_He makes desperately for the edge of the pier, but is confronted by a man with the number one on his cap, who comes up the steps and intercepts him. He is dressed like the woman, but a slight moustache proclaims his sex._ THE MAN [_to the elderly gentleman_] Ah, here you are. I shall really have to put a collar and lead on you if you persist in giving me the slip like this. THE WOMAN. Are you this stranger's nurse? THE MAN. Yes. I am very tired of him. If I take my eyes off him for a moment, he runs away and talks to everybody. THE WOMAN [_after taking out her tuning-fork and sounding it, intones as before_] Burrin Pier. Wash out. [_She puts up the fork, and addresses the man_]. I sent a call for someone to take care of him. I have been trying to talk to him; but I can understand very little of what he says. You must take better care of him: he is badly discouraged already. If I can be of any further use, Fusima, Gort, will find me. [_She goes away_]. THE ELDERLY GENTLEMAN. Any further use! She has been of no use to me. She spoke to me without any introduction, like any improper female. And she has made off with my shilling. THE MAN. Please speak slowly. I cannot follow. What is a shilling? What is an introduction? Improper female doesnt make sense. THE ELDERLY GENTLEMAN. Nothing seems to make sense here. All I can tell you is that she was the most impenetrably stupid woman I have ever met in the whole course of my life. THE MAN. That cannot be. She cannot appear stupid to you. She is a secondary, and getting on for a tertiary at that. THE ELDERLY GENTLEMAN. What is a tertiary? Everybody here keeps talking to me about primaries and secondaries and tertiaries as if people were geological strata. THE MAN. The primaries are in their first century. The secondaries are in their second century. I am still classed as a primary [_he points to his number_]; but I may almost call myself a secondary, as I shall be ninety-five next January. The tertiaries are in their third century. Did you not see the number two on her badge? She is an advanced secondary. THE ELDERLY GENTLEMAN. That accounts for it. She is in her second childhood. THE MAN. Her second childhood! She is in her fifth childhood. THE ELDERLY GENTLEMAN [_again resorting to the bollard_] Oh! I cannot bear these unnatural arrangements. THE MAN [_impatient and helpless_] You shouldn't have come among us. This is no place for you. THE ELDERLY GENTLEMAN [_nerved by indignation_] May I ask why? I am a Vice-President of the Travellers' Club. I have been everywhere: I hold the record in the Club for civilized countries. THE MAN. What is a civilized country?