
+
+There it is.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_After a stupefied pause_]
+
+Man alive, are you out of your senses? This is Villa Vannevar’s ring.
+What the devil has been going on?
+
+  [_Sharply_]
+
+Why don’t you tell me?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+Miss Vannevar will do that.
+
+  [FARNHAM _scowls incredulously_]
+
+She and Lucas have been together, at her special request, since eight
+o’clock. Until she comes, please remember that I am acting only as a
+messenger.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Looking from the ring to_ VAN ZORN]
+
+Are you all trying to make a fool of me? Are you the friend that I
+have been trusting and praising all these years?
+
+  [_With a falling inflection_]
+
+I’d better build a cabin in the woods.... What does all this insanity
+mean, anyhow? You can answer that question, if you have a mind to, and
+you know it damned well.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Quietly_]
+
+Farnham.
+
+  [_Pause_]
+
+You are going to have two more visitors this evening, and they are
+nearly due. They are not going to stay, in all probability, more than
+fifteen minutes. When they are gone, you and I may have something more
+to say to each other.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+That is altogether possible.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Rising_]
+
+And if I have been the indirect means of this sudden change in the
+course of events, I wish you to know that I believe, as I stand here,
+that events would have taken the same course, though not quite so
+suddenly, if I had never gone to Mrs. Lovett’s house this afternoon. I
+mean, you understand, so far as events concern you personally. So be a
+good fellow and try to keep a little of your old faith in me.
+
+  [_Pause_]
+
+Do you hear a motor coming?
+
+  [_He takes out his watch and smiles wearily at_ FARNHAM]
+
+They are on time, if I was not.
+
+  [_The bell rings._ FARNHAM _admits_ LUCAS _and_ VILLA VANNEVAR. LUCAS
+      _has more color in his face, and his eyes are brighter than in
+      the morning. He carries himself through the following scene with
+      far more dignity and ease than might be expected, with now and
+      then a facial suggestion of appreciative humor. Of the two_ VILLA
+      _is the more excited, but hers is the excitement of determination
+      rather than of embarrassment or fear_]
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_To the three, after rather formal greetings to_ LUCAS _and_ VILLA]
+
+Well, I have the honor to report that I am still in the dark.
+
+  [_With a hard smile_]
+
+Won’t you all sit down?
+
+  [_They remain standing_]
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Going to_ FARNHAM _and speaking with suppressed excitement_]
+
+Oh, but I am glad to hear you say that--that you are in the dark.
+
+  [_He nods with condescension and she steps back a little_]
+
+I was afraid you didn’t know it.
+
+  [_Pause_]
+
+Weldon, do you know what it was doing to me? But you don’t, because you
+can’t. I shall have to tell you what it was doing. It was driving me
+mad.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Drily, with a glance at_ LUCAS]
+
+Kindly go on.
+
+VILLA
+
+It was killing me.
+
+  [FARNHAM _nods again_]
+
+I know you are going to think some dreadful things about me,--and say
+them too, I suppose.
+
+  [_Rapidly_]
+
+But whatever you do or say, don’t ever forget that I am the cause
+of all that’s happened this evening. I took the matter into my own
+hands--just because I couldn’t wait. And when my mind was once made up
+that I couldn’t wait,--well, I couldn’t wait.
+
+  [_He nods again_]
+
+And I couldn’t see much need of spending days and nights in talking
+about it.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_With a shrug, and another look at_ LUCAS]
+
+Naturally not.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_To_ VAN ZORN, _who is standing near the fire_]
+
+And you
+
+  [_Gratefully but rapidly_]
+
+--you remember what I told you when I got over that foolish fit of
+crying. I told you that nothing could ever make me change, and I asked
+you to help me. You told me first that you would rather not, and you
+said something that I didn’t hear about circumstances; but finally you
+did agree to do a little--just because you could see that I was so much
+in earnest--and that nothing could ever make me change--and that I
+couldn’t wait.
+
+  [VAN ZORN _replies with a slow nod, and_ FARNHAM _grins at_ LUCAS
+      _with sardonic incredulity_]
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_To_ VILLA, _with a dry laugh_]
+
+Will you be so kind as to let me know what this thing is or was,--you
+haven’t yet given it a name--that was driving you mad, and killing you,
+and whatever else it may have been doing? You don’t look to me like a
+dying person, as you stand there now.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Impatiently_]
+
+Oh, you know what it was. It was our horribly false
+position--pretending to care for each other when we didn’t--I mean when
+we didn’t care enough.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Unpleasantly_]
+
+In that case, perhaps you will be good enough to tell me what sort of
+position you would call this that we are in now.
+
+  [_He looks at_ LUCAS _and_ VAN ZORN]
+
+Lucas, why do you stand there like that? Why don’t you say
+something--if you have anything to say?
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Quickly, looking from_ LUCAS _to_ FARNHAM]
+
+He can’t speak yet, for I shan’t let him. I shan’t let anybody speak
+until I have said what I have to say. No, not one of you three can say
+a word until I tell you that I have asked George Lucas to marry me.
+
+  [FARNHAM _and_ VAN ZORN _are almost equally surprised at this
+      announcement, though the latter quickly regains his usual
+      composure_. LUCAS _looks at first as if he would like to get
+      away, but endures his unlooked-for prominence with an Indian-like
+      resignation_]
+
+There!
+
+  [_With her hands behind her back_]
+
+Now you may all speak at once, if you care to.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Going to_ VILLA, _after a pause, and taking one of her hands_]
+
+Villa, what is the matter with you this evening? Has the moon driven
+you insane?
+
+  [_To_ LUCAS, _sharply_]
+
+Lucas, why don’t you say something?
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_With a dry cough_]
+
+You are quite right. The time has come for me to speak.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+Well, if the time has come for you to speak, why the devil don’t you?
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_Calmly, but uncomfortably and with several oratorical pauses_]
+
+I am going to say something--and I don’t see how it is going to take me
+very long to say it.
+
+  [_With another cough_]
+
+Knowing--as I need hardly tell you now--that I could not, in view of
+my past and present circumstances--presume to ask of this lady the
+kind of question that she has taken upon herself to ask of me--and
+this time without wholly anticipating its immediate effect upon one’s
+nervous organization,--well, I can only say that she has acted in
+accordance with her own convictions in regard to the solution of a
+rather difficult problem, and has thereby placed me under excessive
+obligations--that she cannot expect ever to be entirely fulfilled.
+
+  [_To_ FARNHAM, _with a faint smile_]
+
+Whatever else you may wish me to say will be related, with your
+permission, at another time.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_With cold humor_]
+
+“She has acted in accordance with her own convictions in regard to the
+solution of a rather difficult problem.”
+
+  [_To_ VAN ZORN, _drily_]
+
+As she sees it, I suppose.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+Is there more than one way to see it?
+
+FARNHAM
+
+I see it as a bit of impetuous farce.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Protesting violently_]
+
+No, don’t say impetuous. Say anything but that. Say
+determined--ordained--premeditated--desperate--anything but impetuous.
+I’ll not have anybody--not even George--tell me that I was impetuous
+when I was only sensible. You might as well call me--I don’t know what.
+You might as well call me a fool.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_With reluctant humor_]
+
+Do you know, my dear young lady, that you are using some rather
+positive language?
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Still excited_]
+
+I don’t care. I must use it, in order to make myself understood.
+
+  [_To_ LUCAS]
+
+Tell him, George, about the ring.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Satirically_]
+
+Yes, George, let us hear about the ring.
+
+LUCAS
+
+She means that the ring would have been returned to you in any case.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_To_ VAN ZORN, _with fine irony_]
+
+And this is your work.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Distinctly_]
+
+No, my friend, you are mistaken. It is not the work of any human
+being--in this room, or out of it.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Wearily_]
+
+Oh, the devil! I’ve heard all that before.
+
+  [VAN ZORN _shrugs his shoulders and looks at the fire_]
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Earnestly_]
+
+Weldon, let me tell you again what I told you when I came in.
+
+  [_With intensity_]
+
+It was killing me. It was driving me mad.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Throwing up his hands_]
+
+For heaven’s sake, are you going to drag that nonsense in again?
+
+VILLA
+
+It meant the torture of our two lives.... The ruin of them, for all we
+know.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_With a careless absence of emotion_]
+
+Lives are not so easily ruined as all that. If they were, some of us
+would be ruined before we were born.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_With a faint smile_]
+
+Some of us are, Farnham.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_To_ VAN ZORN, _with hesitation_]
+
+Don’t you think that you have contributed about enough to the needless
+absurdity and injustice of all this....
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Quickly_]
+
+No, you must not say that to him. It was I who did this, and it was I
+who insisted that it should be done tonight. If your best friend had
+not helped me, I should have done it sooner or later without him....
+Now will you let me go on from where I was when you interrupted me?
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_With evident admiration_]
+
+Yes, if you remember where that was.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_With animation_]
+
+It was where I was going to say something more about George.
+
+  [FARNHAM _looks at_ LUCAS, _who is looking at the bust of
+      Shakespeare_]
+
+Weldon, there are certain people in this world who are made for
+each other. You may laugh at me for saying so--I know it isn’t very
+original--but I believe it to be true, and that makes it just the same
+as if it _were_ true. Well then, I believe that George Lucas and I have
+belonged to each other since the beginning of our lives, and I have
+known it ever since I can remember. I knew him long before I knew you,
+and I know more about him than you have ever known or ever can know;
+
+  [FARNHAM _looks again at_ LUCAS]
+
+and once, when I was so scared and happy that I didn’t know what to
+do--this was ages ago--I told Auntie all about it.
+
+  [_With comical directness_]
+
+Auntie didn’t like--his father.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_With venomous humor_]
+
+And what did Auntie say?
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_With a shrug and a rueful laugh_]
+
+Oh dear! If I were to try to tell you what she said, I shouldn’t know
+how to begin or where to end. It doesn’t make so much difference what
+Auntie said, so long as she said--what she said.
+
+  [_With unconscious humor, looking down_]
+
+She didn’t like George’s father.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Grinning at_ LUCAS]
+
+Did she like George?
+
+  [_Pause_]
+
+George doesn’t seem to have anything more to say.
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_With dry emphasis_]
+
+Yes, George has one thing more to say. He has to say that he has not
+yet accepted the lady’s offer.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Scowling_]
+
+Then why are you here?
+
+LUCAS
+
+To do so in your presence--now that you understand the situation.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+But I don’t understand the situation--except in the vaguest kind of
+way.... I knew about it in that way before.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Still standing by the fire_]
+
+Farnham, I don’t like to interrupt you.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+Oh--you don’t....
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+But why debate the inevitable? It will do no manner of good, and it
+will be likely, as Miss Vannevar has already implied, to take up a
+great deal of time.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Drily_]
+
+Have you been coaching them?
+
+  [VAN ZORN _makes a gesture of resigned protest, but says nothing_]
+
+Well, you haven’t told me what you said to Lucas during dinner.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+I told Lucas that Miss Vannevar wished very much to see him as soon as
+possible after eight o’clock.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+Was that all?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+Substantially, yes.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+Mightn’t that leave a pretty wide margin for conjecture?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+It might, but it doesn’t. Please remember that when I told you of my
+interest in Lucas, I was not anticipating the developments that have
+transpired.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Unwilling to let the subject go_]
+
+But you are the cause of these developments, for all that. What did you
+say to Villa after Otto went away?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_With a slight weariness_]
+
+I didn’t find a great deal to say. I told her pretty much what I have
+told you,--that Lucas and I were going to be of service to each other,
+and that I had complete confidence in him. Please do not ask me to go
+any further into details--just now.
+
+  [_With a friendly smile_]
+
+My dear Farnham, if you were to form at your time of life the fatal
+habit of clinging to ruins, and of refusing to accept what has
+irrevocably taken place, there is no knowing what might happen to
+you--and to your art.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+Do you remember that you used to call yourself a friend of mine?
+
+  [_He speaks half-heartedly, and seems to regret having spoken_]
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Distinctly_]
+
+I was never in my life more convinced of my complete loyalty to you,
+or of your complete faith in me. I was not expecting to say so this
+evening, unless to you alone, but never mind that now.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Rather ruefully_]
+
+I suppose that’s your fantastic, esoteric, oriental way of telling a
+fellow that he has said something foolish. I don’t say it’s a bad way,
+you understand--
+
+  [_He stops, and has another look at_ LUCAS, _who smiles in approval_]
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Going to_ FARNHAM _and putting her hands on his arms_]
+
+You needn’t try to be angry any longer, for I can see by the look in
+your eyes that you can’t.
+
+  [_Shaking him a little and beginning to laugh_]
+
+You ought not to be angry, for you are so glad to get rid of me that
+you don’t know what to do with yourself. You may tell me that I ought
+not to say so, but you can’t put the words back into my mouth--’cause
+I’ve got my teeth together.
+
+  [_She shows her teeth and laughs at him_]
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Taking her hands and smiling_]
+
+I don’t remember having said that I was angry.
+
+  [_He pushes her away gently_]
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Putting her hands behind her and laughing_]
+
+There was no need of your _saying_ it.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Drily_]
+
+Then that must have been the reason why I didn’t say it.
+
+  [_Pause_]
+
+But don’t you think that I had just the slightest conceivable reason
+for being--for being a trifle annoyed, we’ll say?
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_With feline demureness_]
+
+Well, I rather suppose you did.
+
+  [_Looking at him brightly_]
+
+But it’s all over now, _isn’t_ it?
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Trying not to laugh_]
+
+And so you find your escape from me a very simple matter.
+
+  [_With mild sarcasm_]
+
+It seems to be one of the prerogatives of womankind to discover now and
+then that some problems _are_ very simple.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_She looks at_ LUCAS, _then for a longer time at_ VAN ZORN, _who
+      still remains by the fire, and finally at_ FARNHAM _again_]
+
+And that others are very difficult.
+
+  [FARNHAM _glances at_ VAN ZORN, _who stands looking at the burning
+      coals. There is a pause, which is broken by the ringing of the
+      bell._ FARNHAM _admits_ OTTO, _who stands for a time in meek
+      bewilderment after looking from one to the other_]
+
+OTTO
+
+I--I saw the light, and so I came over--from Petherick’s.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Drily amused_]
+
+Of course you did, Otto. That was the right thing for you to do.
+We have all seen the light, even if we haven’t all come over from
+Petherick’s.
+
+  [_Patting his shoulder_]
+
+Now take a look around you, little friend, and tell us what you see
+besides the light.
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_Looking from_ LUCAS _to_ VILLA]
+
+Oh--good evening.
+
+  [_He plays with his hat_]
+
+I saw the light, and so I came over.
+
+  [_To_ LUCAS]
+
+Did you see the light, Phœbus, and did you come over?
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_Avoiding over-confidence_]
+
+Yes, Otto, I may be said to have seen the light, and to have come
+over--though not from Petherick’s.
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_With a long sigh_]
+
+That’s illuminating, and I thank you kindly.
+
+  [_He looks at_ VAN ZORN, _who smiles and nods_]
+
+Good evening.
+
+  [_To_ VILLA]
+
+Are you sure that I’m not in the way?
+
+  [_He makes a puzzled grimace and looks at_ FARNHAM, _who grins_]
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Laughing nervously_]
+
+We are sure of one thing, Otto, and that is that you are not very
+cordial with your old friends. Aren’t you going to congratulate me on
+my engagement to George Lucas? We are going to be married--sometime.
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_After a stupefied pause_]
+
+Are you?
+
+  [_He looks again from one to another, and finally addresses_ VAN ZORN]
+
+I knew this afternoon that something was going to happen. Of course it
+was none of my business, but you--you understand me, I’m sure.
+
+  [_He wipes his forehead with his handkerchief_]
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_With lingering sarcasm_]
+
+We understand you, Otto. You saw the light and you came over.
+Everything has been explained, and we are all going to try to be happy.
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_Looking again from one to another, and beginning to beam_]
+
+Do you know, Farnham, that I--that I rather like this?
+
+FARNHAM
+
+I’m glad to hear you say so, Otto. We study to please.
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_To_ VAN ZORN, _who appears to be mildly amused_]
+
+Do _you_ like this?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+It has my unqualified approval. In addition, it was undoubtedly
+inevitable.
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_With an air of discovery_]
+
+Doesn’t that make it all the better?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+I am sure that you have every reason to congratulate your friends on
+their mutual good fortune.
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_After shaking hands, rather suddenly, with_ VILLA _and_ LUCAS]
+
+Farnham, old man, the more I think of this, the better I like it.
+There’s a--there’s a kind of destiny about it.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Patting Otto’s shoulder_]
+
+Otto, we can always look to you for the right word.
+
+  [_Wearily, with a mild trace of venom_]
+
+I’ve been trying to think of that word “destiny” all the evening.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Giving_ FARNHAM _her hand_]
+
+And I have been trying to think of something more to say to _you_,
+Weldon, but somehow I can’t just now. So I think George had better take
+me home. And then, I suppose I’ll have a talk with....
+
+  [_She sighs_]
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_With an unfeeling grin_]
+
+With Auntie?
+
+VILLA
+
+Yes, with Auntie.
+
+  [_She breaks into childish laughter_]
+
+Poor Auntie!
+
+  [_Pause_]
+
+Well, good night. I won’t say good-bye, for that would be too solemn.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Holding her hand_]
+
+Good night. And I hope you will be very happy.
+
+  [_Shaking hands with_ LUCAS]
+
+Good night, George,--and my congratulations. You will excuse me if I
+don’t make a speech.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_To_ VAN ZORN, _who comes forward_]
+
+Good night.
+
+  [_She gives him her hand and looks at him as if a little frightened_]
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Holding her hand_]
+
+Good night.
+
+  [_They look into each other’s eyes for some time. She leaves him
+      slowly and moves towards the door. He returns to his former place
+      by the fire, after speaking with_ LUCAS]
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_While_ LUCAS _is shaking hands with_ VAN ZORN]
+
+Good night, Otto.
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_Still bewildered_]
+
+Good night. I don’t think I’ll make a speech either. On the contrary I
+may as well go home to my mousy garret, light my guttering candle, and
+work away for a while at my popular song.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Laughing_]
+
+But you never told me that you were writing a popular song. How does it
+go, and what is it about?
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_Solemnly_]
+
+It’s a sad story, and it doesn’t go very fast.
+
+  [_Doubtfully_]
+
+And it may not be altogether appropriate to the present auspicious
+occasion.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Laughing_]
+
+Oh, yes it is--perfectly. How does it go, Otto?
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_Scratching his ear thoughtfully_]
+
+I’ve only got four lines of it.
+
+  [_He appears to be reading them from the inside of his hat_]
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_Shaking him_]
+
+But how do they go?
+
+OTTO
+
+They go like this:
+
+  [_He repeats the following lines with comical solemnity, punctuating
+      them with sharp pauses_]
+
+    Oh, long shall we remember the dark days that followed then,
+      And how our faith in truth and honor sank;
+    For we knew the dear old home would never be the same again,
+      When Father robbed the baby’s little bank.
+
+LUCAS
+
+  [_Laughing_]
+
+Can you keep it up to that level, Otto?
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_Scratching his ear_]
+
+I think so.
+
+  [_With owlish innocence_]
+
+But of course you understand that there’s nothing prophetic about
+it--nothing personal. I wouldn’t have any words of mine cast a shadow
+on this propitious hour--no, not even if my friend Farnham were to
+give me a small potion of his Double X Rattlesnake Rye over yonder.
+
+  [_He nods towards the bust of Shakespeare_]
+
+I’m delicate, and I may not be with you very long.
+
+VILLA
+
+  [_To_ FARNHAM, _laughing_]
+
+Before you give it to him, I think it will be safer for me to go away.
+Good night again.
+
+  [FARNHAM _goes with_ VILLA _and_ LUCAS _to the vestibule, closing
+      the door slowly and thoughtfully as he returns_. OTTO, _in the
+      meantime, has gone to the cabinet, from the depths of which he
+      has produced a bottle of whiskey_. VAN ZORN, _standing by the
+      fire, watches_ OTTO _with a look of abstracted amusement_.]
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Returning_]
+
+Well, Otto, you seem to be in a romantic frame of mind this evening.
+You aren’t unhappy, are you?
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_Wiping his lips_]
+
+No, I don’t complain.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Patronizingly, to_ VAN ZORN]
+
+Otto never complains. He eats his crust at sunset, and he drains his
+cup of bitterness without so much as making a face. Don’t you, Otto?
+
+OTTO
+
+  [_Moving towards the door_]
+
+Don’t ask me to talk this evening. You have shaken me up, and I’m
+delicate. I may be on my way to eminence, or I may be merely another
+case of the gods seeing otherwise. In either event, it will be all
+right, for the universe will take care of us all. Throw on my grave a
+flower. Fare you well, gentlemen both, and peace be with you.
+
+  [OTTO _lays his hand on his heart, bows deferentially, and disappears
+      slowly and silently_]
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Smiling faintly_]
+
+You must not undervalue that youth, Farnham.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Opening the cigar box_]
+
+I shall never again undervalue anything that has a destiny.
+
+  [_Holding out the box_]
+
+Here--have a cigar. And for God’s sake have it this time or you’ll make
+me peevish.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+Thank you.
+
+  [_He takes a match from Farnham and lights his cigar_]
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Lighting his cigar_]
+
+I suppose Otto has a destiny, hasn’t he?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Drily_]
+
+I suppose he has.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Giving him a queer look_]
+
+And what about Lucas--and _his_ destiny?
+
+  [_He sits down and invites_ VAN ZORN _to take the large chair as
+      before_]
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Calmly_]
+
+I don’t know that I pretend to be a prophet,
+
+  [FARNHAM _grins_]
+
+but I should venture to say that Lucas’s destiny will not be altogether
+a bad one. Being human and not a fool, he must in the nature of things
+have ambitions that he will never realize. On the other hand, he will
+have a great deal of happiness, I believe.
+
+  [_Looking earnestly at_ FARNHAM]
+
+But neither he nor I can have what _you_ are going to have.
+
+  [FARNHAM _begins to beam with approval and anticipation_]
+
+I won’t say that you have it already
+
+  [_He glances toward the picture and scowls_]
+
+--for that might not be good for you ... and it might not be true.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Affecting modesty_]
+
+You may be within a gunshot of being right, but this day’s work doesn’t
+seem to be very promising--that is, to the uninitiated.
+
+  [_Clasping his knee_]
+
+I suppose, however, that _you_ feel a great deal better.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+Why do you say that?
+
+FARNHAM
+
+After what you have done?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_With a frown_]
+
+I have done nothing. I thought that was understood.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Laughing a little_]
+
+Oh yes, you have, in spite of your cosmic modesty. Haven’t you cleared
+the air? Haven’t you raised the curtain?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Apparently after some hesitation_]
+
+Would you talk like that, Farnham, if you knew me a little better ...
+if you knew, as I know, what I have lost?
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_With a trace of his old manner_]
+
+We have things before we lose them. That’s old, I know; but I believe
+it’s true.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_More earnestly_]
+
+Yes, Farnham, it is quite true. And it is most distinctly what I have
+had that I have now lost.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Puzzled_]
+
+Go on. You are talking; I’m only listening.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Very distinctly_]
+
+What is your notion of the best thing for a man to do when he has lost
+his belief that he has something to live for?
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Pretending not to understand_]
+
+Why, that’s easy. Find something new to live for.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Getting up and speaking as if half to himself_]
+
+There may be a certain amount of wisdom in that. And yet you do not
+wholly understand me.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_With unconscious emphasis_]
+
+And who the devil does?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Looking steadily at_ FARNHAM]
+
+Do you know what it is, Farnham, that I am facing?
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_With a forced laugh_]
+
+You are facing _me_, for the moment. I’m not much to be facing, I grant
+you; but you might have to face something worse.
+
+  [_With a glance at the picture_]
+
+The deadliest thing about me, at present, seems to be my ability to
+paint pictures like that one over there.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Becoming more and more serious_]
+
+I seem to be facing you, Farnham, but the truth is that I am facing
+myself. Whichever way I look now, I look forward into a thousand
+mirrors; and I see myself--only myself--Van Zorn. If I had one talent,
+I should see that; and I should thank God for it. But it isn’t there.
