BURGE. On that subject my lips are closed. Nothing will induce me to say one word against the old man. I never have; and I never will. Lubin is old: he has never been a real statesman: he is as lazy as a cat on a hearthrug: you cant get him to attend to anything: he is good for nothing but getting up and making speeches with a peroration that goes down with the back benches. But I say nothing against him. I gather that you do not think much of me as a statesman; but at all events I can get things done. I can hustle: even you will admit that. But Lubin! Oh my stars, Lubin!! If you only knew-- _The parlor maid opens the door and announces a visitor._ THE PARLOR MAID. Mr Lubin. SURGE [_bounding from his chair_] Lubin! Is this a conspiracy? _They all rise in amazement, staring at the door. Lubin enters: a man at the end of his sixties, a Yorkshireman with the last traces of Scandinavian flax still in his white hair, undistinguished in stature, unassuming in his manner, and taking his simple dignity for granted, but wonderfully comfortable and quite self-assured in contrast to the intellectual restlessness of Franklyn and the mesmeric self-assertiveness of Burge. His presence suddenly brings out the fact that they are unhappy men, ill at ease, square pegs in round holes, whilst he flourishes like a primrose. The parlor maid withdraws._ LUBIN [_coming to Franklyn_] How do you do, Mr Barnabas? [_He speaks very comfortably and kindly, much as if he were the host, and Franklyn an embarrassed but welcome guest_]. I had the pleasure of meeting you once at the Mansion House. I think it was to celebrate the conclusion of the hundred years peace with America. FRANKLYN [_shaking hands_] It was long before that: a meeting about Venezuela, when we were on the point of going to war with America. LUBIN [_not at all put out_] Yes: you are quite right. I knew it was something about America. [_He pats Franklyn's hand_]. And how have you been all this time? Well, eh? FRANKLYN [_smiling to soften the sarcasm_] A few vicissitudes of health naturally in so long a time. LUBIN. Just so. Just so. [_Looking round at Savvy_] The young lady is--? FRANKLYN. My daughter, Savvy. _Savvy comes from the window between her father and Lubin._ LUBIN [_taking her hand affectionately in both his_] And why has she never come to see us? BURGE. I don't know whether you have noticed, Lubin, that I am present. _Savvy takes advantage of this diversion to slip away to the settee, where she is stealthily joined by Haslam, who sits down on her left._