THE WOMAN. I am afraid I am as much in the dark as before. You said also that blood is thicker than water. No doubt it is; but what of it? THE ELDERLY GENTLEMAN. Its meaning is obvious. THE WOMAN. Perfectly. But I assure you I am quite aware that blood is thicker than water. THE ELDERLY GENTLEMAN [_sniffing: almost in tears again_] We will leave it at that, madam. THE WOMAN [going _nearer to him and scrutinizing him with some concern_] I am afraid you are not well. Were you not warned that it is dangerous for shortlived people to come to this country? There is a deadly disease called discouragement, against which shortlived people have to take very strict precautions. Intercourse with us puts too great a strain on them. THE ELDERLY GENTLEMAN [_pulling himself together huffily_] It has no effect on me, madam. I fear my conversation does not interest you. If not, the remedy is in your own hands. THE WOMAN [_looking at her hands, and then looking inquiringly at him_] Where? THE ELDERLY GENTLEMAN [_breaking down_] Oh, this is dreadful. No understanding, no intelligence, no sympathy--[_his sobs choke him_]. THE WOMAN. You see, you are ill. THE ELDERLY GENTLEMAN [_nerved by indignation_] I am not ill. I have never had a day's illness in my life. THE WOMAN. May I advise you? THE ELDERLY GENTLEMAN. I have no need of a lady doctor, thank you, madam. THE WOMAN [_shaking her head_] I am afraid I do not understand. I said nothing about a butterfly. THE ELDERLY GENTLEMAN. Well, _I_ said nothing about a butterfly. THE WOMAN. You spoke of a lady doctor. The word is known here only as the name of a butterfly. THE ELDERLY GENTLEMAN [_insanely_] I give up. I can bear this no longer. It is easier to go out of my mind at once. [_He rises and dances about, singing_] I'd be a butterfly, born in a bower, Making apple dumplings without any flour. THE WOMAN [_smiling gravely_] It must be at least a hundred and fifty years since I last laughed. But if you do that any more I shall certainly break out like a primary of sixty. Your dress is so extraordinarily ridiculous. THE ELDERLY GENTLEMAN [_halting abruptly in his antics_] My dress ridiculous! I may not be dressed like a Foreign Office clerk; but my clothes are perfectly in fashion in my native metropolis, where yours--pardon my saying so--would be considered extremely unusual and hardly decent. THE WOMAN. Decent? There is no such word in our language. What does it mean? THE ELDERLY GENTLEMAN. It would not be decent for me to explain. Decency cannot be discussed without indecency. THE WOMAN. I cannot understand you at all. I fear you have not been observing the rules laid down for shortlived visitors. THE ELDERLY GENTLEMAN. Surely, madam, they do not apply to persons of my age and standing. I am not a child, nor an agricultural laborer.