+There is nothing there but--Van Zorn.
+
+  [_He smokes for a time in thought_]
+
+Farnham, do you wonder that there are people in this world who howl
+about property?... Yes; my property, if you like.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Laughing_]
+
+Good! That sounds as if the yeast were beginning to work. You needn’t
+worry; you’ll find something to live for.
+
+  [_Getting up and stretching himself comfortably_]
+
+Why don’t you begin by tearing down a row of rotten tenements--just
+for the fun of it--and putting up some thing--oh, something sanitary
+and ornamental? Then the tired father could come home and cleanse
+his honest hide in a white enameled bath-tub--only of course he
+wouldn’t,--and after dinner the entire family could sit around a gilded
+radiator and sing songs by the most eminent composers, as Otto would
+say, of their native land.
+
+  [_Laughing_]
+
+Hear me, Norma, but don’t excite yourself. You are still young, and
+there’s going to be no end of time.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_With a dutiful smile_]
+
+There is something in what you say.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_With easy patronage_]
+
+You bet there is. And then there is always this “business” of yours:
+“Van Zorn and Lucas, the eminent comedians.” Don’t you see _that_, when
+you look forward into your thousand mirrors?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Looking down_]
+
+Yes, I see it. The business will succeed.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+To be sure.
+
+  [_Becoming over-confident_]
+
+Van Zorn, from whom all blessings flow, do you realize that we are
+beaten by Old Hundred?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Gravely_]
+
+I don’t like your word--beaten.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Piqued but persistent_]
+
+Neither do I,--but I didn’t invent it, and I won’t say it again. But I
+should like to ask you one question. When you came in this evening, you
+said something about your destiny being a very good destiny; and you
+said, also, that it had encountered--I think that was your word--one
+that was better. Now, if I have a right to ask the question, I wish you
+would be good enough to tell me what the devil Lucas was doing this
+afternoon at Mrs. Lovett’s.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+He came to tell Miss Vannevar that he was going west, and to say
+good-bye.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+Going west--eh?
+
+  [_Excited but satirical_]
+
+And if you hadn’t kept Lucas from going west--whatever that means--I
+suppose you would have been contented for all time with your--your one
+interview.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_After some deliberation_]
+
+If Lucas had gone--west,--you would still have recovered your ring.
+
+  [_They look at each other until Farnham shrugs his shoulders and
+      looks at the floor_]
+
+When Lucas changed his mind about going, he was not in any manner
+influenced by the ring or by the person who wore it.
+
+  [_Pause_]
+
+But why say more about that?
+
+  [_His last words come rather thickly; he moves away and finally
+      remains standing before the picture_]
+
+By the way, Farnham, what are you going to do with this picture?
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Drily_]
+
+You speak as if you wanted it yourself.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+Will you give it to me?
+
+  [_He is evidently in earnest_]
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Cynically_]
+
+Yes, take it. Take everything in sight.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Thoughtfully_]
+
+I could almost believe that this picture was painted for me--without
+your knowledge.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Drily_]
+
+More destiny?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Taking a small knife from his pocket_]
+
+I don’t know what else to call it.
+
+  [_He begins to cut the head and shoulders from the canvas_]
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Going quickly towards him_]
+
+Here! What do you think you are doing?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Cutting diligently_]
+
+I am getting rid of one of the most insincere
+
+  [_Cuts_]
+
+and exasperating
+
+  [_Cuts_]
+
+bits of charlatanry
+
+  [_Cuts_]
+
+that man’s eyes have ever looked on. I am doing it partly for the good
+of your artistic conscience, and partly for reasons of my own.
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Unable to protest_]
+
+All right, the thing is yours.
+
+  [_With cynical observation_]
+
+But I suppose you know that you are disintegrating twenty-five hundred
+dollars worth of high art?
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Throwing the piece of canvas into the fire_]
+
+Is that your figure?
+
+FARNHAM
+
+For the present, yes. And therefore it seems to me that your eccentric
+little ingle-flame over there is just a bit extravagant.
+
+VAN ZORN
+
+  [_Punching the burning canvas with the poker_]
+
+I shouldn’t worry about that if I were you. We are living in an
+extravagant age.
+
+  [_He puts away the poker and stands watching the fire. At length he
+      turns to_ FARNHAM _and speaks with a subdued intensity and a new
+      emphasis_]
+
+It is your age, Farnham, and you had better not play with it.
+
+  [_Slowly_]
+
+If I were you, I should try to meet it half way.
+
+  [VAN ZORN _throws his cigar into the fire and stands looking at the
+      smouldering canvas, holding his hands behind him_. FARNHAM _goes
+      toward him slowly, holds out his hand and looks for a moment
+      into_ VAN ZORN’S _eyes_. VAN ZORN _takes his hand, lets it go,
+      and continues to look down into the fire_]
+
+FARNHAM
+
+  [_Embarrassed and with evident regret_]
+
+I’m sorry, old fellow, but I didn’t quite ... I didn’t realize that you
+were quite so much in earnest.
+
+  [VAN ZORN _makes no reply, but remains looking at the fire_. FARNHAM
+      _sits down on the edge of the window seat and looks thoughtfully
+      at the floor before him. Finally he looks again at Van Zorn, and
+      a slow incredulous smile comes over his face. Then he shrugs his
+      shoulders, as if he was still in doubt about something, and the
+      curtain falls slowly._]
+
+
+THE END
+
+
+
+
+The following pages contain advertisements of a few of the Macmillan
+books on kindred subjects.
+
+
+
+
+_RABINDRANATH TAGORE’S NEW DRAMA_
+
+The King of the Dark Chamber
+
+By
+
+RABINDRANATH TAGORE
+
+ Nobel Prizeman in Literature, 1913; Author of “Gitangali,” “The
+     Gardener,” “The Crescent Moon,” “Sadhana,” “Chitra,” “The
+     Post-Office,” etc. Cloth 12 mo.
+
+“The real poetical imagination of it is unchangeable; the allegory,
+subtle and profound and yet simple, is cast into the form of a dramatic
+narrative, which moves with unconventional freedom to a finely
+impressive climax; and the reader, who began in idle curiosity, finds
+his intelligence more and more engaged until, when he turns the last
+page, he has the feeling of one who has been moving in worlds not
+realized, and communing with great if mysterious presences.”
+
+                                                 _The London Globe._
+
+
+
+
+_NEW POEMS AND PLAYS_
+
+
+Romance
+
+   BY EDWARD SHELDON, Author of “The Nigger,” etc. Decorated cloth,
+     12mo.
+
+ Mr. Sheldon can be relied upon to provide drama that is not only good
+     from a technical standpoint, but unusual in subject-matter. _The
+     Nigger_, which proved to be one of the sensations of the New
+     Theatre’s short career, is now followed by _Romance_, a play more
+     admirable, perhaps, in its construction, and of universal appeal.
+     As a book the story seems to have lost none of its brilliance; in
+     fact the sharpness of its character delineation, the intensity and
+     reality of its plot and the lyrical beauty of some of its passages
+     are, if possible more apparent on the printed page than in the
+     theatre. There is little doubt but that the tremendous success
+     which the drama made when footlighted is to be duplicated upon its
+     appearance in this form.
+
+
+Poems
+
+   BY HARRIET MONROE. Cloth, 12mo. $1.25 net.
+
+ In this book is brought together some of Miss Monroe’s best work. As
+     the editor of _Poetry: A Magazine of Verse_, wherein occasionally
+     compositions of her own have appeared, and as a contributor to
+     the better magazines, Miss Monroe has endeared herself to a large
+     audience of discriminating people. A distinguishing feature of
+     the collection is that it is notably representative of current
+     ideas and sentiments, and pleasingly varied in theme. The author’s
+     subjects are chosen from the Panama Canal, the Titanic disaster,
+     the turbine, the telephone, State Street, Chicago, and other
+     modern phases or factors of life. There is also a group of love
+     poems.
+
+
+Plaster Saints
+
+     BY ISRAEL ZANGWILL. Cloth, 12mo. $1.25 net.
+
+ A new play of deep social significance.
+
+
+The Melting Pot
+
+   BY ISRAEL ZANGWILL. Revised edition. Cloth, 12mo.
+
+ This is a revised edition of what is perhaps Mr. Zangwill’s most
+     popular play. Numerous changes have been made in the text, which
+     has been considerably lengthened thereby. The appeal of the drama
+     to the readers of this country is particularly strong, in that it
+     deals with that great social process by which all nationalities
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+
+
+Sword Blades and Poppy Seed
+
+   BY AMY LOWELL, Author of “A Dome of Many-Coloured Glass.” Boards,
+     12mo. $1.25 net.
+
+ Of the poets who to-day are doing the interesting and original work,
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+     includes William Butler Yeats, Ezra Pound, Ford Madox Hueffer--she
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+     of poetical expression. Miss Lowell’s present volume of poems,
+     “Sword Blades and Poppy Seed,” is an unusual book. It contains
+     much perhaps that will arouse criticism, but it is a new note
+     in American poetry. Miss Lowell has broken away from academic
+     traditions and written, out of her own time, real singing poetry,
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+
+
+The Congo and Other Poems
+
+   BY VACHEL LINDSAY. Cloth, 12mo.
+
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+     has won the approbation of the critics and of his audiences
+     in general for the new verse form which he is employing. The
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+     to the idea which the author seeks to convey and their marvelous
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+     poetry. In this book are presented a number of Mr. Lindsay’s most
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+     discussed of all the year’s output.
+
+
+Borderlands and Thoroughfares
+
+   BY WILFRID WILSON GIBSON, Author of “Daily Bread,” “Fires,”
+     “Womenkind,” etc. Cloth, 12mo. $1.25 net.
+
+ With the publication of _Daily Bread_ Mr. Gibson was hailed as a new
+     poet of the people. _Fires_, his later volume, confirmed the
+     impression that here was a man whose writing was close to real
+     life, a man in whom were combined a sympathy and appreciation of
+     humankind with a rare lyrical genius. This present book continues
+     the work which Mr. Gibson can do so well. In it are brought
+     together three plays and a number of short lyrics which reveal
+     again his very decided talent. It is a collection which should
+     indeed gratify those students of modern verse who are looking to
+     such men as Gibson and Masefield for permanent and representative
+     contributions to literature.
+
+
+
+
+_A LIST OF PLAYS_
+
+
+ =Leonid Andreyev’s= Anathema                         $1.25 net
+
+ =Clyde Fitch’s= The Climbers                           .75 net
+      Girl with the Green Eyes                         1.25 net
+      Her Own Way                                       .75 net
+      Stubbornness of Geraldine                         .75 net
+      The Truth                                         .75 net
+
+ =Thomas Hardy’s= The Dynasts. 3 Parts. Each           1.50 net
+
+ =Henry Arthur Jones’s=
+      Whitewashing of Julia                             .75 net
+      Saints and Sinners                                .75 net
+      The Crusaders                                     .75 net
+      Michael and His Lost Angel                        .75 net
+
+ =Jack London’s= Scorn of Women                        1.25 net
+      Theft                                            1.25 net
+
+ =Mackaye’s= Jean D’Arc                                1.25 net
+      Sappho and Phaon                                 1.25 net
+      Fenris the Wolf                                  1.25 net
+      Mater                                            1.25 net
+      Canterbury Pilgrims                              1.25 net
+      The Scarecrow                                    1.25 net
+      A Garland to Sylvia                              1.25 net
+
+ =John Masefield’s= The Tragedy of Pompey              1.25 net
+
+ =William Vaughn Moody’s=
+      The Faith Healer                                 1.25 net
+
+ =Stephen Phillips’s= Ulysses                          1.25 net
+      The Sin of David                                 1.25 net
+      Nero                                             1.25 net
+      Pietro of Siena                                  1.00 net
+
+ =Phillips and Carr.= Faust                            1.25 net
+
+ =Edward Sheldon’s= The Nigger                         1.25 net
+      Romance                                          1.25 net
+
+ =Katrina Trask’s= In the Vanguard                     1.25 net
+
+ =Rabindranath Tagore’s= The Post Office               1.00 net
+      Chitra                                           1.00 net
+      The King of the Dark Chamber                     1.25 net
+
+ =Robinson, Edwin A.= Van Zorn                         1.25 net
+
+ =Sarah King Wiley’s= Coming of Philibert              1.25 net
+      Alcestis                                          .75 net
+
+ =Yeats’s= Poems and Plays, Vol. II, Revised Edition   2.00 net
+      Hour Glass (and others)                          1.25 net
+      The Green Helmet and Other Poems                 1.25 net
+
+ =Yeats and Lady Gregory’s= Unicorn from the Stars     1.50 net
+
+ =Israel Zangwill’s= The Melting Pot. New Edition      1.25 net
+      The War God                                      1.25 net
+      The Next Religion                                1.25 net
+      Plaster Saints                                   1.25 net
+
+
+                              PUBLISHED BY
+                          THE MACMILLAN COMPANY
+            Publishers      64-66 Fifth Avenue      New York
+
+
+
+
+Transcriber’s Notes
+
+
+ ‣ Italics represented with _underscores_.
+
+ ‣ Small Caps converted to ALL CAPS.
+
+ ‣ Duplicate chapter headers omitted.
+
+ ‣ Obvious typographic errors silently corrected.
+
+ ‣ On p. 148, three misspellings of "Pethrick" changed to "Petherick".
+
+ ‣ Footnote numbered and moved to follow the citing paragraph.
+
+
+
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78762 ***
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+     "Old English Text MT", "Lucida Blackletter", "Chomsky",
+     "Olde English Mt", "Olde English", "Old English",
+     "Engravers Old English BT", "Collins Old English",
+     "New Old English", "Noto Serif Display Black", "Luminari",
+     Gothic, serif; }
+
+    </style>
+</head>
+
+<body>
+<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78762 ***</div>
+
+<figure class="figcenter illowp47" id="cover" style="max-width: 106.25em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/cover.jpg" alt="Book cover">
+</figure>
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_i">[i]</span></p>
+</div>
+<h1>
+VAN ZORN
+</h1>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_ii">[ii]</span></p>
+</div>
+
+<figure class="figcenter" id="colophon" style="width: 200px;">
+  <img src="images/colophon.jpg" width="200" height="65" alt="Macmillan Company Colophon">
+</figure>
+
+<p class='center'>
+  THE MACMILLAN COMPANY<br>
+<span class='fs80'>  NEW YORK · BOSTON · CHICAGO · DALLAS<br>
+  ATLANTA · SAN FRANCISCO<br></span>
+  <br>
+  MACMILLAN &amp; CO., <span class="smcap">Limited</span><br>
+<span class='fs80'>  LONDON · BOMBAY · CALCUTTA<br>
+  MELBOURNE<br></span>
+  <br>
+  THE MACMILLAN CO. OF CANADA, <span class="smcap">Ltd.</span><br>
+<span class='fs80'>  TORONTO</span>
+</p>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_iii">[iii]</span></p>
+</div>
+
+<p class="center fs200 ls2">VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class="center mt1">A COMEDY IN THREE ACTS</p>
+
+<p class="center mt2">BY</p>
+<p class='center'>EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON</p>
+
+<p class="center blackletter mt4">New York</p>
+<p class='center'>THE MACMILLAN COMPANY</p>
+<p class='center'>1914</p>
+
+<p class="center mt1 fs80"><i>All rights reserved</i></p>
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_iv">[iv]</span></p>
+</div>
+<p class='center'>
+  <span class="smcap">Copyright, 1914</span><br>
+  <span class="smcap">By</span> THE MACMILLAN COMPANY<br>
+  Set up and electrotyped. Published September, 1914<br>
+  <br>
+  <span class="smcap">Copyright in</span> GREAT BRITAIN,<br>
+  All acting rights reserved by the author
+</p>
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_v">[v]</span></p>
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<p class='center'>
+  TO<br>
+  HERMANN HAGEDORN</p>
+
+</div>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+<p><a id="Page_vi"></a><span class="pagenum" id="Page_vii">[vii]</span></p>
+  <p class='center fs200'>
+    VAN ZORN
+  </p>
+</div>
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_viii"></a><a id="Page_ix"></a>[ix]</span></p>
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHARACTERS">
+    CHARACTERS
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+<div class='poetry-container'>
+<ul>
+  <li>VAN ZORN</li>
+  <li>GEORGE LUCAS</li>
+  <li>WELDON FARNHAM</li>
+  <li>OTTO MINK</li>
+  <li>MRS. LOVETT</li>
+  <li>VILLA VANNEVAR</li>
+  <li>JENNY</li>
+</ul>
+</div>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_1">[1]</span></p>
+
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="ACT_I">
+    ACT I
+
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_2"></a><a id="Page_3"></a>[3]</span></p>
+<p class='stage-direction'><span class="smcap">Weldon Farnham’s</span> <i>studio in Macdougal Alley, New York. In
+the rear is a long window, beneath which is a wide cushioned
+seat, extending from the left wall to a vestibule on the right,
+from which a door, front, opens into the studio. The door is
+hidden by a tall screen. Further down on the right is another
+door, and still further down is an antique cabinet, upon which
+rests a bust of Shakespeare. To the left of the cabinet, well
+into the room, is a table, upon which are a few books and,
+among other objects, an ornamental cigar box of polished
+mahogany. Half way down the left wall, which is built
+diagonally into the stage, cutting off about one-third of the
+rear wall, is an open grate with a mantel. Well to the front,
+on the left, is an upright wheeling easel, upon which a framed
+portrait faces the rear. There are several chairs, for the most
+part plain and small; but one of them, near the table, to the
+left, is large and comfortable.</i></p>
+
+<p class='stage-direction'><i>The curtain rises, revealing</i> <span class="smcap">Weldon Farnham</span> <i>and</i> <span class="smcap">Otto
+Mink</span>. <span class="smcap">Farnham</span> <i>is a well-conditioned and well-satisfied
+man of thirty, or a little more, with a certain complacent
+hardness about his face, which suggests an aggressiveness
+that does not really exist. He stands surveying</i> <span class="smcap">Otto</span>, <i>a
+younger man—short, plump, pink and loquacious—who in
+turn stands surveying the picture on the easel. His hands
+are in his trousers pockets, and he stands from time to time
+on the tips of his toes during the process of his scrutiny.</i></p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>As if amused</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Well, Otto, aren’t you going to say something?</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">[4]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Slowly, with a frown</i>]</p>
+
+<p>So this is Villa Vannevar.&#x2060;<a id="FNanchor_1_1" href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a>&#x2060;</p>
+
+<div class='footnotes'>
+<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_1_1" href="#FNanchor_1_1" class="label">[1]</a> Pronounced Vannee´-vr.</p></div>
+</div>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p>Not exactly. It’s a picture of her.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Smiling</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>You don’t care for it, I see—Lucas and Petherick think
+it’s rotten.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p>Did Lucas say that?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Still amused</i>]</p>
+
+<p>No, but he smoked it. He might as well have said it.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Leaving the picture and lighting a cigarette</i>]</p>
+
+<p>You can’t always tell what Old Hundred means—when
+he doesn’t say anything. Or when he does, for that
+matter.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Smiling</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I’m sorry, Otto, that you don’t like the picture.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Showing his teeth</i>]</p>
+
+<p>There’s genius in it. Is that what you wanted me to
+say?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p>But a poor likeness—eh?</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">[5]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p>Likeness?—Farnham, you make me sick.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<span class="smcap">Farnham</span> <i>scowls quickly and laughs</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>I beg your pardon, but you do,—just now, I mean.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a sniff</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>You and your pictures!</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Laughing</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Are they all so bad as that, Otto?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Irritated</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I suppose it’s <i>you</i> that I’m talking about, not your pictures.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With patronage</i>]</p>
+
+<p>You don’t seem to be improving matters very much.
+What have <i>I</i> done?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With affectionate disgust</i>]</p>
+
+<p>You? You haven’t done anything. Destiny, or something
+or other, has done it for you.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Laughing</i>]</p>
+
+<p>But I don’t believe much in destiny. I believe in work.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p>You didn’t work very hard to get the best girl in New
+York.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">[6]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p>If I didn’t know you, Otto, I might be offended.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Laughing</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>What’s the matter with you today, anyhow?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With all sincerity</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I understand. You think I’m jealous, but I’m not.
+I’m not such a dam fool.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p>Otto, don’t be so impulsive.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He laughs</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p>Impulsive? You don’t know what the word means.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a grimace</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>You might at least look glad, or say something foolish
+once in a while,—just to let a fellow know that you’re
+human.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Seriously</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I’ll take back a part of what I said, Otto. There may
+be a large element of destiny in my—we’ll say my very
+great good fortune.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Laughing</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>But I wouldn’t say as much as that to Van Zorn.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p>Van Zorn? He’s a fatalist, isn’t he?</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">[7]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Laughing</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I don’t know just what he is. He’s the best man living,
+and he’s my best friend.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Cheerfully</i>]</p>
+
+<p>And he’s worth about how many millions?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With animation</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I don’t know. Twenty or twenty-five. I don’t care
+much about that part of it.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p>You know, Farnham, I believe you when you say that.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Moving to the Right</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>If I didn’t, I shouldn’t hang around your place any more.
+You think you wouldn’t miss me if I didn’t, but you
+would. I’m a tender shoot, and I’m delicate, and you’ll be
+dam sorry when I’m dead.</p>
+
+<p class='stage-direction'>[<span class="smcap">Otto</span> <i>pauses before the bust of Shakespeare, looks at it thoughtfully,
+places his hat upon it carefully, and surveys the result with
+satisfaction</i>. <span class="smcap">Farnham</span> <i>watches him with patronizing
+amusement. Presently, when the two men stand looking at
+each other, the bell rings</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Looking at his watch</i>]</p>
+
+<p>That sounds like Lucas. It can’t be Mrs. Lovett—yet.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p>It’s Old Hundred, I’ll bet a sequin. Let him in.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">[8]</span></p>
+
+<p class='stage-direction'>[<span class="smcap">Farnham</span> <i>admits</i> <span class="smcap">George Lucas</span>, <i>who is a square-jawed and
+somewhat cadaverous looking man of thirty, with a melancholy
+and highly intellectual face. His clothes are well kept, but
+unmistakably the worse for wear, and there is a whimsical
+weariness in his manner that might be suggestive of latent
+tragedy. He looks at</i> <span class="smcap">Farnham</span> <i>and</i> <span class="smcap">Otto</span> <i>as if he expected
+them to say something</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p>Good morning, Phœbus-Apollo.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a benignant smile</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Good morning.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>To</i> <span class="smcap">Farnham</span>, <i>half quizzically</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Good morning.</p>
+
+<p class='stage-direction'>[<i>He looks at the decorated bust of Shakespeare, and then at</i> <span class="smcap">Otto</span>.
+<i>He smiles once more and removes his hat, which</i> <span class="smcap">Farnham</span>
+<i>takes and tosses on to window seat</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p>Have you come to join the celebration?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p>Celebration of what?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p>Oh, I don’t know. You take your choice. You might
+celebrate the publication of my new book, or you might
+celebrate the rotation of the planet Neptune—on his axis.
+Or, you might celebrate the engagement of our friend
+Farnham to the radiant Miss Villa Vannevar.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">[9]</span></p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Motioning towards the picture</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>There she is—or, I should say, a picture of her.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With gathering surprise and difficulty</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>I have seen the picture, but I had not heard of the engagement.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Giving his hand to</i> <span class="smcap">Farnham</span>, <i>but as if with unconscious reluctance</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Farnham, let me congratulate you.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Taking his hand</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Thank you, Lucas.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>As</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span> <i>goes towards the picture</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I fear that some of us get rather more than we deserve in
+this life.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Affecting indifference</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Oh, I don’t know about that.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Studying the picture</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>So this is Villa Vannevar.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Promptly, with his hands in his pockets</i>]</p>
+
+<p>That’s what <i>I</i> said.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Comfortably</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Your congratulations are quite enough, Lucas. You
+needn’t feel obliged to praise the picture.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">[10]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Solemnly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I wasn’t going to praise the picture.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Standing on his toes and grinning at</i> <span class="smcap">Farnham</span> <i>with satisfaction</i>]</p>
+
+<p>“Heaven is not reached with a single bound.” You can’t
+have everything at once, Farnham, even if you are a
+genius. But you might give Lucas a drink, and you might
+give me a bottle of cold beer.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Amused</i>]</p>
+
+<p>In the morning, Otto? Isn’t this something new?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Nodding at the bust</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Shakespeare did it, and I wish to do everything that
+Shakespeare did—so far as in me lies.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Laughing, as if</i> <span class="smcap">Otto</span> <i>were a child</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Well, all right, if I’ve got it.</p>
+
+<p class='stage-direction'>[<i>He goes out at the right</i>, <span class="smcap">Lucas</span> <i>leaves the picture, frowning to
+himself, and returns to</i> <span class="smcap">Otto</span>, <i>who is standing near the corner
+of the vestibule</i>. <span class="smcap">Otto</span> <i>turns</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span> <i>gently and assists him
+towards the cabinet, from which</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span> <i>takes out a bottle of
+whiskey and a glass, going with them to the table nearby.</i>
+<span class="smcap">Farnham</span> <i>returns with a bottle of beer and a glass</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>After a look at</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span>]</p>
+
+<p>Here you are, Stratford.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">[11]</span></p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<span class="smcap">Otto</span> <i>goes to the window seat</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Don’t you want some water, Lucas?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p>No, thank you. It won’t be necessary.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With mild insistence</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Better for the heart.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Prying the cap from the bottle</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Lucas hasn’t got any heart.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He pours out a glass of beer with care</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Well, Farnham, you man of iron, <i>morituri salutamus</i>. I’m
+a tender shoot, and I shan’t be with you very long. Neither
+will Lucas, if he doesn’t drink some water one of
+these days.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>There is a sinister note in his last words, and it is evidently caught
+by the other men</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a dry flourish</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Farnham, you are a man of parts, and once more I
+congratulate you. I’m a man of parts myself, as a matter
+of fact, but some of my parts don’t exactly fit, and as a
+consequence</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a hard, insincere laugh</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>as a consequence, I—I rattle. Your health and happiness.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He drinks, and shivers a little</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>And now,</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[12]</span></p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Exploring the table</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>If you will give me a small cigar</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He takes a large one from the box</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>I’ll tell you what a great man you are going to be.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He puts back the bottle and moves again towards the picture</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Who has been watching</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span> <i>with a patronizing smile</i>]</p>
+
+<p>And now if you two fellows will kindly make yourselves
+at home, I’ll be back in a little while. I’m going over to
+Petherick’s to get some photographs of his comical bust
+of Poe for Mrs Lovett; and if anyone comes in while I’m
+gone, I’ll trust you two to be agreeable.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Nervously</i>]</p>
+
+<p>But what does this mean, Farnham? If you expected
+visitors, why didn’t you say so?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Soothingly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>They are coming to see the picture in its new frame.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Hesitating</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Of course you remember Mrs. Lovett—and Villa
+Vannevar?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>In a dry voice</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Yes, I remember them. Villa Vannevar and I used to be
+rather good friends.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Indifferently</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>But I doubt if Mrs Lovett remembers me.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">[13]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>At the door</i>]</p>
+
+<p>She must.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Sitting down</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Why do you say that?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p>She must,—for you are not the kind that women forget.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He laughs and goes out, and</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span> <i>follows him with his eyes.
+He remains for a time as if in retrospection</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>From the window seat, after a pause</i>]</p>
+
+<p>It seems to me that Farnham might have done a little
+better than that.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<span class="smcap">Lucas</span> <i>gives him a quick look</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>But I don’t know,</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>In half soliloquy</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>perhaps he couldn’t, after all.</p>
+
+<p class='stage-direction'>[<span class="smcap">Otto</span> <i>studies the beer-bottle as if it were a rare vase, and</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span>,
+<i>leaning forward on his chair, rubs his fingers together thoughtfully</i>.]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p>Phœbus,</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<span class="smcap">Lucas</span> <i>looks at him</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>wake up.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p>I am awake.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p>The devil you are.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[14]</span></p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Getting up and stretching himself</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Let’s have another look at Farnham’s picture. Petherick
+thinks it’s rotten.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Mercifully</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>But then, Petherick’s a sculptor.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Drily</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Can’t sculptors tell when things are rotten?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Briskly</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Apparently not—if we are to judge them by what they
+have done for our fair city.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Rising and smiling</i>]</p>
+
+<p>You are severe this morning, Otto.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>In a fatherly way</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>I hope you aren’t going to be severe with <i>me</i>.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Looking at him sharply</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I <i>was</i> going to be—but I won’t now.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Frowning before the picture</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>So this is Villa Vannevar.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Smiling</i>]</p>
+
+<p>That’s what <i>I</i> said.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[15]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Still frowning</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Weldon Farnham.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Throwing up his hands</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Lucas, I can’t make it sound right.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Drily</i>]</p>
+
+<p>What’s wrong about the sound of it? Farnham is a
+good fellow, isn’t he?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With emphasis</i>]</p>
+
+<p>He’s a fine fellow; and he’s one of his own best friends.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Smiling grimly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Well, that makes for prudence—and for longevity.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Drily</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Very good indeed. What do you think of this picture,
+Phœbus, anyhow?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p>It’s a pretty good picture. All things are relative.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Promptly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Then you agree with Petherick.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p>Not necessarily.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[16]</span></p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He looks around him uncomfortably</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>But I don’t believe, Otto, that I’ll stay here any longer.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<span class="smcap">Otto</span> <i>moves toward him</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>You can entertain these women without me.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Backing</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span> <i>into his chair</i>]</p>
+
+<p>There! You try that for a while. Farnham said you
+were to stay here till he came back.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He takes another chair and sits facing</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Phœbus, you may kick me if you like, but I’m sorry for
+you. I’m dam sorry.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a doubtful scowl</i>]</p>
+
+<p>What do you think you are talking about, Otto?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Plunging</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Phœbus, I like you. I like you a lot. I’ve liked you for
+ten years—ever since I met you.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Pause</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>So far as I count for anything, I suppose I’m as good a
+friend as you have in the world.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Pleased and embarrassed</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I’m glad to hear you say that, Otto.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With more confidence</i>]</p>
+
+<p>You’d better wait till I’m done with you.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[17]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Smiling</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Go on. I’m at your service.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Clasping his knee and becoming very serious</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Very well. Tell me when to stop.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Pause</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Phœbus, how much does Farnham know about you?
+Did he know anything about you before he came to
+New York? Let me see, that was four years ago.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Surprised</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Probably not.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p>Well, then, did Farnham know Villa Vannevar before
+he came to New York?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Surprised</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Not to my knowledge.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p>Am I getting too personal?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Fighting with his curiosity</i>]</p>
+
+<p>You haven’t said anything injurious.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p>Good. Now does Farnham.... Oh, the devil! I
+suppose I ought not to ask you this, but I’m going to, all
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[18]</span>the same. Does Farnham know that Villa Vannevar cared
+more for you at one time than she cares now for any other
+man living?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Rubbing his hands slowly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I rather think, Otto, that you may as well stop.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p>Are you going to kick me?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p>No. Your motive is good, and I try to judge a fellow
+by his motive.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Taking a cheap watch from his pocket, he looks at it and shakes it
+at his ear</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>What time is it?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With much vigor</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Phœbus, you can’t put me off. I’ve got you now, and
+I’m going to tell you what I think of you.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Shaking his watch at his ear</i>]</p>
+
+<p>What do you think of me?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Nettled</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Well, I think you are going to the devil, for one thing.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Grinning</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Only going? I was told the other day that I had
+arrived—with banners.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[19]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p>Did Farnham tell you that?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p>That was Farnham’s hidden meaning.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>After a pause</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Well, Phœbus, I can’t speak for Farnham. But there
+was a time when the rest of us would have said that you
+had empires up your sleeve.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Impressively</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Looking at his sleeve</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Then they must be there yet. I’ve never shaken them
+out.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With more fervor</i>]</p>
+
+<p>They may be there, but all the devils in hell, with
+microscopes, couldn’t find them there this morning. As
+you are fond of reading, you may have gathered, from
+various authorities, that empires don’t run themselves,
+exactly. When they do, they run down.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p>Like my watch.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He shakes it, and returns it to his pocket</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Getting up with a sigh</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Phœbus, why don’t you try to find out where you are,
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[20]</span>and stop pickling your brain with rum, and quit bewildering
+your inferiors, and go back to school? If you
+don’t, there will be a funeral one of these days, and you
+won’t have to walk. And what I say is all as true as God
+made great whales and little squirrels.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Rubbing his knees and grinning</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Good. Say on.</p>
+
+<p class='stage-direction'>[<span class="smcap">Otto</span> <i>gives a snort of disgust and moves towards the bust of
+Shakespeare, his hands in his trousers’ pockets and his face
+puckered with a scowl</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Watching</i> <span class="smcap">Otto</span> <i>with weary amusement</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Otto, tell me something more about this much-travelled
+Odysseus of many devices, whom Farnham calls Van
+Zorn.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<span class="smcap">Otto</span> <i>removes his hat from the bust</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>I thought you would do that, Otto.</p>
+
+
+<p class='center'>[<span class="smcap">Otto</span> <i>puts his hat on his head and gives</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span> <i>a look of
+discouragement</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Tell me about Van Zorn, Otto, and take off your hat.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<span class="smcap">Otto</span> <i>spins his hat at</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span>, <i>who catches it deftly and throws it
+over to the window seat</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>I understand that he’s a fatalist—or something or other.
+Where does he live?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Piqued</i>]</p>
+
+<p>He doesn’t live anywhere. He doesn’t have to. He’s
+worth about twenty-five millions.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[21]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p>That isn’t very much. Is he in town?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Impatiently</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Yes, he’s in town.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p>How long is he going to stay?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Wearily</i>]</p>
+
+<p>How the devil do I know? I suppose he’ll stay as long
+as he likes the place. That’s what I should do, if I had
+twenty-five millions.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Becoming more rancid</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>And then, if the fancy seized me, I should pack my suitcase
+and go in for the irrigation of Mesopotamia.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Still leaning forward and rubbing his hands slowly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>When is Farnham to be married?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p>I don’t know. Didn’t you hear about the engagement?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Getting up and speaking without apparent interest</i>]</p>
+
+<p>No.... I don’t hear about things any more.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>The bell rings and</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span> <i>turns with a start</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>I wonder who that is.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He takes his watch from his pocket nervously and pretends to look
+at it</i>]<span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[22]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Smiling as he looks at his own watch</i>]</p>
+
+<p>If you wish to know what time it is, it’s five minutes to
+twelve.</p>
+
+<p class='stage-direction'>[<span class="smcap">Otto</span> <i>opens the door and admits</i> <span class="smcap">Mrs. Lovett</span> <i>and</i> <span class="smcap">Miss Villa
+Vannevar</span>. <span class="smcap">Mrs. Lovett</span> <i>is a short lady of fifty, with a
+manner that is slightly affected, but not comically so. She
+is dressed in black, and in a manner calculated to suggest
+rather than to express mourning.</i> <span class="smcap">Villa Vannevar</span> <i>is rather
+tall and very handsome, inclined to be unconventional and at
+times careless, naturally vivacious, but evidently not satisfied
+with her existence. She wears a walking suit of bright gray,
+with a smart hat</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With familiar mock-ceremony</i>]</p>
+
+<p>You are to come in—both of you—and you are to make
+yourselves entirely at home.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>To Mrs Lovett</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>The genius of the place has gone to get some photographs
+of your friend Petherick’s bust of Edgar A. Poe, the
+eminent literary man.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Turning to</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span>, <i>who has found something interesting on the
+table</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Both of you remember Mr. Lucas, I suppose.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>In a voice of friendly surprise</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Why it’s George!</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>She goes to him and gives him her hand, which he takes slowly, and
+holds a little longer than he means to</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Why, Auntie, it’s George!</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[23]</span></p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>To</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>You remember my aunt, don’t you, George?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p>I remember Mrs. Lovett very well.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>MRS. LOVETT</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>without warmth</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Of course I remember Mr. Lucas.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>To</i> <span class="smcap">Otto</span>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>And now, Otto, you bad child</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Holding up her finger</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>oh, yes! I have read your wicked books, and I know just
+how bad you are</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Laughing</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>—Villa and I are perishing to see the picture in its new
+frame.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>To</i> <span class="smcap">Villa</span>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Shall we wait for dear Weldon to come back? Artists are
+so queer, you know, and</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>To</i> <span class="smcap">Otto</span>, <i>with a smile</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>So very sensitive.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Beaming</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Very sensitive indeed. Have you read my last one—<i>Au
+Cinquième</i>? It came out day before yesterday.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Amused</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I’m sorry, Otto, but we haven’t even seen it.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[24]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Briskly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>In that case,</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>To</i> <span class="smcap">Mrs. Lovett</span>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>you cannot possibly know how bad I am.—As for the frame,</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Moving towards the picture</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>the frame is a beautiful piece of work. In point of fact, I
+don’t quite see how you are going to get along without it.</p>
+
+<p class='stage-direction'>[<span class="smcap">Mrs. Lovett</span> <i>follows him and they stand together before the picture</i>.
+<span class="smcap">Lucas</span> <i>and</i> <span class="smcap">Villa</span> <i>remain near the table, she becoming very
+serious and he pretending, not very well, to take a humorous
+view of the situation</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>MRS. LOVETT</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>After a silence</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Aren’t you coming to see yourself, Villa?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p>I’ll watch you and Otto—and talk with George. I know
+just how the picture looks, and I haven’t seen George for a
+thousand years.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<span class="smcap">Mrs. Lovett</span> <i>frowns a little and</i> <span class="smcap">Otto</span> <i>smiles to himself significantly</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>MRS. LOVETT</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Looking at the picture</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Oh—dear!</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>She sighs and looks at</i> <span class="smcap">Otto</span>, <i>who stands on his toes for a moment
+and then shakes his head</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Turning from</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span> <i>to</i> <span class="smcap">Mrs. Lovett</span>, <i>and laughing</i>]</p>
+
+<p>What’s the matter, Auntie?</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[25]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>MRS. LOVETT</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With ample resignation</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I don’t know what to say about it.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>She looks at</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span>, <i>who does not see her, and then looks at</i> <span class="smcap">Otto</span>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'><i>You</i> say something, Otto. I simply don’t know how.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p>I would gladly be of assistance, my dear Madam, but
+I don’t know how to say anything about it either.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Looking at</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>But there’s Lucas; he knows how to say something about
+it.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>MRS. LOVETT</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>After a quick frown</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Tell me the truth, Otto.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>She sighs again</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Turning and laughing</i>]</p>
+
+<p>If you do, Otto, I’ll tell Weldon everything you say.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Looking from</i> <span class="smcap">Villa</span> <i>to</i> <span class="smcap">Mrs. Lovett</span>, <i>with a grimace</i>]</p>
+
+<p>You seem to know the truth already. If you don’t, I
+cannot tell a lie.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Very distinctly</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>In the last analysis, then, the thing is worse than—than
+office-hours.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With determination</i>]</p>
+
+<p><i>I’m</i> going to say something now. I’m going to ask Otto
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[26]</span>to turn that picture to the wall until Weldon comes back.
+I won’t have it abused.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>To</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span>, <i>with sorry laugh</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>The only trouble with that picture is that it isn’t <i>me</i>.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Drily</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Yes, that is one trouble with it.</p>
+
+<p class='stage-direction'>[<span class="smcap">Villa</span> <i>looks at him strangely, and laughs again as before</i>. <span class="smcap">Mrs.
+Lovett</span> <i>looks at her with mild disapproval</i>. <span class="smcap">Otto</span> <i>grins,
+and begins to sing the swan-song in Lohengrin with subdued
+satisfaction as he turns the easel. As</i> <span class="smcap">Otto</span> <i>comes back to
+the center of the stage, the bell rings, and all appear to be
+suddenly disturbed</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>MRS. LOVETT</p>
+
+<p>Now who in the world is that? We don’t want people.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p>You might find out, Otto.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p>Aye, aye, sir.</p>
+
+<p class='stage-direction'><i>[Becoming more exuberant, he propels himself towards the door
+with a series of quasi-nautical hitches, trumpeting with his
+lips the opening chorus in “Pinafore.”</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span> <i>watches him
+with a weary smile</i>, <span class="smcap">Villa Vannevar</span> <i>laughs, and</i> <span class="smcap">Mrs.
+Lovett</span> <i>looks bewildered</i>. <span class="smcap">Otto</span> <i>opens the door and stands
+back, in whimsical obeisance</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p>You may come in, for I know your name. Your name
+is Van Zorn, and I’ve seen you before.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[27]</span></p>
+
+<p class='stage-direction'>[<span class="smcap">Van Zorn Enters.</span> <i>He is rather tall, well built, bronzed, and
+has powerful, penetrating eyes. His manner, though courteous
+and possibly a bit too dignified, is also a little heavy.
+He seems to be in constant fear of being taken too seriously;
+and yet he is a very serious person, inclined to a certain intangible
+melancholy that is easy to recognize but difficult to
+describe. His voice is rich, deep, and musical, his laugh is
+rare but pleasing, but his smile is frequent and engaging.
+There is at times something childlike in his acceptance of unusual
+situations and events, and there is something almost
+unreal in his easy persistence along lines that few men would
+ever think of pursuing. While he is for the most part self
+explanatory, there remains a fringe of mystery about him to the
+end</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Taking</i> <span class="smcap">Otto’s</span> <i>hand and smiling</i>]</p>
+
+<p>And I should remember <i>your</i> name. Your name is ...</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Distinctly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Mink.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With another smile</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Indeed? Then you must have two names.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>As the two move into the room</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I have. The grand total is Otto Mink.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>I remember now that Farnham called you Otto. I am
+very glad to see you again.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[28]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With expansion</i>]</p>
+
+<p>And now it devolves upon me to present a few of Farnham’s
+friends. Here, for example, is Mrs. Lovett.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>She smiles at Otto, and receives Van Zorn with unqualified
+approval</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>And here is Miss Villa Vannevar. She’s another friend of
+Farnham’s, and you’ve met her before.</p>
+
+<p class='stage-direction'>[<span class="smcap">Villa</span> <i>gives</i> <span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span> <i>her hand, and he looks at her, in spite of
+his efforts, as if he were fascinated. The two appear to be
+very serious, until</i> <span class="smcap">Otto</span> <i>presents</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span>, <i>when she laughs—but
+with no great amount of spirit</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>And here is Mr. Lucas. Sometimes we call him Phœbus—on
+account of his sunny disposition.</p>
+
+<p class='stage-direction'>[<span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span> <i>shakes hands with</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span> <i>with great cordiality and
+looks at him as long as he looked at</i> <span class="smcap">Villa Vannevar</span>, <i>but
+with an entirely different expression. There is a kindness
+and a certain satisfaction in his eyes that surprises</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span>
+<i>and embarrasses him</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>That object over there is a portrait of Miss Vannevar, but
+we are not to see it again until Farnham comes back. You
+won’t like Farnham any better after you see it.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Amused</i>]</p>
+
+<p>That doesn’t sound altogether complimentary to
+Farnham.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Cheerfully</i>]</p>
+
+<p>It isn’t.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>Perhaps I don’t quite understand you.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[29]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p>You will.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a look of amused inquiry at</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span>]</p>
+
+<p>You surprise me. I have come to think of Farnham as
+one of the best of living painters.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With his hands in his trousers’ pockets</i>]</p>
+
+<p>He is. That’s partly what ails him.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>MRS. LOVETT</p>
+
+<p>Why, Otto,—you ridiculous child!</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p>If you don’t believe me, ask Phœbus—I mean Lucas.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>To</i> <span class="smcap">Villa</span>, <i>smiling</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I think I’ll wait and ask Farnham himself.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Laughing</i>]</p>
+
+<p>He may bite you.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>I know Farnham’s bite. It isn’t very dangerous.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p>He thinks it is.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Moving nearer to her, as if drawn</i>]</p>
+
+<p>How soon do you expect him back?</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[30]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Suddenly serious</i>]</p>
+
+<p>At any moment.</p>
+
+<p class='stage-direction'>[<span class="smcap">Lucas</span> <i>begins a silent investigation of the studio, while</i> <span class="smcap">Mrs.
+Lovett</span> <i>and</i> <span class="smcap">Otto</span> <i>talk together</i>, <span class="smcap">Mrs. Lovett</span> <i>apparently
+amused and perhaps a little scandalized by his childlike
+narrations. She looks frequently and almost eagerly at</i> <span class="smcap">Van
+Zorn</span> <i>and</i> <span class="smcap">Villa</span>, <i>who stand near the table. They seem to be
+laboring under a mysterious constraint, which</i> <span class="smcap">Villa</span> <i>tries
+to put off with an assumed light humor</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Smiling</i>]</p>
+
+<p>You talk as if you thought me a doubtful character.
+I trust that Farnham hasn’t given me one.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Nervously</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Weldon has praised you so much that we are all a little
+afraid of you.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>I shall have to stop that.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Pause</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Do you remember the day when you and Mr.—</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Glancing at</i> <span class="smcap">Otto</span>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Mr. Mink—went over my boat with Farnham and me?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p>Of course I do. That was the day before you sailed
+away to the other side of the world.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[31]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Earnestly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Thank you for remembering that day.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Still nervous</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I remember the day—and I remember that you frightened
+me somehow.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Laughing</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>You made me think of Captain Kidd and the Flying
+Dutchman—both together.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Smiling</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I don’t know about Captain Kidd, but I suppose I <i>am</i>
+a sort of Dutchman.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a little shiver</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Not the Flying Dutchman—I hope?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a quaint seriousness</i>]</p>
+
+<p>No—not exactly. As a matter of fact, I have undertaken
+to be a doctor.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Bewildered</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Medicine, Philosophy or Divinity?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a melancholy laugh.</i>]</p>
+
+<p>All three, in a measure—and I shall be my own patient.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[32]</span></p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Quite seriously</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>I must have a place in the scheme of existence, and I have
+had a presentiment that I am soon to find it.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Drawing back a little and laughing</i>]</p>
+
+<p>You?... A place in the scheme of existence?...
+I’m beginning to be positively creepy. I thought you had
+everything.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Shaking his head</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Then you are greatly mistaken. I have nothing—yet.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Impulsively</i>]</p>
+
+<p>What a very unfortunate person! I beg your pardon a
+thousand times, but you make me laugh.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>You needn’t be apologetic, and you needn’t laugh.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Bewildered</i>]</p>
+
+<p>What—are you going to do—first?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Smiling faintly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I have thought of several plans to make my existence
+worth while, but I am not yet sure of any of them.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[33]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a sigh and a laugh</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Well, I don’t know what you expect me to say. You
+don’t speak a language that a poor girl can understand.</p>
+
+<p class='stage-direction'>[<i>She looks over her shoulder and meets the eyes of</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span>, <i>who by
+this time has made a circuit of the studio and taken a casual
+inventory of its contents. She looks at him, smiling, and then
+at</i> <span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span>, <i>who is looking at</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span> <i>with a slight frown
+that is both friendly and inquiring</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p>I wonder if George—Mr. Lucas—could be of any service
+to you. He isn’t a doctor, but he knows almost everything.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Pleasantly, after a slow nod at</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span>]</p>
+
+<p>Does he know himself?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a shrug</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I regret to say that he does.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>To</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span>, <i>distinctly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Then Miss Vannevar is right. The man who knows
+himself does know almost everything.</p>
+
+<p class='stage-direction'>[<i>There has been a brief pause in</i> <span class="smcap">Otto’s</span> <i>animated conversation
+with</i> <span class="smcap">Mrs. Lovett</span>, <i>and now</i> <span class="smcap">Otto</span> <i>looks keenly at</i> <span class="smcap">Villa</span>,
+<span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span>, <i>and</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span>]</p>
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[34]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Laughing at</i> <span class="smcap">Otto</span>]</p>
+
+<p>The man who knows himself must be inspired.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>To</i> <span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Otto couldn’t keep from being inspired if he tried. Otto
+is a poet.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Grinning</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Do I look like one?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p>You look like a rose of Sharon, Otto.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Glancing towards the door</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>I thought I heard something.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Holding up his finger</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Hist! There it is again!</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Going to the door mysteriously</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>It’s the Thing itself.</p>
+
+<p class='stage-direction'>[<span class="smcap">Farnham</span> <i>is heard in the vestibule, singing carelessly to himself
+the air of the Conspirators from “La Fille de Madame Angot.”</i>
+<span class="smcap">Otto</span> <i>opens the door with a flourish, and</i> <span class="smcap">Farnham</span> <i>soon
+enters</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p>You are late, and the show is half over.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Putting his hands into his trousers’ pockets</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>The next thing on the programme will be the eminent
+comedians, Van Zorn and Lucas, in “The Old Oaken
+Bucket.” Song and dance.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[35]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>MRS. LOVETT</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With languid primness</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Otto, you might take your hat and go home.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Taking</i> <span class="smcap">Mrs. Lovett’s</span> <i>hand</i>]</p>
+
+<p>No, don’t send him home. He can’t help it. The trouble
+is in his brain.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<span class="smcap">He</span> <i>shakes hands with</i> <span class="smcap">Villa</span> <i>and smiles</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>But <i>you</i></p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Shaking hands with</i> <span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span> <i>and looking at him with eager
+satisfaction</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>—you might have let a fellow know that you were coming.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>looking around</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>I suppose there is no need of introductions.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Beaming</i>]</p>
+
+<p>None whatever. We are all happily acquainted.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>After giving</i> <span class="smcap">Otto</span> <i>a patronizing scrutiny</i>]</p>
+
+<p>There are the photographs, Mrs. Lovett, and if you
+don’t find them sufficiently bad, it won’t be Petherick’s
+fault. Poor Poe!</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Nodding to</i> <span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'><i>He</i> could tell you something about Destiny, if he were
+alive.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He nods at the envelope</i>]</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[36]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>MRS. LOVETT</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Looking at one of the photographs</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Poe was a wonderful creature.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p>There are no records to prove that he ever denied it.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>To</i> <span class="smcap">Villa</span>, <i>with his most confident smile</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Have you seen the picture, and the frame?</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He gazes at the easel, frowns for a moment, and then laughs drily</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Who turned it to the wall? Did you do that, Lucas?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Quickly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Otto did it. I told him to.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Rather drily</i>]</p>
+
+<p>That was very considerate of you.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<span class="smcap">He</span> <i>moves the easel back to its former position</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Well, there it is.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Confidently</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>And now you may all do your worst. Otto and Lucas
+needn’t say anything, for I know what they think already.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Cheerfully</i>]</p>
+
+<p>You may not. We’ve never told you.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a short laugh</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Well, if you haven’t, you needn’t.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span> <i>stands before the picture and studies it ominously</i>]</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[37]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p>Well, which is it—life, or death?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With annihilating deliberation</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I should say that it was neither. I am not satisfied
+with it.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a dry laugh</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Were you ever entirely satisfied with anything?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Gently</i>]</p>
+
+<p>We are not here on earth to be entirely satisfied, are we?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p>Oh, I don’t know about that.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>I hope most sincerely that you are not satisfied with this
+picture.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p>I thought it had a kind of merit.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Frowning</i>]</p>
+
+<p>It has. It’s a work of genius, if you like.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Promptly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>That’s what <i>I</i> said.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[38]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Patiently</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I know it Otto—And now I should like to hear what
+Mrs. Lovett has to say.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>MRS. LOVETT</p>
+
+<p>But, dear Weldon, you can’t possibly care what I
+think—a poor old thing like me.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Looking through her glasses</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Of course you have flattered the poor child almost to
+death.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Genially</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I don’t see how you can say so.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>To</i> <span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span> <i>and</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span>]</p>
+
+<p>Help! help!</p>
+
+<p class='character'>MRS. LOVETT</p>
+
+<p>But you are a wonderful creature, all the same, and I
+shall have to forgive you. Two very intelligent men</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Beaming on</i> <span class="smcap">Otto</span>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>have called you a genius, and surely that should be enough
+for one morning.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p>Three, Mrs. Lovett, Phœbus—I mean George—called
+him one before you came in.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>MRS. LOVETT</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>After a look at</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span>]</p>
+
+<p>I am very glad to hear it.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[39]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Briskly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I knew you would be.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Going to</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>And now, Phœbus—I mean George—it’s time for you
+and me to go out and have something to eat. I have a
+premonition that you and I are in a way to become superfluous.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>MRS. LOVETT</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With motherly tolerance</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Otto, are you going to talk nonsense all the rest of your
+life?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Spinning his hat on the end of his stick</i>]</p>
+
+<p>If youth but knew.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With animation</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Why can’t we all go out and lunch somewhere together?
+I’ve got some money.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>MRS. LOVETT</p>
+
+<p>You forget, my child, that we are to have luncheon
+with Mrs. Dyce.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p>Give my love to Mrs. Dyce, and to the Pomeranian
+twins. And now Phœbus and I are going over to the
+Brevoort House and have something with a squeezed lime
+in it. After that we shall have a morsel of bread, and
+Phœbus will tell me what he thinks of my new book—<i>Au
+Cinquième</i>, I call it.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[40]</span></p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>To</i> <span class="smcap">Villa</span>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>You haven’t seen it. Are you going to be at home this
+afternoon?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Laughing</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Yes, Otto,—to <i>you</i>.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p>All right. I’ll bring around a copy of <i>Au Cinquième</i>.
+[<i>cheerfully</i>] I wrote it with my heart’s blood.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>To</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span>, <i>briskly</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Come along, Phœbus.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Going to</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span> <i>and holding out her hand</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Good-bye, George.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Taking her hand and speaking strangely</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Good-bye.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Giving</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span> <i>his hand</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I am very glad to have met you, Mr. Lucas—very glad
+indeed.</p>
+
+<p class='stage-direction'>[<span class="smcap">He</span> <i>speaks with a peculiar earnestness that causes</i> <span class="smcap">Mrs. Lovett</span>
+<i>and</i> <span class="smcap">Farnham</span> <i>to look at each other. But</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span> <i>appears to
+be abstracted and indifferent</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>At the door, declaiming solemnly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>“So now for a season we leave you, taking with us our
+various musical instruments. Presently we shall return,
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[41]</span>bringing with us nothing but our accordeons.” <i>Auf
+wiedersehen.</i></p>
+
+<p class='stage-direction'>[<span class="smcap">Otto</span> <i>and</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span> <i>go out</i>. <span class="smcap">Mrs. Lovett</span> <i>and</i>
+    <span class="allsmcap">FARNHAM</span> <i>look
+after</i> <span class="smcap">Otto</span> <i>and laugh</i>. <span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span> <i>looks at</i> <span class="smcap">Villa Vannevar</span>,
+<i>who stands gazing at the floor. Her face is troubled and she
+bites her under lip as if to keep it under control</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>MRS. LOVETT</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>To</i> <span class="smcap">Farnham</span>]</p>
+
+<p>Otto should be ashamed of himself.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p>He will be—sometime.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>MRS. LOVETT</p>
+
+<p>He is going to take that poor unfortunate Mr. Lucas
+over to the Brevoort House and give him liquor.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With an unfeeling grin</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I don’t see any way out of it now. As for poor Mr.
+Lucas, this man</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Looking at</i> <span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>will tell you that he is in the hands of Destiny—gin-rickeys
+and all.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a laugh</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>We can do nothing for him.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>MRS. LOVETT</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Rising with a sigh</i>]</p>
+
+<p>It may be so, poor fellow. If he were not so thoroughly
+impossible, he would be rather interesting.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<span class="smcap">Villa</span> <i>looks at her almost angrily</i>]</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[42]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>May I venture to ask, Mrs. Lovett, if you are final in
+your judgment?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>MRS. LOVETT</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With apologetic vivacity</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Dear me, no! I don’t judge anything—not even a fly.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Smiling, as if with effort</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I am very glad, for I have begun to believe that Mr.
+Lucas and I may be of service to each other.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<span class="smcap">Villa</span> <i>looks at him eagerly</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>MRS. LOVETT</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Puzzled and not wholly pleased</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I don’t understand what you mean, and I’m not going
+to try.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>I am not always sure that I understand myself.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a nervous laugh</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I’m glad to know it, for I’m not either.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>To</i> <span class="smcap">Mrs. Lovett</span>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Come along, Auntie, or Mrs. Dyce’s little dogs will eat
+up all the luncheon.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Laughing</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Pomeranian twins!</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Giving her hand to</i> <span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Good-bye.... I’m glad you aren’t the Flying Dutchman.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[43]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Holding her hand</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Nothing half so distinguished, I assure you.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Not wholly at ease</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Or so unfortunate.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Letting her hand go, slowly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I am not so sure about that.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p>Weldon thinks you are the greatest man in the world</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>To</i> <span class="smcap">Farnham</span>, <i>laughing</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>—except himself.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>MRS. LOVETT</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Beaming</i>]</p>
+
+<p>And the most wonderful creature.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Smiling</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Weldon has made a mistake.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p>You are too modest.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>Do you think so?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With the same constrained laugh</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Perhaps I don’t know you well enough to say.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[44]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>We may come to know each other better in the future.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p>I feel sure of that. I should like to know you better.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Smiling</i>]</p>
+
+<p>You may be disappointed in me.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>As before</i>]</p>
+
+<p>If I am, I’ll tell you so.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>MRS. LOVETT</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Who has been watching the two with bewildered approval</i>]</p>
+
+<p>She means that she will say, on all occasions, the first
+thing that comes into her silly little head.—But we must
+go now. Good-bye.</p>
+
+<p class='stage-direction'>[<span class="smcap">They</span> <i>shake hands</i>. <span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span> <i>and</i> <span class="smcap">Villa Vannevar</span> <i>look at
+each other with a smile of half-fascinated intensity. The two
+women go</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Coming from the door and touching</i> <span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span> <i>on the shoulder,
+laughing curiously</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Well, Childe Harold, for a sedate and rather melancholy
+Ancient Mariner, you seem to be getting on.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Standing in thought</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Yes, I am getting on in years.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[45]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p>Oh, cheer up. We are only thirty two. “We are children
+still,” and we “grope in the dark for what the day will
+bring.”</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Going to the table and reaching for the cigars</i>]</p>
+
+<p>That’s what we do: we “grope in the dark for what the
+day will bring”.... Here—have a cigar.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Absently</i>]</p>
+
+<p>No, thank you.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Holding out the box</i>]</p>
+
+<p>It’s a Pedro.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>No, thank you.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Coaxingly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Colorado.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>Not now.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Taking a cigar and putting back the box</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Well, is there anything that your serene excellency
+<i>would</i> like, that I can give you—this fine October morning?
+You’ll have a drink, perhaps.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Shaking his head</i>]</p>
+
+<p>No, Farnham. But I may—I may ask you for your
+advice.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[46]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Lighting his cigar</i>]</p>
+
+<p>And you couldn’t possibly do better. What seems to be
+weighing most heavily on your noble mind?</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Pointing to a chair</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Sit down.</p>
+
+<p class='stage-direction'>[<span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span> <i>takes the large chair mechanically and remains for a
+time in silence</i>. <span class="smcap">Farnham</span> <i>sits expectantly in a small chair
+not far from the table</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Slowly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Farnham, I wish you would tell me something about
+this man Lucas.... About his life, and his death, and
+his possibilities.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Laughing</i>]</p>
+
+<p>His death, did you say?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Simply</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Yes. He seems to have died.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Carelessly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I don’t know but you are right. And if you refer to his
+possibilities in the way of drink, I can recommend him
+without qualifications. There is nothing else in town that
+is quite like him.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>I am not joking, I assure you.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[47]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p>Neither am I. Old Hundred is no joke.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>Then you might tell me something about him. Who is
+he? What is he? And why is he where he is?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Laughing</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Where <i>is</i> he?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>He appears just now to be at what we might call the
+crossways. Whether he takes one way or the other, will
+depend upon events.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a short laugh</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Why don’t you say Destiny, and be done with it?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>Very well—we’ll call it Destiny. How old is Lucas?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p>About twenty-nine. Abundantly old enough to know
+better.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a smile</i>]</p>
+
+<p>You might say that of <i>me</i>. It is possible that Lucas and
+I may have a great deal in common.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He taps the arms of his chair with his fingers and looks into the
+distance</i>]</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[48]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Laughing impatiently</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I thought of that when I saw you together.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Crossing his legs</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Well, you ask me to tell you about Lucas, and I find that
+I haven’t much to tell. I haven’t known him very long,
+when it comes to that; but from what I have gathered and
+inferred, it would seem that his father was a good deal of a
+metropolitan rounder—before the days of the Great White
+Way. Whether that made any difference or not, I don’t
+know. All I can say for certain is that Lucas’s father
+didn’t spend all his evenings holding his little one on his
+knee, or teaching him the binomial theorem.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a tired sigh</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Little Georgie was undoubtedly neglected. But what of
+it?</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Looking at the bust</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>So was Shakespeare, I fancy.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Frowning</i>]</p>
+
+<p>And Lucas’s mother?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p>She had the good fortune to die. You needn’t look at me
+like that, for the old man was a bad egg.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Disappointed</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Is that the best you can do for me?</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[49]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Impatiently</i>]</p>
+
+<p>What more do you want? It’s for Lucas to do the rest.
+He has ability enough to fit out a dozen ordinary men,
+but he can’t use it—or he won’t. He isn’t peculiar to
+New York. You’ll find him over all the world.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Thoughtfully</i>]</p>
+
+<p>And Lucas has run down—like a watch.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p>Yes, or rather like the Old Clock on the Stairs. And
+I’m afraid he’s past winding up.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Tapping with his fingers</i>]</p>
+
+<p>And what will be the outcome of all this?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Weary of the subject</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Oh, I don’t know. I shouldn’t wonder if I were to take
+up a newspaper some morning and read that one George
+Lucas had blown the top of his head off in one of our public
+parks—probably in Washington Square, not far from the
+statue of Garibaldi. That statue beats anything of
+Petherick’s.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Slowly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I wonder if I have made a mistake. I don’t often make
+mistakes in my judgment of men.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[50]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p>That’s interesting. How about women?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>We are not talking about women—</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With emphasis</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>at present.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Laughing</i>]</p>
+
+<p>All right; excuse me. But what if you <i>do</i> make mistakes?
+You can charge them all up to Destiny, and go on about
+your business. The rest of us poor devils, who think we are
+burdened with free will, have to pay for our mistakes—with
+complex interest.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>No matter about that. But what if <i>I</i> were to run down—after
+the manner of Lucas?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p>But Lucas’s case hasn’t anything to do with yours.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>How do you know?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p>You couldn’t let yourself run down.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>How do you know?</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[51]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Getting up, with a laugh of protest</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Because that isn’t the way we do things nowadays—if
+we have any sense. If you say “How do you know”
+again, I’ll....</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>Farnham, has it occurred to you that Lucas’s problem
+may not be half so simple as you have made it out to be?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p>You can’t expect me to tell you what I don’t know.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Significantly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Or all that you do know—possibly.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<span class="smcap">Farnham</span> <i>says nothing, but smokes</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>In the light of what you say, I wonder that you should
+trouble yourself to have this man Lucas around.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p>More Destiny I suppose. We can’t beat Destiny.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>Certainly not. But Destiny can beat <i>us</i>, and it can make
+us do better than we have done in the past.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a sharp look</i>]</p>
+
+<p>So Lucas is going to have greatness thrust upon him,
+is he?</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Laughing</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>“Van Zorn and Lucas, the eminent comedians.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[52]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Laughing a little and looking at the bust</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I wonder what Shakespeare would do if he were in my
+place.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p>He might kill Polonius, or he might mix himself a drink.
+That would depend entirely upon Destiny.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Drily</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Undoubtedly ... and we might say more about Destiny....
+But whether or not we ought to say it....</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p>According to your convenient doctrine, I don’t see that
+there is any “ought” or “ought not” about it—unless you
+think you ought to congratulate me on my engagement
+to Villa Vannevar. Do you?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Distinctly, after a pause</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Most assuredly <i>not</i>.</p>
+
+<p class='stage-direction'>[<span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span> <i>drums with his fingers on the arms of his chair and
+looks straight before him</i>. <span class="smcap">Farnham</span> <i>watches him with a
+gathering hardness in his look and at length breaks the
+strained silence with a flat laugh, to which</i> <span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span> <i>pays
+no attention</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Uncomfortably</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Is this a new kind of joke that you have brought with
+you from India? If it is, I don’t seem to care much for it.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[53]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Looking at him</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I wish, Farnham, that you would wait a little before
+you talk like that.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a short laugh</i>]</p>
+
+<p>All right—I’ll wait. There’s nothing else for me to do.
+It’s going to be Destiny anyhow, and I can’t help myself.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>After getting up and looking at the picture</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Farnham, there is something wrong here.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<span class="smcap">He</span> <i>moves slowly towards him</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>There is something in the air. I can feel it. I have felt
+it ever since I came in.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Unpleasantly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Shall I open a window and let it out?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>I think it would be quite sufficient if we were to—lift a
+curtain.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Drily</i>]</p>
+
+<p>On your past life?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>On mine—and yours. Past, present, and future.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p>You are sure that you are quite well?</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[54]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Nods slowly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I am sure.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With mock relief</i>]</p>
+
+<p>That’s good. Now a man in your condition ought to
+have a cheerful, not to say optimistic, outlook on life.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<span class="smcap">He</span> <i>shrugs his shoulders and forces another laugh</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Distinctly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I may not see life as it is, but I see it as I see it. And
+I am confident that I see one rather important aspect of it
+as it is going to be if you have your way. I mean, rather,
+if your vanity and your obstinacy have <i>their</i> way.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a sign of resignation</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Go on.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Drily</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>You are the best thing we have had since Samson and the
+foxes. Well, with my Vanity and your Destiny working
+together, we ought to arrive somewhere, as I have no
+doubt we shall.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>And where do you think we shall arrive?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p>If you’ll be good enough to raise that magic curtain of
+yours, we may find out.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[55]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Frowning</i>]</p>
+
+<p>If I raise it—yes.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Nervously</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Then why the devil don’t you?</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Laughing as before</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>I can stand it—Destiny and all.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With assumed lightness</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>I am enjoying what you say, thus far; and I have no doubt</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Sitting down</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>that I shall be interested in what may follow.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>After watching</i> <span class="smcap">Farnham</span>]</p>
+
+<p>Then I may as well come to my subject. Do you know
+that I have been coming to it for a long time—for more
+than four years, in fact?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p>I don’t know what you are talking about, but go ahead,
+all the same.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>I will. And I’ll begin by asking you one or two direct
+questions. If they seem too direct, you must try to pardon
+me.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Pause</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Farnham, does the approaching unhappiness of three
+people, who might as well be happy, commend itself to
+you as an attractive picture, or as a desirable state of
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[56]</span>affairs? Have you said to yourself that your Vanity and
+my Destiny, to use your own words, might as easily work
+together for joy and for good, as for misery and for evil?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Squirming</i>]</p>
+
+<p>What name does your doctor give to this?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>Don’t you think we are beyond that now?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Nervously</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Beyond recovery? I hope not.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>Haven’t I raised the curtain?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Getting up</i>]</p>
+
+<p>You have raised the devil. That’s about what you have
+done.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With another dry laugh</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>What have you been doing since you went away?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Quietly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>You give me a leverage when you ask that.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[57]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Impulsively</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Then for God’s sake use it, and send this curtain of yours
+up a little higher.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With irony</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>If I can be of any assistance....</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Distinctly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Farnham, my career, during the past four years, has
+consisted for the most part in <i>seeking</i> ... seeking for
+guidance.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With another laugh</i>]</p>
+
+<p>You might have done worse. “He that seeketh”....
+You know about that fellow.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Slowly, but with finality</i>]</p>
+
+<p>“Findeth.”</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With strained humor</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Good. Are you sure you won’t have a cigar?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Solemnly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Do you remember what the text goes on to say of him
+that knocketh? I wonder what you think would be likely
+to happen if I were to—knock.</p>
+
+<p class='stage-direction'>[<span class="smcap">Farnham</span> <i>moves to the fireplace and stands gazing into the grate</i>.
+<span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span> <i>looks at him and waits for him to speak</i>]</p>
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[58]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Slowly and incredulously</i>]</p>
+
+<p>What are you driving at, anyhow? Are you in love
+with Villa Vannevar?... You have never told me about
+this.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>You have not been exactly available.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p>You might have come back before.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>And I might have made a mistake in doing so. I waited
+for what seemed to be the appointed time, and then I came.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p>And here you are.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With more spirit</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Now I don’t know much about the appointed time, as you
+call it, but I suppose I do know what you mean by knocking
+at doors.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He looks at the picture and scowls</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>May I ask</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Unpleasantly</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>how many times you intend to knock? And when you
+intend to begin?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>In a level, musical voice</i>]</p>
+
+<p>My intention was to knock once, this afternoon, if it
+could be arranged.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[59]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Incredulously</i>]</p>
+
+<p>You and your boat must have made a record, if that’s
+the way you feel.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>As if led along reluctantly by the humor of the situation</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Well, I dare say it can be arranged—and I infer that you
+count on me to do the arranging.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>I shall never knock under other conditions.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>As before</i>]</p>
+
+<p>And what do you intend to do after you get in? Something
+in the Lochinvar line? Carry the young lady away
+on a horse—or in a limousine?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Seriously</i>]</p>
+
+<p>If I were to be admitted, and if I were to satisfy myself
+that my convictions are correct, that three people are on
+their way to unhappiness and disaster.... What should
+I do then? What ought I to do then?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p>You look at me as if you thought I was afraid of something.
+I wish you would tell me what <i>I</i> ought to be beginning
+to think of <i>you</i>.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Quietly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>You should think of me at all times as the best friend
+you have in the world.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[60]</span></p>
+
+<p class='stage-direction'>[<span class="smcap">Farnham</span> <i>lights a match on the box that he has taken from the
+mantel and watches the flame until it burns down to his fingers.
+Then he puts his hands into his pockets and looks at</i> <span class="smcap">Van
+Zorn</span> <i>intently</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Distinctly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>How long has this been going on? How long have you
+been planning to marry Villa Vannevar?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Distinctly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I said something about four years. But time, in your
+sense of the word, doesn’t mean very much to me.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Almost with a sneer</i>]</p>
+
+<p>It may come to mean more—eventually.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Nods slowly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>That remains to be seen.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>As before</i>]</p>
+
+<p>As you see it?</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span> <i>nods again</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>My fatalistic friend, you may not care much to know what
+I have been doing during the past four or five years, but
+what I have been doing during the past four or five minutes
+may be of interest to you. If so, I have been asking myself
+why it is, in spite of my agreement, that I have been
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[61]</span>taking the trouble to listen to you. You must be aware
+that I would not have listened to the same talk from any
+other man living.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a strange innocence</i>]</p>
+
+<p>What possible fear can you have, if you have no doubts—or
+misgivings?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Scowling</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Fear? Doubts? Misgivings?—what the devil are you
+driving at now?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>As before</i>]</p>
+
+<p>You might lead me to believe that you think me capable
+of treachery.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p>Treachery?</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a nasal laugh</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>By treachery, I suppose you mean</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Letting his words out half-angrily, in detached phrases</i>]</p>
+
+<p>the repeated visitations—of an irresistible personality—on
+the unschooled emotions—of a young lady who is about
+to do me the honor of becoming my wife.... Am I
+about right?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Smiling</i>]</p>
+
+<p>You speak now as if you thought me capable of almost
+anything—beginning with murder.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[62]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Trying to laugh</i>]</p>
+
+<p>No, I don’t think that. For I know now that even you
+have your limitations.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With tightening lips</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Yes; and I am limited, for the present, at any rate,
+to one interview—subject to your consent and arrangement.
+If by any chance you should choose to change
+your mind....</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Half-angry</i>]</p>
+
+<p>What do you mean by that? Why should I change my
+mind? Just because you have elected to be plain crazy—with
+your appointed time, and your—your Destiny—do
+you think I’m going to be such an ass as to take you
+seriously? I don’t care much for this sort of thing, and
+I don’t mind telling you so; but if you insist upon making
+a show of yourself, I don’t know that I am bound by
+courtesy to interfere, or by law to be responsible—under
+the circumstances.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>That will be first rate—especially under the circumstances.
+Now let me be sure that we both understand.
+If I call to see Miss Vannevar this afternoon at four
+o’clock, by special appointment,—or, if not then, at the
+earliest opportunity....</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With an incredulous laugh</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Oh, you’ll get in. You needn’t worry about that.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[63]</span></p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He smiles to himself and shakes his head, with a long sigh</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Shall we go out now and have something to eat?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Smiling</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Don’t you think, Farnham, that we had better give each
+other a short leave of absence?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Drily</i>]</p>
+
+<p>As you say.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a sorry laugh</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>As you see it.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>Will you dine with me this evening?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p>I’m sorry, but I can’t. But I’ll be here at ten, if that
+will do you any good.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Laughing a little</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Then I shall see you at ten. And you will telephone me
+at my hotel—we’ll say at three-thirty?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With an easy snarl</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Yes, I’ll telephone.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>The Knickerbocker.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[64]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Wearily</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I know it.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>Then I’ll say good-bye until—ten.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>More wearily</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I understood what you said. You said ten.</p>
+
+<p class='stage-direction'>[<i>After a pause</i> <span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span> <i>goes out</i>. <span class="smcap">Farnham</span> <i>returns from the
+vestibule with his hat and stick. After turning the picture
+to the wall, he stands for a while near the window seat, shakes
+his head slowly, puts his hat on slowly, sits down, and smiles
+incredulously to himself. He draws figures on the floor
+with his stick as the curtain falls</i>]</p>
+
+
+<p class='center mt2'><span class='smcap'>Curtain</span></p>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[65]</span></p>
+
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="ACT_II">
+    ACT II
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_66"></a><a id="Page_67"></a>[67]</span></p>
+
+
+<p class='stage-direction'><i>A diagonal view of a room in</i> <span class="smcap">Mrs. Lovett’s</span> <i>house. The right
+corner is revealed, with half of the right wall. In the corner
+is a small grand piano, and to the right is a window. To the
+left, half way down, is the entrance, a wide arched doorway
+with curtains. Well down in front, somewhat to the right,
+is a table, before which are two comfortable chairs that
+partly face each other. Against the wall, to the left and below
+the entrance, is a couch. There are several pictures on the
+walls, and over the piano is a portrait of</i> <span class="smcap">Mrs. Lovett’s</span> <i>late
+husband, showing the beardless face of a man of fifty, melancholy
+and rather glowering. The room has the unmistakable
+appearance of a place where people live and make
+themselves at home.</i></p>
+
+<p class='stage-direction'><i>As the curtain rises</i>, <span class="smcap">Villa Vannevar</span> <i>is at the piano, playing
+in a listless, abstracted manner the cantabile part of Chopin’s
+Nocturne, Op. 37, No. 2</i>. <span class="smcap">Mrs. Lovett</span>, <i>sitting in the chair
+at the right of the table, listens, frowns, stamps her foot, and
+finally speaks out with evident impatience</i>.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>MRS. LOVETT</p>
+
+<p>Villa Vannevar, do for heaven’s sake keep still, or play
+something that has a little life in it. You play that thing
+as if you were crying through the ends of your fingers.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Turning about and facing</i> <span class="smcap">Mrs. Lovett</span>]</p>
+
+<p>Would you have me always laughing, Auntie—like this?</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>She makes a ridiculous face and laughs</i>]</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[68]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>MRS. LOVETT</p>
+
+<p>No, you silly child. But you needn’t look forever as
+if life were nothing but one long funeral. I don’t like
+funerals.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a shrug</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I don’t know about that. It seems to me sometimes
+that funerals are better than weddings. When we go to
+funerals, we know what has happened; but when we go to
+weddings, we don’t even pretend to know what is <i>going</i>
+to happen.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Looking at her foot</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>I think I like funerals best.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>MRS. LOVETT</p>
+
+<p>You crazy child, you are positively wicked.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p>Oh no, I’m not, Auntie. I’m good.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Getting up with a sigh</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>I’m good enough to be a fool.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>MRS. LOVETT</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>As if scared</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Villa Vannevar!</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Laughing</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Yes, Auntie, that’s what’s the matter with me.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Wearily</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Otto Mink and George Lucas believe already that I <i>am</i> one.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[69]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>MRS. LOVETT</p>
+
+<p>Child! Do you know what you are saying?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Moving about with her hands behind her</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I know perfectly well what I’m saying. They think
+I’m a fool for marrying Weldon Farnham—when he doesn’t
+more than half want me.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>MRS. LOVETT</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Significantly, after a pause</i>]</p>
+
+<p>You haven’t married him yet.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Trying to laugh</i>]</p>
+
+<p>No, I have not.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Pause</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>I wonder if the other man—Mr. What-you-call-him—thinks
+I’m a fool.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>MRS. LOVETT</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With excited sarcasm</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Don’t you know what <i>he</i> thinks?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p>How should I know what he thinks? I don’t even know
+that he thinks at all.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a pleasant nervousness</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Do <i>you</i> know what he thinks?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>MRS. LOVETT</p>
+
+<p>I know that he considers you a very charming person,
+for one thing.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[70]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Laughing</i>]</p>
+
+<p>How nice of him! He didn’t tell me so.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>MRS. LOVETT</p>
+
+<p>He may not have told <i>you</i>, but he did tell <i>me</i>. I am too
+old to be deceived.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Laughing</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Then you must be the oldest woman in the world.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>MRS. LOVETT</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With decayed archness</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Possibly I am. In any case, I am old enough to see that
+he considers you not only very charming, but exceedingly
+impertinent.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p>Then he must be a beast.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>She laughs</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>MRS. LOVETT</p>
+
+<p>He isn’t a beast. He’s a wonderful creature. And I am
+surprised out of my senses that he should be coming here
+to see you again this afternoon.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Laughing</i>]</p>
+
+<p>If you don’t go away with your wonderful creatures,
+I shall throw things out of the window and shriek. For
+Mr. Van Zorn isn’t a wonderful creature in the least. He’s
+just a big overgrown man with a heap of money that he
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[71]</span>doesn’t know what to do with, and he’s coming to get you
+and carry you off in a taxicab.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<span class="smcap">She</span> <i>sits at</i> <span class="smcap">Mrs. Lovett’s</span> <i>feet and looks up into her face</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>And I’ll never see my Auntie any more. And then I
+suppose there’ll be nothing left for me to do but to go
+melancholy mad. I shall prowl around all by myself like
+a shut-up cat, and I’ll sit down in all sorts of corners and
+cry like anything.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>MRS. LOVETT</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Pleased</i>]</p>
+
+<p>So you have found his name at last, have you?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p>I like his name. It sounds like a bassoon. But I don’t
+like his eyes as well as I do the other man’s.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>MRS. LOVETT</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Disturbed</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Do you mean Weldon Farnham’s?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Calmly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>No, I was thinking for the moment of George Lucas’s
+eyes. Mr. What’s-his-name’s are too much like blue
+search-lights.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>MRS. LOVETT</p>
+
+<p>You needn’t call him Mr. What’s-his-name—and you
+needn’t mention George Lucas. I am sorry that he has
+come to be what he is, but I don’t care to have his name
+mentioned in my house.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[72]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p>But you used to like him once, Auntie,—and this wonderful
+creature of yours liked him at first sight. As a
+matter of fact, he likes him better than he likes any of the
+rest of us.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>MRS. LOVETT</p>
+
+<p>Don’t talk such nonsense.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p>I’m not talking nonsense.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Laughing</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Anyhow, Auntie, your wonderful creature has taken a
+wonderful fancy to George—I beg your pardon—and I
+don’t know how you are going to change the course of
+events, even if you tell me that I have a head like an Edam
+cheese—which I haven’t, in the least. My head makes
+Otto think of a very nice horse. He said so.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>MRS. LOVETT</p>
+
+<p>Otto may have said so because you act so much like a
+donkey.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p>I don’t act in any respect like a donkey, and I don’t
+think you ought to say such things. For I am an extremely
+well-behaved young lady—except at times.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Pause</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>If you look at me like that much longer, Auntie, I’ll say
+bow-bow; and then I’ll put both my paws on your shoulders,
+and then I’ll bite you.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>She snaps her teeth and laughs</i>]</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[73]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>MRS. LOVETT</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Reluctantly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>My dear Villa, why did you bring up George Lucas’s
+name again?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a kind of triumph</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Why do <i>you</i> bring it up again, Auntie?</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Pause</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>At any rate, he never injured anybody.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>MRS. LOVETT</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Sharply</i>]</p>
+
+<p>But he disappointed everybody—and that’s as bad as
+injuring them. I’m not sure that it isn’t worse.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p>But something may have happened.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>MRS. LOVETT</p>
+
+<p>Something always happens. What would be the use of
+living if things didn’t happen?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Slowly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I know. But if they happen at the wrong time, and
+under the wrong conditions....</p>
+
+<p class='character'>MRS. LOVETT</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a sniff</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Well, what do you mean? Do you mean that when a
+boy with more than ordinary brains chooses to make an
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[74]</span>utter fool of himself, and continues to do so until he grows
+up and everybody loses all patience with him....</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>She stops and looks angrily at her fingers</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Getting up and speaking thoughtfully</i>]</p>
+
+<p>No, I don’t mean just that ... George’s father must
+have been a very strange man.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>MRS. LOVETT</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Rapidly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>It doesn’t make any difference what you mean. Besides</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Slowly, with significant vagueness</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>if you consider yourself engaged to Weldon Farnham, you
+ought not to think of other men at all. And you are not
+supposed to know anything about men like George Lucas’s
+father.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Laughing</i>]</p>
+
+<p>You did that very badly, Auntie.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With mock-deliberation</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>And so you want this new man with the queer name—this
+wonderful creature—all to yourself!</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Going behind</i> <span class="smcap">Mrs. Lovett</span> <i>and putting her hands on her cheeks</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>And you’re a dear, and you’re a pig, and you want him all
+to yourself, and it’s nearly time for him to come.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>MRS. LOVETT</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Shaking her head free and looking over her shoulder</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Do you know that you grow sillier and sillier every day
+of your life?</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[75]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Drawing</i> <span class="smcap">Mrs. Lovett</span> <i>back and looking down into her eyes</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Well, would you have me stay forever and ever the
+same?... If you will roll your eyes back just a little
+farther, Auntie, I shall see myself in them—as I did when
+I was a little girl.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Pause</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>THE MAID</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>In the doorway</i>]</p>
+
+<p>There is a gentleman to see Miss Villa. He gave me
+this card.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Taking the card and examining it</i>]</p>
+
+<p>But there’s nothing on it.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>She gives the card to</i> <span class="smcap">Mrs. Lovett</span> <i>and laughs nervously</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>MRS. LOVETT</p>
+
+<p>Dear me! I hope he isn’t going to be eccentric.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p>He may be an anarchist or something.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Shrugs and laughs</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Go downstairs, Jenny, and find out the creature’s name,
+and what he wants. If he asks for fish, give him a serpent.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>MRS. LOVETT</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Reprovingly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Villa!</p>
+
+<p class='character'>MAID</p>
+
+<p>His name is Mr. Lucas.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[76]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>MRS. LOVETT</p>
+
+<p>Then why didn’t you say so?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p>Tell him to come upstairs, Jenny.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>The</i> <span class="smcap">Maid</span> <i>goes out</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>MRS. LOVETT</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Bewildered</i>]</p>
+
+<p>What in the world does this mean? And what in the
+world do <i>you</i> mean by asking him to come upstairs?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p>Heaven only knows, Auntie. I don’t seem to know what
+anything means today.</p>
+
+<p class='stage-direction'>[<span class="smcap">Mrs. Lovett</span> <i>sits and frowns, and looks at her hands</i>. <span class="smcap">Villa
+Vannevar</span> <i>goes to the window and stands with her hands
+behind her back. Presently</i> <span class="smcap">Mrs. Lovett</span> <i>turns and gazes
+at her, evidently much disturbed, and remains gazing at her
+until</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span> <i>enters</i>. <span class="smcap">He</span> <i>is pale, and his manner shows
+a constraint that he cannot wholly conceal. His clothes have
+been through some process of hasty renovation since his appearance
+in Act I</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a certain huskiness</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I hope, Mrs. Lovett, that you will pardon this—I’ll
+say this last intrusion on my part.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<span class="smcap">Villa</span> <i>comes to him and takes his hand cordially, looking at him
+as if disturbed and anxious</i>]</p>
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[77]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>MRS. LOVETT</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Without warmth</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Are you leaving New York, Mr. Lucas?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With assumed lightness</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Yes; and it might have been better for me if I had gone
+long before this.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>MRS. LOVETT</p>
+
+<p>Indeed?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With impulsive directness</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I came in the hope of seeing Miss Villa for a few moments
+before going away.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>MRS. LOVETT</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Rising slowly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Oh, I understand.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Reluctantly</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>In that case, I will leave you two to yourselves.</p>
+
+<p class='stage-direction'>[<span class="smcap">Lucas</span> <i>and</i> <span class="smcap">Villa</span> <i>look at each other as she goes out. The faces
+of both are very serious and in hers there seems to be an expression
+of fear</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>After a pause</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Why did you send me a blank card?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a thin laugh</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Oh, I don’t know. Because I drew it, I suppose. It
+wasn’t a very brilliant performance on my part.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[78]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With feeling</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I don’t think it was at all brilliant—or at all kind. You
+ought not to do such things, or say such things—to me.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With weak humor</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I knew it wasn’t brilliant as soon as I had done it.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>At a venture</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Your aunt was very good to leave us here together.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p>Auntie is always good—</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Hesitating</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>or means to be.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a vague smile</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I am glad to know that, for I should be sorry to leave
+you with an aunt who was not good. But I came only to
+say good-bye,—not to talk of family history, or of old
+times.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p>Would any harm come of it if we did talk of old times?</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>She sits down on the chair at the right of the table</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Please sit down.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p>No harm, I suppose, and not much good.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a forced smile</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>No great good seems to have come of anything that I
+have done.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[79]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Frowning anxiously</i>]</p>
+
+<p>But I don’t know what you have done.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Trying to laugh</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>You speak as mysteriously as Mr.—Mr. Van Zorn did this
+morning when he talked about his business.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Sitting down</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Yes, Van Zorn and I have a great deal in common.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He speaks and smiles with mild bitterness</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Quickly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>You may have. I couldn’t keep from seeing that he
+took a great interest in you this morning.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>As if tired, but still interested</i>]</p>
+
+<p>If you could see that, you ought to be able to see almost
+anything. You ought even to be able to see what I have
+done.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Angry with herself</i>]</p>
+
+<p>But I didn’t mean to say that. You know I didn’t.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p>You might as well have meant to say it, for you must see
+that I have done nothing. Even Van Zorn took the
+trouble—did me the honor, if you insist—to see as much
+as that.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[80]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Lamely</i>]</p>
+
+<p>He saw that you were not—well, not quite satisfied.
+Isn’t that what you mean?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p>Do you know anyone who is quite satisfied?</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Pause</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>I know two or three who seem to be, but they are in
+asylums.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a forced laugh and a shiver</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Oh! So that’s where they are. I thought there must be
+something wrong.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Standing up and speaking earnestly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>You are quite right. There <i>is</i> something wrong. We
+see it in the streets, we live it in our lives, we feel it in our
+hearts. And there you have my reason for coming to say
+good-bye to you.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Frightened</i>]</p>
+
+<p>You mustn’t speak like that—as if we were never to see
+you again.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>As before</i>]</p>
+
+<p>And there you have my reason for wanting to go away
+into—what shall I call it?—into another kind of life, and
+to make a new beginning. It seems to be absolutely
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[81]</span>necessary, for many reasons, that I should make a new
+beginning. Yes, I want to get away from all this dust and
+deceit and disillusion; I want to get away from all this
+noise and poison; I want a place where I can be quiet for a
+while, away from streets and faces; I want a place where
+there are no roofs between me and the sky; I want a place
+where the sun shines down on a fellow, and where the stars
+are.... Oh yes, I know well enough what I want, and
+I know that I’ve waited too long. I might as well have
+gone away years ago....</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Looking down</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Yes, it might perhaps have been as well.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p>It would have been better—far better.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Looking up and hesitating</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Won’t you tell me where you are going?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>After a pause</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I am going—west.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p>You are not very confidential.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p>I would be more so if I could.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[82]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p>Mightn’t it be better if you were to go in the other
+direction—towards the sunrise?... Was that a silly
+thing for me to say?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p>It will come to the same thing, for I shall follow the sun.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Trying to laugh</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Some people do that all their lives—in order to keep warm.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Also trying to laugh</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Is that why you are going away? But you told me why
+you were going. I forgot.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p>I don’t want you to forget that. What I want you to
+forget are some things that happened a long time ago.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>As before</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Do be careful. You speak as if I were a hundred years
+old.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With strange earnestness</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I’ll be very careful, or at least I’ll try to be. And will
+you be good enough to pardon me for not knowing at one
+time as much as I know now?—which God knows is little
+enough. I thought I knew myself then, but I’ve seen since
+that I was wrong. It was you who knew me. Yes, you
+knew me, then, and you know me still. And I am glad
+for that.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[83]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Doubtfully</i>]</p>
+
+<p>You don’t speak as if you were glad.... And I wonder
+if it is really worth while for us to be so serious over a
+matter that is—past—and—</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p>Forgotten?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Slowly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>No, there is nothing that I wish to forget. We all make
+mistakes, don’t we? How can we help ourselves?</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>She smiles sorrowfully</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p>We were younger then than we are now.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Forcing another laugh</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I don’t know what I shall do if you keep on telling me
+how old I am. Do you know that I pulled three gray
+hairs out of my poor scalp this morning?</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He looks at her solemnly, and her face becomes suddenly serious</i>]</p>
+
+<p>How long do you intend to stay in—the west?</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Her question is obviously a makeshift to break the silence</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p>There seems to be no answer to that question—for the
+present.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p>But you are coming back sometime?</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[84]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p>Who can tell? I may become so deeply attached to the
+region where I am going that I shall not wish to come back.
+Besides one has to consider the wisdom of his ways in this
+life—or he <i>should</i> consider them.</p>
+
+<p class='stage-direction'>[<i>He speaks with a rather disastrous attempt at lightness that serves
+only to make</i> <span class="smcap">Villa</span> <i>more dissatisfied and unhappy than
+before</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Troubled</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I don’t understand what you mean.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With an effort</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I don’t mean very much.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Smiling faintly</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>But I came to say good-bye before going away—not to
+talk about wisdom.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Looking at him as she rises</i>]</p>
+
+<p>It was good of you to come.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Drearily</i>]</p>
+
+<p>It was magnanimous of me.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With deep feeling</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>I wonder if you know how good you have been to me today?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Trying again to laugh</i>]</p>
+
+<p>My aunt has just been telling me that I am wicked.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[85]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>After looking about the room</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Well, good-bye.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He holds out his hand</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Holding his hand and speaking as if unwillingly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Good-bye ... and I wish you every kind of good
+fortune.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Pause</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>And I shall remember you—always—if you care.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With difficulty</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Always?... Thank you.... Good-bye....</p>
+
+<p class='stage-direction'>[<i>As they stand looking into each other’s eyes, the</i> <span class="smcap">Maid</span> <i>appears
+in the doorway and announces</i> “<span class="smcap">Mr. Van Zorn</span>”]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Dropping</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas’s</span> <i>hand</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Very well, Jenny. Tell him to come upstairs.</p>
+
+<p class='stage-direction'>[<i>The</i> <span class="smcap">Maid</span> <i>disappears</i>, <span class="smcap">Villa</span> <i>and</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span> <i>continue to look at
+each other, and both appear now to be embarrassed. She
+speaks again, after a pause</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Please don’t go—quite yet.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p>Why should I stay longer?</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[86]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Trying to laugh</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I suppose I ought to keep him waiting, but I won’t.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Seriously</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>For you are going away, and I feel sure that he would like
+to see you before you go.... Isn’t it odd that you two
+should be here together this afternoon?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Drily</i>]</p>
+
+<p>It may be odd.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Nervously</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Or it may be fate. Anyhow, I shan’t let you go until
+you see him.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With tightened lips</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Apparently not, unless I run.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p>You aren’t angry with me, are you?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p>I’m never angry, except with myself.</p>
+
+<p class='stage-direction'>[<i>There is another pause, and</i> <span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span> <i>enters. He looks at</i>
+<span class="smcap">Villa Vannevar</span> <i>and at</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span>, <i>but shows no surprise.
+He smiles pleasantly and shakes hands with</i> <span class="smcap">Villa</span>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>Ah! I’m very glad to see you again.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Shaking hands with</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>And I’m very glad to see Mr. Lucas again.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[87]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Quickly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I thought you would be glad to see him—for he is going
+away.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a slight frown</i>]</p>
+
+<p>May I ask when he is going?</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He turns to</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span> <i>inquiringly</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Rather thickly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I was on the point of going when you came.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Seriously</i>]</p>
+
+<p>May I ask how long you intend to stay away?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p>I expect to be gone indefinitely.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a friendly smile</i>]</p>
+
+<p>You may shake down one of my best castles if you do
+that.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p>I should be sorry to shake down any man’s castle.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>I’m sure of that.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Stroking his chin thoughtfully</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>I wonder, Miss Vannevar, if you would pardon me if I
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[88]</span>were to make a somewhat surprising request. You may
+think it even eccentric.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>MRS. LOVETT</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Who enters while he speaks</i>]</p>
+
+<p>We like eccentric people.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Beaming and holding out her hand</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>I’m so glad to see you.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Laughing</i>]</p>
+
+<p>But what is this awful request of yours?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>I was going to ask</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Smiling at</i> <span class="smcap">Mrs. Lovett</span>, <i>who smiles in return</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>if you would be kind enough to leave Mr. Lucas alone here
+with me for a few minutes. I fear that he is plotting
+against me, and I should like to know, before he leaves
+this house, that his plot has been abandoned.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With another smile</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>I am quite well aware that this request is unusual.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Taking</i> <span class="smcap">Mrs. Lovett</span> <i>by the arm and laughing</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Oh, that’s nothing! Everything is unusual today, and
+it’s all the fault of Weldon’s picture. Come along, Auntie,
+and we two will wait for what happens.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>MRS. LOVETT</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Beaming, but bewildered</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I’m sure I don’t know what any of you are talking about,
+but of course I’ll do as I’m told.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[89]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Drawing her towards the door</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Of course you will. What else can you do when two
+conspirators drive you out of your own room?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Pleased</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Thank you. And when we have conspired sufficiently,
+I will play on the piano. Then you may come back.</p>
+
+<p class='stage-direction'>[<i>The two women go out</i>, <span class="smcap">Villa Vannevar</span> <i>singing “Quand on
+Conspire” and laughing at the same time</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Still smiling</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Do you object to being corralled in this unconventional
+manner, Mr. Lucas?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Puzzled</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I am entirely at your service.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>In a very friendly voice</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Well, to begin, it may possibly make you feel better to
+know that your friends have been talking about you behind
+your back.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He sits down on the piano stool, with his back to the keyboard</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I refer to Farnham and myself.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<span class="smcap">Lucas</span> <i>looks more puzzled</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>I’ll be quite honest with you and tell you that I began it;
+and I may as well come to the point at once and tell you
+that I shall probably need you in my business,—assuming,
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[90]</span>you understand, that you are available. I have had three
+or four schemes in my head for some time, and I’m sure
+that you will find at least one of them congenial. Are you
+interested?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Taking an ivory paper cutter from the table</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Yes, I am interested, but I don’t want you to make a
+mistake.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Smiling</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I shall make mistakes, whether you want me to or
+not. And as for what Farnham said—to go back for a
+little....</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Drily</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Let us go back, by all means. What Farnham said
+about me ought to make rather good copy.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Curiously</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>What sort of stuff has he been telling you?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>He didn’t tell me much. In fact, far less than I hoped
+for.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Laughing a little</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>So you needn’t worry about Farnham.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Looking at something on the wall and breaking the ivory paper
+cutter in his abstraction</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I wasn’t worrying about Farnham.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[91]</span></p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Fitting the pieces together</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>I was wondering about you.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Pause</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Do you know what you are doing?... Do you know that
+you are taking me seriously?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a friendly smile</i>]</p>
+
+<p>If I were not taking you seriously, I should hardly have
+resorted, in a strange house, to this method of getting
+hold of you.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Half laughing</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Don’t you care to be taken seriously? Or do you prefer
+to be taken as a joke?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Hesitating</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Why do you ask me if I care?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Pleasantly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Partly for the sake of saying something, and partly because
+I should like to know.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With tightened lips</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Why don’t you ask me the other question—and have
+it off your mind?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Indulgently</i>]</p>
+
+<p>At your own suggestion, I will. I will ask if you care
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[92]</span>enough to begin the game all over again, and let the past
+sink.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Cynically</i>]</p>
+
+<p>The past ought to be pretty well drowned by this time.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Kindly, but very distinctly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>On the contrary, I have been led to infer that you have
+put yourself to a great deal of trouble and expense to keep
+it floating, so to speak. As a rule, I don’t mean to meddle
+with other people’s affairs, but in your case....</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a laugh</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>I’m sure you understand me. You have a head of your
+own.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Nodding it slowly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Yes; and only one.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>Do you think it worth saving?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Embarrassed</i>]</p>
+
+<p>If you insist, I—well, I suppose I do. It’s a fairly good
+head, in some respects. But why should we talk about it
+now?</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He looks about him uneasily</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Standing up and gazing at Lucas</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Because you told me you were going away. Now I will
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[93]</span>be as frank as possible with you and tell you that I didn’t
+like your way of saying it, or your way of looking when you
+said it.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Wetting his lips</i>]</p>
+
+<p>You are not very clear.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Seriously</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I am as clear as I can be, without having more specific
+information.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>More seriously</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>I knew another fellow once who—went away; and you
+made me think of him.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Drily</i>]</p>
+
+<p>How far did he go?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Firmly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>How far did you intend to go?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Nervously</i>]</p>
+
+<p>You seem to have it settled that I am not going.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Smiling again</i>]</p>
+
+<p>You are not going if I can keep you in New York.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[94]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Throwing the broken paper cutter down on the table and putting
+his hands in his pockets</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I thought I was going.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Frowning as he watches him</i>]</p>
+
+<p>You speak as if you had made some final preparations.
+Sometimes they are very final indeed—preparations.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Pause</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Will you give me an answer to my question if I ask you
+just what preparations you have made?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Slowly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Yes, and I will give you more than that.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Relieved</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Good. But I’m not going to be satisfied even then.
+I am going to ask you, in addition, to dine with me this
+evening at the Knickerbocker, and I am going</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He returns to the piano stool</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>to ask you to take a small advance.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Taking a check book and a pen from his pocket</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>If you don’t happen to need this</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He writes as he speaks</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>you needn’t use it, but I want you to take it, all the same.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Handing him the check</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Will you?</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[95]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Slowly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Yes, I will take it. And I will see you at—seven o’clock?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>Thank you.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He toys with his pen as if he were waiting</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p>And you may do whatever you like with this.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He takes a small vial from his waistcoat and gives it to</i> <span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span>,
+<i>who takes it slowly</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Looking at the vial and scowling</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Cyanide of potassium?</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He smiles grimly and shakes his head as he looks up</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>That isn’t what you need.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He looks again at the vial</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>K C N ... do you know what that makes me think of?</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He looks up again and laughs drily</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Uncomfortably</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Yes, I suppose I know.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Putting the vial in his pocket</i>]</p>
+
+<p>No, I don’t believe you do.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Smiling</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>It makes me think of Sir Joseph Porter, K. C. B.—in
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[96]</span><i>Pinafore</i>. The last letter is different, however. How
+does that thing go?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With sardonic distinctness</i>]</p>
+
+<p>“When I was a lad, I served a term.” You may not
+believe it, but I did.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>Yes, I believe it. But I was thinking of the tune.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He turns on the stool and begins to drum with his right forefinger on
+the piano</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Is that the way it goes?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With grateful impatience to get away</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Yes—and this is the way I go.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Grasping</i> <span class="smcap">Van Zorn’s</span> <i>hand quickly</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>You will say something.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>As if he had made a discovery</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>and <i>I</i> will say something.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Trying to hide his emotion in his voice</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>I’ll make some sort of explanation.</p>
+
+<p class='stage-direction'>[<span class="smcap">Lucas</span> <i>disappears quickly into the hall and</i> <span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span> <i>begins
+to drum “When I was a lad” once more on the piano</i>. <span class="smcap">Villa
+Vannevar</span> <i>appears in the doorway and watches him unseen.
+Finally she laughs and begins to clap her hands</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Getting up</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Lucas has gone.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Distinctly</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>But not so far as he thought he was going.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[97]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Looking about</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Did he go through the roof?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Smiling</i>]</p>
+
+<p>No, he went by the way of the stairs—and rather
+suddenly.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Puzzled</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Did he leave any word behind him?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>Well, yes. He told me to say something.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p>What did he tell you to say?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Smiling</i>]</p>
+
+<p>That was all—something.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p>Please don’t laugh at me.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>Should I be likely to do that? Especially on so slight an
+acquaintance?</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He laughs a little as he speaks, but</i> <span class="smcap">Villa</span> <i>remains serious</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Slowly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>It doesn’t seem to be slight—somehow.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">[98]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a touch of mystery</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Perhaps it isn’t, really. We mortals know very little of
+ourselves, and far less of each other. As a consequence,
+we make mistakes.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Still puzzled</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Do <i>you</i> make mistakes?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>Frequently.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a nervous laugh</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I’m so glad.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>Do you know that many of us waste large fractions of
+our short lives in being sorry for our mistakes—and oftentimes
+when we should be glad for them?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Puzzled</i>]</p>
+
+<p>You said that as if you meant something.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Smiling</i>]</p>
+
+<p>It is possible that I did mean something.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p>Now you are laughing at me again.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">[99]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Easily</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Why should I laugh at you when I know that you are
+not happy?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Puzzled</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Do I look as if I were not happy?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>Something has troubled you for a long time.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p>Why do you say that?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>If I had not known it, I should not have come to this
+house.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Trying to laugh again</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Did I look so utterly miserable this morning that you
+took pity on me? Was it the picture? Or did you think
+I took too much trouble to see that Weldon laughed at
+Mr. Lucas?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Frowning strangely</i>]</p>
+
+<p>No, it was not that.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p>You seem to know something about him.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>About Lucas?</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">[100]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p>Yes. You have kept him from going away. I am sure
+that he wished to go.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>And I am sure that he intended to go. But I ventured
+to put the matter in a different light, and he has agreed to
+give New York another chance. New York, as I told him,
+is not in all respects the worst place in the world.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Laughing as before</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Weldon thinks it is. But I forgot to offer you a chair.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Takes the chair at the left of the table</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>I don’t wonder that Auntie calls me all sorts of things.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>Thank you.</p>
+
+<p class='stage-direction'>[<i>He puts his hands on the back of the chair at the left and looks at
+her as if waiting for her to say more</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Looking up at him</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Yes, he thinks New York is the very worst. And that,
+I suppose, is one of the reasons why we are going to
+Damascus.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>She laughs again, nervously</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Slowly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Damascus?... Why Damascus?</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">[101]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p>Heaven only knows. And I am stupid enough to like
+New York. I like even the ferry whistles.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>Should you care to stay here forever?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p>No, I don’t say that. I want to go to Egypt sometime
+and see the Sphynx. There are no sphynxes in New York.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Smiling</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Are you sure of that?</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>She laughs</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>There are no ferry whistles in Damascus.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p>Why do you object to my going?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>Why should I?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p>Why do you object to George Lucas’s going—west?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>Because I have taken a particular interest in him.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Quickly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I’m glad of that.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">[102]</span></p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a slight constraint</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>For I have known him all my life—and I like him.</p>
+
+<p class='stage-direction'>[<span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span>, <i>who has been looking from time to time at the portrait
+over the piano, is now gazing at it with apparently unconscious
+intentness</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Glancing over her shoulder</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Did you know <i>him</i>—my uncle?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Looking at her and shaking his head</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I did not.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p>My poor uncle Lovett was unfortunate, and I am glad
+for his sake that he is dead. Does that sound hard?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>Far from it. I have known such cases.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p>He died in this room.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>I am not superstitious.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p>He drank himself to death.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>I am not uncharitable.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p>He was a good man.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">[103]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>I have no doubt of it.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Pause</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Lucas is a good man.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Earnestly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>He <i>is</i> good. And I hope his meeting with you may prove
+to be fortunate.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Steadily</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Lucas may prove to be the most fortunate of us all.
+Don’t you think it would be well for at least one of us to
+be fortunate, even if the others are not?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Half-frightened</i>]</p>
+
+<p>The others? You say such unexpected things.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Still with his hands on the back of the chair</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Yes, the others. The others who are not going to be
+fortunate.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a shrug</i>]</p>
+
+<p>You speak like a wizard. If you are trying to cast a
+spell over me, you might as well let me know beforehand.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Laughing thinly</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>All good wizards should do that, I think.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">[104]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Firmly but rather sadly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I should say that the spell had already been cast.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p>But what manner of spell do you mean?</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Nervously</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>There are spells and spells, I suppose. Aren’t there?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>I might say the spell that compels you to take so much
+apparent satisfaction in being insincere.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Looking at him</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Insincere?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Nods slowly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>To yourself and to the others. To the others who are
+not going to be fortunate.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Biting her lip</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Did you come to tell me this?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>I came because I was called. You may be surprised, but
+there is no reason why you should be offended.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a cold but artificial laugh</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Amused, you mean.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">[105]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Calmly and distinctly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>No, that is not what I mean. For you cannot possibly
+find it amusing to know that you have the happiness of at
+least three lives at your disposal.... Yes, in your
+power.... Do you believe, really, that it would be
+amusing to make three new contributions to the world’s
+unhappiness—much of which, from any finite point of
+view, is already unnecessary?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Her lips tightening</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I don’t believe you realize what you are saying.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>She rises</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>No, I don’t mean that you are to go.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>She goes to the table and looks aimlessly at some objects that are
+on it</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Will you tell me something?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Now at the right of the table, near the chair</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Willingly, if I can.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Toying with the broken paper cutter</i>]</p>
+
+<p>What did you say to Weldon Farnham about—about
+this? And what did he say to you?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>I asked him for one interview.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">[106]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p>And where do you intend to go at the end of this—one
+interview?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>My own way, wherever that may lie.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Very distinctly</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>You may never see me again, but you will kindly believe
+me when I assure you that the situation before you is not—amusing.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With half-hearted authority</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Under ordinary conditions, you must see that I could
+not listen any longer to what you are saying.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>I understand you perfectly.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Slowly, with a strange confidence</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>I understand at the same time that these are not ordinary
+conditions, and that you and I are not ordinary people.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a shrug</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I am beginning to think that we are not.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a reluctant smile</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Do you think we are so very important?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With his hands on the back of the chair</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Is anything important?</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">[107]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Slowly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I wonder—sometimes. And I thought</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Rather feebly</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>that you were a friend of Weldon Farnham’s.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>His best friend, so far as I know.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p>Does a man’s best friend try to....</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>She stops as if frightened</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>Yes.... If it is written so, yes.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>As if compelled</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Do you mean—“destiny?”</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>You may give it whatever name you choose. May I
+ask you another question?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p>I suppose so.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With another shrug</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>But you needn’t scare me.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">[108]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a melancholy smile</i>]</p>
+
+<p>That is the last thing that I could possibly wish to do.
+What I have now to ask is this: Is it your unalterable will
+to deprive three people, including yourself, of the happiness
+that might as well be theirs?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Trying to laugh</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Why do you speak of my “will” and of your “destiny?”
+Mayn’t I have a destiny as well as you?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Looking at the portrait</i>]</p>
+
+<p>You have one undoubtedly. And I have one interview.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He stands as before with his hands on the back of the chair and
+watches her while she examines various objects on the table</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Are you sure that you know what it would mean if you
+were to make a mistake now?</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>She gives him a bewildered look that is meant to be resentful, but
+he does not seem to notice it</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Are you sure that you are thinking of the years, and the
+darkness, and the long roads that lie in the darkness—and
+end there? Are such things important, or are they still—amusing?</p>
+
+<p class='stage-direction'>[<span class="smcap">Villa</span> <i>stands looking vacantly at a picture post-card that is in
+her hand and finally turns the card towards</i> <span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span>,
+<i>speaking with a trace of injured and half-frightened humor
+in her voice and eyes</i>]</p>
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[109]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Irrelevantly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Did you ever see the Lion of Lucerne?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Suddenly inclined to laugh</i>]</p>
+
+<p>No.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Laughing</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I thought you had seen everything.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Shaking his head slowly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I haven’t. I have never seen you but once, until today.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Laughing nervously</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I don’t see what the Lion of Lucerne has to do with
+your seeing me.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Smiling</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I don’t see what the Lion of Lucerne has to do with any
+of us.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He looks at the card and then at her, with the same melancholy
+and inquiring smile</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>I dare say that he has his good points.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Throwing down the card and putting her hands behind her</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I still think that I ought to be angry with you.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Ruefully</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Every nerve and fibre tells me so.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">[110]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>You are too healthy to have nerves and fibres. And
+if you knew yourself better, you could not even think of
+being angry with <i>me</i>.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With humor and self-assertion</i>]</p>
+
+<p>You are not an absolute mystery, and I know a great
+deal about you, and about myself—that is, for a girl who
+has never seen the Sphynx.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Taking up the card again and looking at it</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>I’ll tell you something else that I know—something that
+I’ve known for a long time.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He nods slowly</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>I have known for a long time that our ways,</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Quickly</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Weldon’s way and mine, I mean,—have been leading us
+just where you have said they are leading us—into the dark.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Looking down</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>And I have always been afraid of the dark.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a shrug and a laugh</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>I wonder whether your coming to make me tell you this
+may not be “destiny” after all.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Looking at her fixedly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>There can be no doubt about that.</p>
+
+<p class='stage-direction'>[<i>They stand looking at each other, she with her hands behind her,
+and he with his hands on the back of the chair. After a pause
+she turns quietly toward the door, where the maid is seen
+standing</i>]</p>
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[111]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>THE MAID</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Mink would like to see you, Miss Villa.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Biting her lip to keep from laughing at</i> <span class="smcap">Van Zorn’s</span> <i>augmented
+solemnity</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Tell him to come up, Jenny.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>To</i> <span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>You don’t look as if you were going to be glad to see Otto.
+You ought to be, for he is a very nice boy.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Forcing a smile</i>]</p>
+
+<p>So I have been told.</p>
+
+<p class='stage-direction'>[<span class="smcap">Otto</span> <i>enters briskly, with a book in his hand. Being a child of
+nature he does not attempt to conceal his surprise at discovering</i>
+<span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span> <i>in the room</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Blankly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Oh! How do you do?... I’m afraid I’m in the way.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Laughing</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Of what, Otto? You foolish child, you are never in
+the way.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Doubtfully</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I don’t know about that. But I have come, anyhow,
+as I said I would. And here, my adorable young lady,
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[112]</span>is a copy of my latest abhorred twitterings. Does it look
+wicked?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Taking the book and laughing at</i> <span class="smcap">Otto</span>]</p>
+
+<p>It looks lovely. But why do you call it <i>Au Cinquième</i>?
+You don’t live on the fifth floor.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Briskly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>That isn’t necessary. All you have to do is to shut
+yourself up in almost any kind of place, have in a barrel
+of mangoes, and let imagination do the rest.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Laughing</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Mangoes?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Cheerfully</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Mangoes. The mango has the flavor of all the fruits.
+If you eat a barrel of ’em, you will have the wisdom of all
+the ages.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a grimace</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Unhappily, I didn’t eat my barrel quite fast enough, and
+so I lost some of it.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Laughing</i>]</p>
+
+<p>That was too bad.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Looking at the book</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>But I hope the critics will be good to <i>Au Cinquième</i>.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">[113]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Shaking his head sorrowfully</i>]</p>
+
+<p>They won’t.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Brightening</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Do you remember my last book—<i>Huîtres et Chablis</i>?</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>She nods and laughs</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Thank you for remembering it. Well,</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Putting his hands into his trousers pockets</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>one inky-fingered imbecile advised me to write one more
+book as an antidote and to call it <i>Huile de Foie de Morue</i>,
+or Cod-liver-oil,—that being his private idea of humor.
+No, my dear young lady, Posterity is the only judge.
+Sometime, therefore, when I am gone—sometime when you
+are old and full of wrinkles—and rheumatism, if God
+wills it so—some far-off winter evening, for example, when
+you sit by the fire, with your cat in your lap,—say to yourself
+that Mink, who was always delicate, once took you
+out canoeing and contrived somehow to spill you into the
+beautiful Hudson, and that you swam ashore.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p>And nearly died laughing.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p>Oh, very well. But I can assure you both</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Looking at</i> <span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span>, <i>who has been listening rather wearily</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>that my neglected afflatus is of no manner of importance
+when compared with a bit of history that occurred about
+half an hour ago on Broadway, not far from Forty-second
+Street. It will do no good for me to tell it, for neither of
+you will believe it,—unless you believe in Noah’s Ark, and
+such like.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">[114]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Quickly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>We do believe in Noah’s Ark, and you will please go on.
+Sit down and tell us about it.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>She sits on the piano stool</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p>I’d better not. I might not be able to get up again.
+Well then, it’s about Phœbus—Old Hundred—Lucas....
+O Lord!</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a quick frown of inquiry</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Has anything happened to Lucas?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Looking from one to the other</i>]</p>
+
+<p>It isn’t easy to talk about.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Impatiently</i>]</p>
+
+<p>But tell me what you mean, Otto.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p>I mean</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Folding his arms</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>that Old Hundred has refused a gin-rickey.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Forgetting herself</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Oh!... But after all, was that so very wonderful?</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Her manner reveals her suppressed excitement</i>]</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">[115]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Innocently</i>]</p>
+
+<p>You speak as if you thought so.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>More naturally</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I spoke because I was glad. It was the only thing for
+him to do, and I was afraid that he could never do it.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Eagerly again</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Are you sure that he has done it, Otto,—or is this only
+once?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a queer smile of reminiscence</i>]</p>
+
+<p>He has done it fast enough, if I know anything about
+him.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>To</i> <span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span>, <i>with sudden expansion</i>]</p>
+
+<p>You see, this friend of ours fills himself with fluid extract
+of early death for certain years, and then, all of a sudden,
+on Broadway, not far from Forty-second Street, he slaps
+a fellow kindly on the shoulder and tells a fellow that he,
+Phœbus, has been born again. That was it,—“born
+again.”</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>To</i> <span class="smcap">Villa</span>, <i>who has risen to her feet in her excitement</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>The man is illuminated, I tell you. There is something in
+his eyes.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With tightening lips</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Let us hope it is not dust.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">[116]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Standing on his toes</i>]</p>
+
+<p>No, the dust is in <i>our</i> eyes, if anywhere. Or it was.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>To</i> <span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span>, <i>gratefully</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Not in <i>yours</i>, at any rate.... And you have been the
+cause of it all!</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<span class="smcap">Otto</span> <i>looks at</i> <span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span> <i>in amazement</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>As before</i>]</p>
+
+<p>On the contrary, I don’t know that I have ever been the
+cause of anything. But I agree with you in saying that
+this was the only course for him to take, although I have
+never shared your fear that he would not take it.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Still wondering</i>]</p>
+
+<p>But how did you know anything about him?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Smiling faintly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Oh, there are signs. Moreover, I permitted Farnham
+to tell me as much as he would about Lucas’s early life.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p>But he cannot possibly know much about it.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Thoughtfully</i>]</p>
+
+<p>He spoke, I think, of an eccentric father.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He glances at the portrait of</i> <span class="smcap">Lovett</span>]</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">[117]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p>Weldon was not here in those days and perhaps it was
+as well that he was not,—for he might not have understood.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>As if to correct herself</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>I mean that men like Weldon find it hard to measure the
+importance of things that happen in other people’s lives.
+They can’t do otherwise, I suppose.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>All of which being granted, there still remains no room
+for doubt as to Farnham’s friendliness towards Lucas.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Vexed</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I didn’t mean that. I don’t see how I came to speak
+as I did.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Going to</i> <span class="smcap">Villa</span>]</p>
+
+<p>I’m very much afraid that you must put <i>me</i> down as the
+tender and innocent cause. Pardon my interruption,
+and—beware the book.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>After a somewhat bewildered pause</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Good afternoon.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>As he is going</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Is there very much about Nineveh in it?</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>She laughs rather thinly</i>]</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">[118]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a grimace</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Nineveh occurs but twice, and Babylon has disappeared
+entirely.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He bows with exaggerated deference and disappears</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='stage-direction'>[<i>After</i> <span class="smcap">Otto’s</span> <i>departure there is a pause</i>. <span class="smcap">Villa</span> <i>sits down in
+the large chair at the left of the table, while</i> <span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span> <i>stands
+looking at the portrait. Both have become very serious, and</i>
+<span class="smcap">Villa’s</span> <i>voice and manner reveal more and more constraint
+and emotion during the following scene</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Trying to smile</i>]</p>
+
+<p>What do you think of Otto, now?</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Pause</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Wasn’t it strange—what he told us about George?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Standing near his chair</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Was it any stranger than my coming to this house?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Embarrassed</i>]</p>
+
+<p>But your coming was different, and I knew just when to
+expect you.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>Did you know just <i>why</i> you were to expect me?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p>Well, no,—not quite.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">[119]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>Were you a little offended at my request to see you?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Slowly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>No.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>You must at least have thought it very unusual.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p>Possibly.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a faint smile</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>But one looks for unusual things from you, somehow....
+But I shouldn’t have said that. I beg your pardon.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>I am asking myself whether or not I should beg <i>your</i>
+pardon.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Her voice trembling</i>]</p>
+
+<p>For telling me the truth?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>No; but for remaining here when you must be wishing
+that I would go away.</p>
+
+<p class='stage-direction'>[<i>She pauses, rises quickly from her chair, and stands before him.
+She can hardly control herself. He looks into her eyes and
+then turns away</i>]</p>
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">[120]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Almost beseeching him</i>]</p>
+
+<p>No, you must not do that! You must not go yet!...
+I can’t let you go until I tell you something.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>She moves back to her chair and sits down slowly</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Unhappily, but with dignity</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I don’t wish you to tell me anything unless you are sure
+that I should hear it; and I don’t wish to take advantage
+of your perplexity—or of your unhappiness. You will
+understand that, I am sure; and you will agree with me,
+no doubt, when I say that my position has already become
+rather—well, say strange, to use your own word.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With unconscious bitterness</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>It will serve as well as another.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Impulsively</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I don’t care how strange it is, or how strange you are,
+so long as I know that I can trust you. If you were not
+strange, I might not have the courage to ask you to help
+me.... I wonder if I ought to wait until I know you
+better.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With deep feeling</i>]</p>
+
+<p>You will never know me better, and I shall be always
+at your service.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">[121]</span></p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a bitter smile</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>“They also serve who only stand and wait.”</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Pause</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Even the blind can serve, in their limited way.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Choking</i>]</p>
+
+<p>You must not say that again. You must not....</p>
+
+<p class='stage-direction'>[<i>Her voice breaks completely. She throws herself forward, laying
+her head and arms upon the table. Her whole body shakes,
+as if the prisoned emotion of years were finally asserting itself.</i>
+<span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span> <i>stands with his hands on the back of his chair and
+looks down at her with a great sorrow in his eyes. Finally he
+turns from her to the part of the table that is near him and
+absently picks up the pieces of ivory that</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span> <i>has broken</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Fitting the pieces together, and speaking with difficulty</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Then you are not going to Damascus, after all.</p>
+
+<p class='stage-direction'>[<span class="smcap">Villa’s</span> <i>body still shakes with her emotion, and she makes no sign
+to show that she has heard him. He looks down at her as the
+curtain falls</i>]</p>
+
+
+<p class='center mt2'><span class="smcap">Curtain</span></p>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_122"></a><a id="Page_123"></a>[123]</span></p>
+
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="ACT_III">
+    ACT III
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_124"></a><a id="Page_125"></a>[125]</span></p>
+
+
+<p class='stage-direction'><span class="smcap">Farnham’s</span> <i>studio, a little after ten in the evening. When the
+curtain rises the room is dark, save for the light of the fire
+which is now burning in the grate.</i></p>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Farnham</span> <i>is lying stretched on the window seat. Presently he
+gets up rather lazily, turns on the light, looks at his watch
+and stands in the middle of the room with his hands thrust
+deep into the pockets of a black velvet house coat. Apart
+from this coat he is in evening dress. He moves about aimlessly,
+yawns, and takes a cigar from the box on the table.
+As he is lighting it, the bell rings. He remains motionless
+for a little while, and a strange hard smile comes over his face.
+Finally, with a shrug of his shoulders he goes to the door and
+admits</i> <span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span>, <i>who is dressed in ordinary business
+clothes. His face wears a serious expression and he greets</i>
+<span class="smcap">Farnham</span> <i>with a kindly but somewhat uncanny smile.
+Then he looks towards the portrait on the easel, which has
+been moved back to its original place in Act I.</i></p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Still smiling drily</i>]</p>
+
+<p>For such a demon of punctuality, it seems to me that
+you are a bit late.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Smiling as before</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Am I so insufferably punctual that I cannot have five
+minutes’ grace?</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He takes off his overcoat</i>]</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">[126]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Taking his coat and hat and putting them on the window seat</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Oh, no offence. You have made your own reputation.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span> <i>goes to the fire</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Are you cold?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>It’s rather cool outside.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a grin</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I noticed that when I came out of the subway. Aren’t
+you going to sit down?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>Presently.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p>Take your time about it. Have a cigar.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He holds out the box and smiles</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>I’ll take one later, if you don’t mind.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p>It’s a Pedro.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>Not now.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Coaxingly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Colorado.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span> <i>shakes his head and smiles patiently</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Very well. Pardon me if I appear to urge you.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">[127]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>I can think of no one who should ask me to pardon him.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p>You remind me of the noble Spaniard who had no
+enemies because he had killed them all.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Smiling faintly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I have never killed anybody, to my knowledge. I may
+once have had something to do with bringing a man back
+to life again.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p>That was good. Did he thank you for it?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>He didn’t say very much.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p>They don’t as a rule, I believe. By the way,</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Grinning</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>when do you intend to tackle Old Hundred?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Frowning slightly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I dined with Lucas this evening—if you mean Lucas.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Surprised</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Oho! You did?—Did he get drunk?</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">[128]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>He did not.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Not too pleasantly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Oh well, you needn’t be discouraged over that. There’ll
+be time enough between now and midnight.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Distinctly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>There will be time enough between now and midnight
+for more things than you may have considered.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Puzzled</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I have no doubt of it. But no matter about Lucas.
+Tell me something more about your destiny.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Drily</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>How <i>is</i> your destiny this evening, anyway?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Still standing by the fire</i>]</p>
+
+<p>My destiny is a very good destiny, but unfortunately
+it has encountered one that is better.—Unfortunately for
+myself I mean,—not in any sense for others.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Patronizingly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>You are a good fellow—altogether too good to be put
+at a disadvantage. But this once—only this once, upon
+my word—I can’t help repeating that I didn’t think much
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">[129]</span>of it. One interview, and all that sort of thing. You see,
+it wasn’t quite in your line.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Pause</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Well, how much am I to know?—and how soon am I to
+know it?</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Drily</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Suppose you sit down in that chair.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Indicating the large chair</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>The consequent relaxation may be a good thing for you.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>Thank you, I will.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He sits down and begins to drum with his fingers on the arms of
+the chair</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Sitting down</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Now you look more comfortable.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Abruptly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I told you, Farnham, that I thought Lucas and I might
+possibly be of service to each other.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Wearily</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Can’t you forget Lucas for the rest of this evening?
+Granting all his noble qualities—including his indefatigable
+industry—I don’t yet understand that you came
+here to talk about him.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">[130]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Earnestly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Farnham, if you had known what you were asking,
+you would never have asked me to forget Lucas this evening.
+I may forget my name, and my age, and my way to
+Forty-second Street, but I shall not be likely to forget
+Lucas this evening.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Pause</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>You told me this morning, I believe, that you had had
+enough of him for one day.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Puzzled and irritated</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Most assuredly I did, and I meant what I said. I’ll
+be as glad as anybody if you can straighten him out, but
+what the devil sense is there in harping on him from morn
+till dewy eve? Why not let Lucas go for the present?</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Becoming more incisive</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>You started out this afternoon, I believe, to acquire some
+very special information that doesn’t seem to be forthcoming.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Slowly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>It will come.... And as for letting Lucas go—</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Throwing up his hands</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Good God!</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Calmly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>—letting Lucas go will be very difficult. In fact, it
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">[131]</span>will be out of the question. Instead of letting Lucas go,
+I fear that we shall be under the necessity of letting Lucas
+come.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Unpleasantly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>What are you talking about? I didn’t ask him to
+come, did I?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>As before</i>]</p>
+
+<p>You did not, and <i>I</i> did not.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Drumming with his fingers</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>But he is coming all the same. I have no doubt that he has
+been coming—through the ages.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Laughing drily</i>]</p>
+
+<p>So that’s it. More of your infernal Destiny, I suppose.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Earnestly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Whatever you do, Farnham, you had better wait a
+while before you begin to find fault with Destiny. For I
+should be inclined to say that you are going to be far more
+fortunate than I am, or am ever likely to be.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He looks thoughtfully about the studio</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p>Oh, you needn’t try to smooth it over like that. I only
+meant that I was looking forward to this evening for a
+different kind of talk from this.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">[132]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Quietly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>You will have it yet.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Wearily</i>]</p>
+
+<p>With Lucas?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With deliberation</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Farnham, if I don’t give you certain information that
+you have every reason to expect, it is because I don’t feel
+that I am in a position to give it. But I will say,</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Smiling</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>at the risk of my life, that Lucas has been straightened out.
+I don’t know just how I know it, but I know it.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With another smile</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Your engaging friend Otto brought the news this afternoon—</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Casually</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>not long after Lucas left Mrs. Lovett’s house.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Rising and speaking sharply</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Lucas at Mrs Lovett’s house?... You are keeping
+something back from me, and I should like very much to
+know what it is.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Reluctantly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Yes, I am keeping something back. And I have something
+else that I was requested, and finally persuaded, to
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">[133]</span>give to you this evening. I would rather not do it, but it
+may be as well that I should.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With dry fervor</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I hope it will be something more tangible than what
+you have been giving me.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Giving him a small object</i>]</p>
+
+<p>There it is.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>After a stupefied pause</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Man alive, are you out of your senses? This is Villa
+Vannevar’s ring. What the devil has been going on?</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Sharply</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Why don’t you tell me?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>Miss Vannevar will do that.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<span class="smcap">Farnham</span> <i>scowls incredulously</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>She and Lucas have been together, at her special request,
+since eight o’clock. Until she comes, please remember that
+I am acting only as a messenger.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Looking from the ring to</i> <span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span>]</p>
+
+<p>Are you all trying to make a fool of me? Are you the
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">[134]</span>friend that I have been trusting and praising all these
+years?</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a falling inflection</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>I’d better build a cabin in the woods.... What does all
+this insanity mean, anyhow? You can answer that question,
+if you have a mind to, and you know it damned well.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Quietly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Farnham.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Pause</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>You are going to have two more visitors this evening, and
+they are nearly due. They are not going to stay, in all
+probability, more than fifteen minutes. When they are
+gone, you and I may have something more to say to each
+other.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p>That is altogether possible.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Rising</i>]</p>
+
+<p>And if I have been the indirect means of this sudden
+change in the course of events, I wish you to know that I
+believe, as I stand here, that events would have taken the
+same course, though not quite so suddenly, if I had never
+gone to Mrs. Lovett’s house this afternoon. I mean, you
+understand, so far as events concern you personally. So be
+a good fellow and try to keep a little of your old faith in
+me.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Pause</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Do you hear a motor coming?</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">[135]</span></p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He takes out his watch and smiles wearily at</i> <span class="smcap">Farnham</span>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>They are on time, if I was not.</p>
+
+<p class='stage-direction'>[<i>The bell rings.</i> <span class="smcap">Farnham</span> <i>admits</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span> <i>and</i> <span class="smcap">Villa Vannevar</span>.
+<span class="smcap">Lucas</span> <i>has more color in his face, and his eyes are brighter
+than in the morning. He carries himself through the following
+scene with far more dignity and ease than might be expected,
+with now and then a facial suggestion of appreciative
+humor. Of the two</i> <span class="smcap">Villa</span> <i>is the more excited, but hers is the
+excitement of determination rather than of embarrassment or
+fear</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>To the three, after rather formal greetings to</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span> <i>and</i> <span class="smcap">Villa</span>]</p>
+
+<p>Well, I have the honor to report that I am still in the
+dark.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a hard smile</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Won’t you all sit down?</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>They remain standing</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Going to</i> <span class="smcap">Farnham</span> <i>and speaking with suppressed excitement</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Oh, but I am glad to hear you say that—that you are in
+the dark.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He nods with condescension and she steps back a little</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>I was afraid you didn’t know it.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Pause</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Weldon, do you know what it was doing to me? But you
+don’t, because you can’t. I shall have to tell you what it
+was doing. It was driving me mad.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Drily, with a glance at</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span>]</p>
+
+<p>Kindly go on.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">[136]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p>It was killing me.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<span class="smcap">Farnham</span> <i>nods again</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>I know you are going to think some dreadful things about
+me,—and say them too, I suppose.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Rapidly</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>But whatever you do or say, don’t ever forget that I am
+the cause of all that’s happened this evening. I took the
+matter into my own hands—just because I couldn’t wait.
+And when my mind was once made up that I couldn’t
+wait,—well, I couldn’t wait.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He nods again</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>And I couldn’t see much need of spending days and nights
+in talking about it.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a shrug, and another look at</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span>]</p>
+
+<p>Naturally not.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>To</i> <span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span>, <i>who is standing near the fire</i>]</p>
+
+<p>And you</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Gratefully but rapidly</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>—you remember what I told you when I got over that
+foolish fit of crying. I told you that nothing could ever
+make me change, and I asked you to help me. You told
+me first that you would rather not, and you said something
+that I didn’t hear about circumstances; but finally you
+did agree to do a little—just because you could see that I
+was so much in earnest—and that nothing could ever make
+me change—and that I couldn’t wait.</p>
+
+<p class='stage-direction'>[<span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span> <i>replies with a slow nod, and</i> <span class="smcap">Farnham</span> <i>grins at</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span>
+<i>with sardonic incredulity</i>]</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">[137]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>To</i> <span class="smcap">Villa</span>, <i>with a dry laugh</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Will you be so kind as to let me know what this thing
+is or was,—you haven’t yet given it a name—that was
+driving you mad, and killing you, and whatever else it
+may have been doing? You don’t look to me like a dying
+person, as you stand there now.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Impatiently</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Oh, you know what it was. It was our horribly false
+position—pretending to care for each other when we
+didn’t—I mean when we didn’t care enough.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Unpleasantly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>In that case, perhaps you will be good enough to tell
+me what sort of position you would call this that we are
+in now.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He looks at</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span> <i>and</i> <span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Lucas, why do you stand there like that? Why don’t you
+say something—if you have anything to say?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Quickly, looking from</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span> <i>to</i> <span class="smcap">Farnham</span>]</p>
+
+<p>He can’t speak yet, for I shan’t let him. I shan’t let
+anybody speak until I have said what I have to say. No,
+not one of you three can say a word until I tell you that
+I have asked George Lucas to marry me.</p>
+
+<p class='stage-direction'>[<span class="smcap">Farnham</span> <i>and</i> <span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span> <i>are almost equally surprised at this
+announcement, though the latter quickly regains his usual
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">[138]</span>composure</i>. <span class="smcap">Lucas</span> <i>looks at first as if he would like to get
+away, but endures his unlooked-for prominence with an
+Indian-like resignation</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>There!</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With her hands behind her back</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Now you may all speak at once, if you care to.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Going to</i> <span class="smcap">Villa</span>, <i>after a pause, and taking one of her hands</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Villa, what is the matter with you this evening? Has
+the moon driven you insane?</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>To</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span>, <i>sharply</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Lucas, why don’t you say something?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a dry cough</i>]</p>
+
+<p>You are quite right. The time has come for me to
+speak.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p>Well, if the time has come for you to speak, why the
+devil don’t you?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Calmly, but uncomfortably and with several oratorical pauses</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I am going to say something—and I don’t see how it is
+going to take me very long to say it.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With another cough</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Knowing—as I need hardly tell you now—that I could not,
+in view of my past and present circumstances—presume to
+ask of this lady the kind of question that she has taken
+upon herself to ask of me—and this time without wholly
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">[139]</span>anticipating its immediate effect upon one’s nervous
+organization,—well, I can only say that she has acted in
+accordance with her own convictions in regard to the solution
+of a rather difficult problem, and has thereby placed
+me under excessive obligations—that she cannot expect
+ever to be entirely fulfilled.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>To</i> <span class="smcap">Farnham</span>, <i>with a faint smile</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Whatever else you may wish me to say will be related,
+with your permission, at another time.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With cold humor</i>]</p>
+
+<p>“She has acted in accordance with her own convictions
+in regard to the solution of a rather difficult problem.”</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>To</i> <span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span>, <i>drily</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>As she sees it, I suppose.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>Is there more than one way to see it?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p>I see it as a bit of impetuous farce.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Protesting violently</i>]</p>
+
+<p>No, don’t say impetuous. Say anything but that. Say
+determined—ordained—premeditated—desperate—anything
+but impetuous. I’ll not have anybody—not even
+George—tell me that I was impetuous when I was only
+sensible. You might as well call me—I don’t know what.
+You might as well call me a fool.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">[140]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With reluctant humor</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Do you know, my dear young lady, that you are using
+some rather positive language?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Still excited</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I don’t care. I must use it, in order to make myself
+understood.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>To</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span>]</p>
+
+<p>Tell him, George, about the ring.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Satirically</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Yes, George, let us hear about the ring.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p>She means that the ring would have been returned to
+you in any case.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>To</i> <span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span>, <i>with fine irony</i>]</p>
+
+<p>And this is your work.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Distinctly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>No, my friend, you are mistaken. It is not the work of
+any human being—in this room, or out of it.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Wearily</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Oh, the devil! I’ve heard all that before.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span> <i>shrugs his shoulders and looks at the fire</i>]</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">[141]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Earnestly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Weldon, let me tell you again what I told you when I
+came in.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With intensity</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>It was killing me. It was driving me mad.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Throwing up his hands</i>]</p>
+
+<p>For heaven’s sake, are you going to drag that nonsense
+in again?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p>It meant the torture of our two lives.... The ruin of
+them, for all we know.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a careless absence of emotion</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Lives are not so easily ruined as all that. If they were,
+some of us would be ruined before we were born.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a faint smile</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Some of us are, Farnham.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>To</i> <span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span>, <i>with hesitation</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Don’t you think that you have contributed about enough
+to the needless absurdity and injustice of all this....</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Quickly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>No, you must not say that to him. It was I who did
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">[142]</span>this, and it was I who insisted that it should be done tonight.
+If your best friend had not helped me, I should
+have done it sooner or later without him.... Now will
+you let me go on from where I was when you interrupted
+me?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With evident admiration</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Yes, if you remember where that was.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With animation</i>]</p>
+
+<p>It was where I was going to say something more about
+George.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<span class="smcap">Farnham</span> <i>looks at</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span>, <i>who is looking at the bust of Shakespeare</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Weldon, there are certain people in this world who are
+made for each other. You may laugh at me for saying
+so—I know it isn’t very original—but I believe it to be
+true, and that makes it just the same as if it <i>were</i> true.
+Well then, I believe that George Lucas and I have belonged
+to each other since the beginning of our lives, and
+I have known it ever since I can remember. I knew him
+long before I knew you, and I know more about him than
+you have ever known or ever can know;</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<span class="smcap">Farnham</span> <i>looks again at</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>and once, when I was so scared and happy that I didn’t
+know what to do—this was ages ago—I told Auntie all
+about it.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With comical directness</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Auntie didn’t like—his father.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">[143]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With venomous humor</i>]</p>
+
+<p>And what did Auntie say?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a shrug and a rueful laugh</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Oh dear! If I were to try to tell you what she said, I
+shouldn’t know how to begin or where to end. It doesn’t
+make so much difference what Auntie said, so long as she
+said—what she said.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With unconscious humor, looking down</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>She didn’t like George’s father.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Grinning at</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span>]</p>
+
+<p>Did she like George?</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Pause</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>George doesn’t seem to have anything more to say.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With dry emphasis</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Yes, George has one thing more to say. He has to say
+that he has not yet accepted the lady’s offer.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Scowling</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Then why are you here?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p>To do so in your presence—now that you understand
+the situation.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">[144]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p>But I don’t understand the situation—except in the
+vaguest kind of way.... I knew about it in that way
+before.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Still standing by the fire</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Farnham, I don’t like to interrupt you.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p>Oh—you don’t....</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>But why debate the inevitable? It will do no manner of
+good, and it will be likely, as Miss Vannevar has already
+implied, to take up a great deal of time.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Drily</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Have you been coaching them?</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span> <i>makes a gesture of resigned protest, but says nothing</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Well, you haven’t told me what you said to Lucas during
+dinner.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>I told Lucas that Miss Vannevar wished very much to
+see him as soon as possible after eight o’clock.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p>Was that all?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>Substantially, yes.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">[145]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p>Mightn’t that leave a pretty wide margin for conjecture?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>It might, but it doesn’t. Please remember that when I
+told you of my interest in Lucas, I was not anticipating
+the developments that have transpired.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Unwilling to let the subject go</i>]</p>
+
+<p>But you are the cause of these developments, for all
+that. What did you say to Villa after Otto went away?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a slight weariness</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I didn’t find a great deal to say. I told her pretty much
+what I have told you,—that Lucas and I were going to be
+of service to each other, and that I had complete confidence
+in him. Please do not ask me to go any further into details—just
+now.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a friendly smile</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>My dear Farnham, if you were to form at your time of
+life the fatal habit of clinging to ruins, and of refusing to
+accept what has irrevocably taken place, there is no
+knowing what might happen to you—and to your art.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p>Do you remember that you used to call yourself a
+friend of mine?</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He speaks half-heartedly, and seems to regret having spoken</i>]</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">[146]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Distinctly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I was never in my life more convinced of my complete
+loyalty to you, or of your complete faith in me. I was not
+expecting to say so this evening, unless to you alone, but
+never mind that now.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Rather ruefully</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I suppose that’s your fantastic, esoteric, oriental way
+of telling a fellow that he has said something foolish. I
+don’t say it’s a bad way, you understand—</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He stops, and has another look at</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span>, <i>who smiles in approval</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Going to</i> <span class="smcap">Farnham</span> <i>and putting her hands on his arms</i>]</p>
+
+<p>You needn’t try to be angry any longer, for I can see by
+the look in your eyes that you can’t.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Shaking him a little and beginning to laugh</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>You ought not to be angry, for you are so glad to get rid
+of me that you don’t know what to do with yourself.
+You may tell me that I ought not to say so, but you can’t
+put the words back into my mouth—’cause I’ve got my
+teeth together.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>She shows her teeth and laughs at him</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Taking her hands and smiling</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I don’t remember having said that I was angry.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He pushes her away gently</i>]</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">[147]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Putting her hands behind her and laughing</i>]</p>
+
+<p>There was no need of your <i>saying</i> it.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Drily</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Then that must have been the reason why I didn’t say
+it.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Pause</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>But don’t you think that I had just the slightest conceivable
+reason for being—for being a trifle annoyed, we’ll say?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With feline demureness</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Well, I rather suppose you did.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Looking at him brightly</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>But it’s all over now, <i>isn’t</i> it?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Trying not to laugh</i>]</p>
+
+<p>And so you find your escape from me a very simple
+matter.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With mild sarcasm</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>It seems to be one of the prerogatives of womankind to
+discover now and then that some problems <i>are</i> very simple.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>She looks at</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span>, <i>then for a longer time at</i> <span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span>, <i>who still
+remains by the fire, and finally at</i> <span class="smcap">Farnham</span> <i>again</i>]</p>
+
+<p>And that others are very difficult.</p>
+
+<p class='stage-direction'>[<span class="smcap">Farnham</span> <i>glances at</i> <span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span>, <i>who stands looking at the burning
+coals. There is a pause, which is broken by the ringing
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">[148]</span>of the bell.</i> <span class="smcap">Farnham</span> <i>admits</i> <span class="smcap">Otto</span>, <i>who stands for a time
+in meek bewilderment after looking from one to the other</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p>I—I saw the light, and so I came over—from Petherick’s.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Drily amused</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Of course you did, Otto. That was the right thing for
+you to do. We have all seen the light, even if we haven’t
+all come over from Petherick’s.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Patting his shoulder</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Now take a look around you, little friend, and tell us what
+you see besides the light.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Looking from</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span> <i>to</i> <span class="smcap">Villa</span>]</p>
+
+<p>Oh—good evening.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He plays with his hat</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>I saw the light, and so I came over.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>To</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Did you see the light, Phœbus, and did you come over?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Avoiding over-confidence</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Yes, Otto, I may be said to have seen the light, and to
+have come over—though not from Petherick’s.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a long sigh</i>]</p>
+
+<p>That’s illuminating, and I thank you kindly.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">[149]</span></p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He looks at</i> <span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span>, <i>who smiles and nods</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Good evening.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>To</i> <span class="smcap">Villa</span>]</p>
+
+<p>Are you sure that I’m not in the way?</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He makes a puzzled grimace and looks at</i> <span class="smcap">Farnham</span>, <i>who grins</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Laughing nervously</i>]</p>
+
+<p>We are sure of one thing, Otto, and that is that you are
+not very cordial with your old friends. Aren’t you going
+to congratulate me on my engagement to George Lucas?
+We are going to be married—sometime.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>After a stupefied pause</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Are you?</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He looks again from one to another, and finally addresses</i> <span class="smcap">Van
+Zorn</span>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>I knew this afternoon that something was going to happen.
+Of course it was none of my business, but you—you understand
+me, I’m sure.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He wipes his forehead with his handkerchief</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With lingering sarcasm</i>]</p>
+
+<p>We understand you, Otto. You saw the light and you
+came over. Everything has been explained, and we are
+all going to try to be happy.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Looking again from one to another, and beginning to beam</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Do you know, Farnham, that I—that I rather like this?</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">[150]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p>I’m glad to hear you say so, Otto. We study to please.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>To</i> <span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span>, <i>who appears to be mildly amused</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Do <i>you</i> like this?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>It has my unqualified approval. In addition, it was
+undoubtedly inevitable.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With an air of discovery</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Doesn’t that make it all the better?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>I am sure that you have every reason to congratulate
+your friends on their mutual good fortune.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>After shaking hands, rather suddenly, with</i> <span class="smcap">Villa</span> <i>and</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span>]</p>
+
+<p>Farnham, old man, the more I think of this, the better
+I like it. There’s a—there’s a kind of destiny about it.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Patting Otto’s shoulder</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Otto, we can always look to you for the right word.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Wearily, with a mild trace of venom</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>I’ve been trying to think of that word “destiny” all the
+evening.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">[151]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Giving</i> <span class="smcap">Farnham</span> <i>her hand</i>]</p>
+
+<p>And I have been trying to think of something more to
+say to <i>you</i>, Weldon, but somehow I can’t just now. So I
+think George had better take me home. And then, I suppose
+I’ll have a talk with....</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>She sighs</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With an unfeeling grin</i>]</p>
+
+<p>With Auntie?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p>Yes, with Auntie.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>She breaks into childish laughter</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Poor Auntie!</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Pause</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Well, good night. I won’t say good-bye, for that would
+be too solemn.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Holding her hand</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Good night. And I hope you will be very happy.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Shaking hands with</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Good night, George,—and my congratulations. You will
+excuse me if I don’t make a speech.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>To</i> <span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span>, <i>who comes forward</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Good night.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>She gives him her hand and looks at him as if a little frightened</i>]</p>
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">[152]</span></p>
+
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Holding her hand</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Good night.</p>
+
+<p class='stage-direction'>[<i>They look into each other’s eyes for some time. She leaves him
+slowly and moves towards the door. He returns to his former
+place by the fire, after speaking with</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>While</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span> <i>is shaking hands with</i> <span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span>]</p>
+
+<p>Good night, Otto.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Still bewildered</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Good night. I don’t think I’ll make a speech either.
+On the contrary I may as well go home to my mousy
+garret, light my guttering candle, and work away for a
+while at my popular song.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Laughing</i>]</p>
+
+<p>But you never told me that you were writing a popular
+song. How does it go, and what is it about?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Solemnly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>It’s a sad story, and it doesn’t go very fast.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Doubtfully</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>And it may not be altogether appropriate to the present
+auspicious occasion.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Laughing</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Oh, yes it is—perfectly. How does it go, Otto?</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">[153]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Scratching his ear thoughtfully</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I’ve only got four lines of it.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He appears to be reading them from the inside of his hat</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Shaking him</i>]</p>
+
+<p>But how do they go?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p>They go like this:</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He repeats the following lines with comical solemnity, punctuating
+them with sharp pauses</i>]</p>
+
+<div class="poetry-container">
+  <div class="poetry">
+    <div class="stanza">
+      <div class="verse indent0">Oh, long shall we remember the dark days that followed then,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent2">And how our faith in truth and honor sank;</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">For we knew the dear old home would never be the same again,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent2">When Father robbed the baby’s little bank.</div>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+</div>
+
+<p class='character'>LUCAS</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Laughing</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Can you keep it up to that level, Otto?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Scratching his ear</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I think so.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With owlish innocence</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>But of course you understand that there’s nothing prophetic
+about it—nothing personal. I wouldn’t have any
+words of mine cast a shadow on this propitious hour—no,
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">[154]</span>not even if my friend Farnham were to give me a small
+potion of his Double X Rattlesnake Rye over yonder.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He nods towards the bust of Shakespeare</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>I’m delicate, and I may not be with you very long.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VILLA</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>To</i> <span class="smcap">Farnham</span>, <i>laughing</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Before you give it to him, I think it will be safer for me
+to go away. Good night again.</p>
+
+<p class='stage-direction'>[<span class="smcap">Farnham</span> <i>goes with</i> <span class="smcap">Villa</span> <i>and</i> <span class="smcap">Lucas</span> <i>to the vestibule, closing
+the door slowly and thoughtfully as he returns</i>. <span class="smcap">Otto</span>, <i>in
+the meantime, has gone to the cabinet, from the depths of which
+he has produced a bottle of whiskey</i>. <span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span>, <i>standing
+by the fire, watches</i> <span class="smcap">Otto</span> <i>with a look of abstracted amusement</i>.]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Returning</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Well, Otto, you seem to be in a romantic frame of mind
+this evening. You aren’t unhappy, are you?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Wiping his lips</i>]</p>
+
+<p>No, I don’t complain.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Patronizingly, to</i> <span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span>]</p>
+
+<p>Otto never complains. He eats his crust at sunset, and
+he drains his cup of bitterness without so much as making
+a face. Don’t you, Otto?</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">[155]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>OTTO</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Moving towards the door</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Don’t ask me to talk this evening. You have shaken
+me up, and I’m delicate. I may be on my way to eminence,
+or I may be merely another case of the gods seeing otherwise.
+In either event, it will be all right, for the universe
+will take care of us all. Throw on my grave a flower.
+Fare you well, gentlemen both, and peace be with you.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<span class="smcap">Otto</span> <i>lays his hand on his heart, bows deferentially, and disappears
+slowly and silently</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Smiling faintly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>You must not undervalue that youth, Farnham.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Opening the cigar box</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I shall never again undervalue anything that has a
+destiny.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Holding out the box</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Here—have a cigar. And for God’s sake have it this time
+or you’ll make me peevish.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>Thank you.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He takes a match from Farnham and lights his cigar</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Lighting his cigar</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I suppose Otto has a destiny, hasn’t he?</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">[156]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Drily</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I suppose he has.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Giving him a queer look</i>]</p>
+
+<p>And what about Lucas—and <i>his</i> destiny?</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He sits down and invites</i> <span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span> <i>to take the large chair as
+before</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Calmly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I don’t know that I pretend to be a prophet,</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<span class="smcap">Farnham</span> <i>grins</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>but I should venture to say that Lucas’s destiny will not
+be altogether a bad one. Being human and not a fool, he
+must in the nature of things have ambitions that he will
+never realize. On the other hand, he will have a great deal
+of happiness, I believe.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Looking earnestly at</i> <span class="smcap">Farnham</span>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>But neither he nor I can have what <i>you</i> are going to have.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<span class="smcap">Farnham</span> <i>begins to beam with approval and anticipation</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>I won’t say that you have it already</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He glances toward the picture and scowls</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>—for that might not be good for you ... and it might not
+be true.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Affecting modesty</i>]</p>
+
+<p>You may be within a gunshot of being right, but this
+day’s work doesn’t seem to be very promising—that is,
+to the uninitiated.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">[157]</span></p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Clasping his knee</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>I suppose, however, that <i>you</i> feel a great deal better.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>Why do you say that?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p>After what you have done?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a frown</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I have done nothing. I thought that was understood.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Laughing a little</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Oh yes, you have, in spite of your cosmic modesty.
+Haven’t you cleared the air? Haven’t you raised the
+curtain?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Apparently after some hesitation</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Would you talk like that, Farnham, if you knew me a
+little better ... if you knew, as I know, what I have lost?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a trace of his old manner</i>]</p>
+
+<p>We have things before we lose them. That’s old, I know;
+but I believe it’s true.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>More earnestly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Yes, Farnham, it is quite true. And it is most distinctly
+what I have had that I have now lost.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_158">[158]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Puzzled</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Go on. You are talking; I’m only listening.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Very distinctly</i>]</p>
+
+<p>What is your notion of the best thing for a man to do
+when he has lost his belief that he has something to live
+for?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Pretending not to understand</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Why, that’s easy. Find something new to live for.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Getting up and speaking as if half to himself</i>]</p>
+
+<p>There may be a certain amount of wisdom in that. And
+yet you do not wholly understand me.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With unconscious emphasis</i>]</p>
+
+<p>And who the devil does?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Looking steadily at</i> <span class="smcap">Farnham</span>]</p>
+
+<p>Do you know what it is, Farnham, that I am facing?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a forced laugh</i>]</p>
+
+<p>You are facing <i>me</i>, for the moment. I’m not much to
+be facing, I grant you; but you might have to face something
+worse.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">[159]</span></p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a glance at the picture</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>The deadliest thing about me, at present, seems to be my
+ability to paint pictures like that one over there.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Becoming more and more serious</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I seem to be facing you, Farnham, but the truth is that
+I am facing myself. Whichever way I look now, I look
+forward into a thousand mirrors; and I see myself—only
+myself—Van Zorn. If I had one talent, I should see that;
+and I should thank God for it. But it isn’t there. There
+is nothing there but—Van Zorn.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He smokes for a time in thought</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Farnham, do you wonder that there are people in this world
+who howl about property?... Yes; my property, if
+you like.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Laughing</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Good! That sounds as if the yeast were beginning to
+work. You needn’t worry; you’ll find something to live
+for.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Getting up and stretching himself comfortably</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Why don’t you begin by tearing down a row of rotten
+tenements—just for the fun of it—and putting up some
+thing—oh, something sanitary and ornamental? Then
+the tired father could come home and cleanse his honest
+hide in a white enameled bath-tub—only of course he
+wouldn’t,—and after dinner the entire family could sit
+around a gilded radiator and sing songs by the most
+eminent composers, as Otto would say, of their native
+land.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_160">[160]</span></p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Laughing</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Hear me, Norma, but don’t excite yourself. You are still
+young, and there’s going to be no end of time.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With a dutiful smile</i>]</p>
+
+<p>There is something in what you say.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With easy patronage</i>]</p>
+
+<p>You bet there is. And then there is always this “business”
+of yours: “Van Zorn and Lucas, the eminent
+comedians.” Don’t you see <i>that</i>, when you look forward
+into your thousand mirrors?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Looking down</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Yes, I see it. The business will succeed.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p>To be sure.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Becoming over-confident</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>Van Zorn, from whom all blessings flow, do you realize
+that we are beaten by Old Hundred?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Gravely</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I don’t like your word—beaten.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Piqued but persistent</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Neither do I,—but I didn’t invent it, and I won’t say it
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_161">[161]</span>again. But I should like to ask you one question. When
+you came in this evening, you said something about your
+destiny being a very good destiny; and you said, also, that
+it had encountered—I think that was your word—one
+that was better. Now, if I have a right to ask the question,
+I wish you would be good enough to tell me what the devil
+Lucas was doing this afternoon at Mrs. Lovett’s.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>He came to tell Miss Vannevar that he was going
+west, and to say good-bye.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p>Going west—eh?</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Excited but satirical</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>And if you hadn’t kept Lucas from going west—whatever
+that means—I suppose you would have been contented
+for all time with your—your one interview.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>After some deliberation</i>]</p>
+
+<p>If Lucas had gone—west,—you would still have recovered
+your ring.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>They look at each other until Farnham shrugs his shoulders and
+looks at the floor</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>When Lucas changed his mind about going, he was not
+in any manner influenced by the ring or by the person who
+wore it.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Pause</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>But why say more about that?</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_162">[162]</span></p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>His last words come rather thickly; he moves away and finally
+remains standing before the picture</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>By the way, Farnham, what are you going to do with
+this picture?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Drily</i>]</p>
+
+<p>You speak as if you wanted it yourself.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p>Will you give it to me?</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He is evidently in earnest</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Cynically</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Yes, take it. Take everything in sight.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Thoughtfully</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I could almost believe that this picture was painted for
+me—without your knowledge.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Drily</i>]</p>
+
+<p>More destiny?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Taking a small knife from his pocket</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I don’t know what else to call it.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>He begins to cut the head and shoulders from the canvas</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Going quickly towards him</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Here! What do you think you are doing?</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_163">[163]</span></p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Cutting diligently</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I am getting rid of one of the most insincere</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Cuts</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>and exasperating</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Cuts</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>bits of charlatanry</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Cuts</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>that man’s eyes have ever looked on. I am doing it partly
+for the good of your artistic conscience, and partly for
+reasons of my own.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Unable to protest</i>]</p>
+
+<p>All right, the thing is yours.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>With cynical observation</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>But I suppose you know that you are disintegrating
+twenty-five hundred dollars worth of high art?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Throwing the piece of canvas into the fire</i>]</p>
+
+<p>Is that your figure?</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p>For the present, yes. And therefore it seems to me that
+your eccentric little ingle-flame over there is just a bit
+extravagant.</p>
+
+<p class='character'>VAN ZORN</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Punching the burning canvas with the poker</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I shouldn’t worry about that if I were you. We are
+living in an extravagant age.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_164">[164]</span></p>
+
+<p class='stage-direction'>[<i>He puts away the poker and stands watching the fire. At length
+he turns to</i> <span class="smcap">Farnham</span> <i>and speaks with a subdued intensity
+and a new emphasis</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>It is your age, Farnham, and you had better not play with
+it.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Slowly</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='no-indent'>If I were you, I should try to meet it half way.</p>
+
+<p class='stage-direction'>[<span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span> <i>throws his cigar into the fire and stands looking at
+the smouldering canvas, holding his hands behind him</i>. <span class="smcap">Farnham</span>
+<i>goes toward him slowly, holds out his hand and looks
+for a moment into</i> <span class="smcap">Van Zorn’s</span> <i>eyes</i>. <span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span> <i>takes
+his hand, lets it go, and continues to look down into the fire</i>]</p>
+
+<p class='character'>FARNHAM</p>
+
+<p class='center'>[<i>Embarrassed and with evident regret</i>]</p>
+
+<p>I’m sorry, old fellow, but I didn’t quite ... I didn’t
+realize that you were quite so much in earnest.</p>
+
+<p class='stage-direction'>[<span class="smcap">Van Zorn</span> <i>makes no reply, but remains looking at the fire</i>. <span class="smcap">Farnham</span>
+<i>sits down on the edge of the window seat and looks
+thoughtfully at the floor before him. Finally he looks again
+at Van Zorn, and a slow incredulous smile comes over his
+face. Then he shrugs his shoulders, as if he was still in
+doubt about something, and the curtain falls slowly.</i>]</p>
+
+
+<p class='center mt2'>THE END</p>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_165">[165]</span></p>
+
+
+<div class='poetry-container'>
+<p class='mw25 pad1 bbox no-indent'>
+    The following pages contain advertisements of a
+    few of the Macmillan books on kindred subjects.
+</p>
+</div></div>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_166"></a><a id="Page_167"></a>[167]</span></p>
+</div>
+
+<p class='center u fs120'>
+    RABINDRANATH TAGORE’S NEW DRAMA
+  </p>
+
+<p class='center fs200'>The King of the Dark Chamber</p>
+
+<p class='center mt1'>By</p>
+
+<p class='center mt1'>RABINDRANATH TAGORE</p>
+
+<p class='hang2 mt1'>Nobel Prizeman in Literature, 1913; Author of “Gitangali,”
+“The Gardener,” “The Crescent Moon,”
+“Sadhana,” “Chitra,” “The Post-Office,” etc. Cloth
+12 mo.</p>
+
+<p class='mt1'>“The real poetical imagination of it is unchangeable;
+the allegory, subtle and profound and yet simple, is cast
+into the form of a dramatic narrative, which moves with
+unconventional freedom to a finely impressive climax; and
+the reader, who began in idle curiosity, finds his intelligence
+more and more engaged until, when he turns the last page,
+he has the feeling of one who has been moving in worlds
+not realized, and communing with great if mysterious
+presences.”</p>
+
+<p class="right pr1">
+  <i>The London Globe.</i>
+</p>
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_168">[168]</span></p>
+
+
+<p class='center u'>
+  <i>NEW POEMS AND PLAYS</i>
+  </p>
+</div>
+
+
+<p class='b fs150 no-indent mt2'>Romance</p>
+
+<p class='hang3 mt1'><span class="smcap">By Edward Sheldon</span>, Author of “The Nigger,” etc.
+Decorated cloth, 12mo.</p>
+
+<p class='hang2 mt1 fs80'>Mr. Sheldon can be relied upon to provide drama that is not only good from
+a technical standpoint, but unusual in subject-matter. <i>The Nigger</i>,
+which proved to be one of the sensations of the New Theatre’s short
+career, is now followed by <i>Romance</i>, a play more admirable, perhaps,
+in its construction, and of universal appeal. As a book the story seems
+to have lost none of its brilliance; in fact the sharpness of its character
+delineation, the intensity and reality of its plot and the lyrical beauty
+of some of its passages are, if possible more apparent on the printed
+page than in the theatre. There is little doubt but that the tremendous
+success which the drama made when footlighted is to be duplicated
+upon its appearance in this form.</p>
+
+
+<p class='b fs150 no-indent mt2'>Poems</p>
+
+<p class='hang3 mt1'><span class="smcap">By Harriet Monroe.</span> Cloth, 12mo. $1.25 net.</p>
+
+<p class='hang2 mt1 fs80'>In this book is brought together some of Miss Monroe’s best work. As the
+editor of <i>Poetry: A Magazine of Verse</i>, wherein occasionally compositions
+of her own have appeared, and as a contributor to the better magazines,
+Miss Monroe has endeared herself to a large audience of discriminating
+people. A distinguishing feature of the collection is that it is notably
+representative of current ideas and sentiments, and pleasingly varied in
+theme. The author’s subjects are chosen from the Panama Canal,
+the Titanic disaster, the turbine, the telephone, State Street, Chicago,
+and other modern phases or factors of life. There is also a group of love
+poems.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">[169]</span></p>
+
+<p class='b fs150 no-indent mt2'>Plaster Saints</p>
+
+<p class='hang3 mt1'>
+  <span class="smcap">By Israel Zangwill.</span> Cloth, 12mo. $1.25 net.
+</p>
+
+<p class='hang2 mt1 fs80'>A new play of deep social significance.</p>
+
+<p class='b fs150 no-indent mt2'>The Melting Pot</p>
+
+<p class='hang3 mt1'><span class="smcap">By Israel Zangwill.</span> Revised edition. Cloth, 12mo.</p>
+
+<p class='hang2 mt1 fs80'>This is a revised edition of what is perhaps Mr. Zangwill’s most popular
+play. Numerous changes have been made in the text, which has been
+considerably lengthened thereby. The appeal of the drama to the
+readers of this country is particularly strong, in that it deals with that
+great social process by which all nationalities are blended together for
+the making of the real American.</p>
+
+
+<p class='b fs150 no-indent mt2'>Sword Blades and Poppy Seed</p>
+
+<p class='hang3 mt1'><span class="smcap">By Amy Lowell</span>, Author of “A Dome of Many-Coloured
+Glass.” Boards, 12mo. $1.25 net.</p>
+
+<p class='hang2 mt1 fs80'>Of the poets who to-day are doing the interesting and original work, there
+is no more striking and unique figure than Amy Lowell. The foremost
+American member of the “Imagists”—a group of poets that includes
+William Butler Yeats, Ezra Pound, Ford Madox Hueffer—she has
+won wide recognition for her writing in new and free forms of poetical
+expression. Miss Lowell’s present volume of poems, “Sword Blades
+and Poppy Seed,” is an unusual book. It contains much perhaps
+that will arouse criticism, but it is a new note in American poetry. Miss
+Lowell has broken away from academic traditions and written, out of
+her own time, real singing poetry, free, full of new effects and subtleties.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_170">[170]</span></p>
+
+<p class='b fs150 no-indent mt2'>The Congo and Other Poems</p>
+
+<p class='hang3 mt1'><span class="smcap">By Vachel Lindsay.</span> Cloth, 12mo.</p>
+
+<p class='hang2 mt1 fs80'>In the readings which he has given throughout the country Mr. Lindsay
+has won the approbation of the critics and of his audiences in general
+for the new verse form which he is employing. The wonderful effects
+of sound produced by his lines, their relation to the idea which the
+author seeks to convey and their marvelous lyrical quality are something,
+it is maintained, quite out of the ordinary and suggest new
+possibilities and new meanings in poetry. In this book are presented
+a number of Mr. Lindsay’s most daring experiments, that is to say they
+<i>were</i> experiments when they were first tried; they have been more than
+justified by their reception. It is believed that the volume will be one
+of the most discussed of all the year’s output.</p>
+
+
+<p class='b fs150 no-indent mt2'>Borderlands and Thoroughfares</p>
+
+<p class='hang3 mt1'><span class="smcap">By Wilfrid Wilson Gibson</span>, Author of “Daily Bread,”
+“Fires,” “Womenkind,” etc. Cloth, 12mo. $1.25
+net.</p>
+
+<p class='hang2 mt1 fs80'>With the publication of <i>Daily Bread</i> Mr. Gibson was hailed as a new poet
+of the people. <i>Fires</i>, his later volume, confirmed the impression that
+here was a man whose writing was close to real life, a man in whom were
+combined a sympathy and appreciation of humankind with a rare lyrical
+genius. This present book continues the work which Mr. Gibson can
+do so well. In it are brought together three plays and a number of
+short lyrics which reveal again his very decided talent. It is a collection
+which should indeed gratify those students of modern verse who are
+looking to such men as Gibson and Masefield for permanent and representative
+contributions to literature.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_171">[171]</span></p>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p class='center fs120 u'>
+    A LIST OF PLAYS
+  </p>
+</div>
+
+
+<table class="autotable mt1">
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">
+<b>Leonid Andreyev’s</b> Anathema
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+$1.25 net
+</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">
+<b>Clyde Fitch’s</b> The Climbers
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+.75 net
+</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">
+<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Girl with the Green Eyes</span>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+1.25 net
+</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">
+<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Her Own Way</span>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+.75 net
+</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">
+<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Stubbornness of Geraldine</span>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+.75 net
+</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">
+<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">The Truth</span>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+.75 net
+</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">
+<b>Thomas Hardy’s</b> The Dynasts. 3 Parts. Each
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+1.50 net
+</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">
+<b>Henry Arthur Jones’s</b>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+
+</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">
+<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Whitewashing of Julia</span>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+.75 net
+</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">
+<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Saints and Sinners</span>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+.75 net
+</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">
+<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">The Crusaders</span>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+.75 net
+</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">
+<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Michael and His Lost Angel</span>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+.75 net
+</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">
+
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+
+</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">
+<b>Jack London’s</b> Scorn of Women
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+1.25 net
+</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">
+<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Theft</span>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+1.25 net
+</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">
+
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+
+</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">
+<b>Mackaye’s</b> Jean D’Arc
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+1.25 net
+</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">
+<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Sappho and Phaon</span>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+1.25 net
+</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">
+<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Fenris the Wolf</span>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+1.25 net
+</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">
+<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Mater</span>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+1.25 net
+</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">
+<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Canterbury Pilgrims</span>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+1.25 net
+</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">
+<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">The Scarecrow</span>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+1.25 net
+</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">
+<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">A Garland to Sylvia</span>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+1.25 net
+</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">
+<b>John Masefield’s</b> The Tragedy of Pompey
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+1.25 net
+</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">
+<b>William Vaughn Moody’s</b>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+
+</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">
+<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">The Faith Healer</span>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+1.25 net
+</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">
+<b>Stephen Phillips’s</b> Ulysses
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+1.25 net
+</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">
+<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">The Sin of David</span>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+1.25 net
+</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">
+<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Nero</span>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+1.25 net
+</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">
+<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Pietro of Siena</span>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+1.00 net
+</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">
+<b>Phillips and Carr.</b> Faust
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+1.25 net
+</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">
+<b>Edward Sheldon’s</b> The Nigger
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+1.25 net
+</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">
+<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Romance</span>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+1.25 net
+</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">
+<b>Katrina Trask’s</b> In the Vanguard
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+1.25 net
+</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">
+<b>Rabindranath Tagore’s</b> The Post Office
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+1.00 net
+</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">
+<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Chitra</span>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+1.00 net
+</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">
+<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">The King of the Dark Chamber</span>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+1.25 net
+</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">
+<b>Robinson, Edwin A.</b> Van Zorn
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+1.25 net
+</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">
+<b>Sarah King Wiley’s</b> Coming of Philibert
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+1.25 net
+</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">
+<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Alcestis</span>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+.75 net
+</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">
+<b>Yeats’s</b> Poems and Plays, Vol. II, Revised Edition
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+2.00 net
+</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">
+<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Hour Glass (and others)</span>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+1.25 net
+</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">
+<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">The Green Helmet and Other Poems</span>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+1.25 net
+</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">
+<b>Yeats and Lady Gregory’s</b> Unicorn from the Stars
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+1.50 net
+</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">
+<b>Israel Zangwill’s</b> The Melting Pot. New Edition
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+1.25 net
+</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">
+<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">The War God</span>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+1.25 net
+</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">
+<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">The Next Religion</span>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+1.25 net
+</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">
+<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Plaster Saints</span>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+1.25 net
+</td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+
+<hr class='r15'>
+
+<p class="center">
+  PUBLISHED BY<br>
+  <span class='fs150 ls1'>THE MACMILLAN COMPANY</span><br>
+  Publishers   &emsp;   64-66 Fifth Avenue   &emsp;   New York
+</p>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter transnote">
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="Transcribers_Notes">
+    Transcriber’s Notes
+  </h2>
+
+<ul>
+<li>Duplicate chapter headers omitted.</li>
+
+<li>Obvious typographic errors silently corrected.</li>
+
+<li>On <a href='#Page_148'>p. 148</a>, three misspellings of "Pethrick" changed to "Petherick".</li>
+
+<li>Footnote numbered and moved to follow the citing paragraph.</li>
+</ul>
+</div>
+<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78762 ***</div>
+</body>
+</html>
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@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+This book, including all associated images, markup, improvements,
+metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be
+in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES.
+
+Procedures for determining public domain status are described in
+the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org.
+
+No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in
+jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize
+this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright
+status under the laws that apply to them.
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+++ b/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for eBook #78762
+(https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/78762)