ZOO. [_rising ominously and reddening_] You silly-- THE ELDERLY GENTLEMAN [_thundering_] Silence! Do you hear! Hold your tongue. ZOO. Something very disagreeable is happening to me. I feel hot all over. I have a horrible impulse to injure you. What have you done to me? THE ELDERLY GENTLEMAN [_triumphant_] Aha! I have made you blush. Now you know what blushing means. Blushing with shame! ZOO. Whatever you are doing, it is something so utterly evil that if you do not stop I will kill you. THE ELDERLY GENTLEMAN [_apprehending his danger_] Doubtless you think it safe to threaten an old man-- ZOO [_fiercely_] Old! You are a child: an evil child. We kill evil children here. We do it even against our own wills by instinct. Take care. THE ELDERLY GENTLEMAN [_rising with crestfallen courtesy_] I did not mean to hurt your feelings. I--[_swallowing the apology with an effort_] I beg your pardon. [_He takes off his hat, and bows_]. ZOO. What does that mean? THE ELDERLY GENTLEMAN. I withdraw what I said. ZOO. How can you withdraw what you said? THE ELDERLY GENTLEMAN. I can say no more than that I am sorry. ZOO. You have reason to be. That hideous sensation you gave me is subsiding; but you have had a very narrow escape. Do not attempt to kill me again; for at the first sign in your voice or face I shall strike you dead. THE ELDERLY GENTLEMAN. _I_ attempt to kill you! What a monstrous accusation! ZOO [_frowns_]! THE ELDERLY GENTLEMAN [_prudently correcting himself_] I mean misunderstanding. I never dreamt of such a thing. Surely you cannot believe that I am a murderer. ZOO. I know you are a murderer. It is not merely that you threw words at me as if they were stones, meaning to hurt me. It was the instinct to kill that you roused in me. I did not know it was in my nature: never before has it wakened and sprung out at me, warning me to kill or be killed. I must now reconsider my whole political position. I am no longer a Conservative. THE ELDERLY GENTLEMAN [_dropping his hat_] Gracious Heavens! you have lost your senses. I am at the mercy of a madwoman: I might have known it from the beginning. I can bear no more of this. [_Offering his chest for the sacrifice_] Kill me at once; and much good may my death do you! ZOO. It would be useless unless all the other shortlivers were killed at the same time. Besides, it is a measure which should be taken politically and constitutionally, not privately. However, I am prepared to discuss it with you. THE ELDERLY GENTLEMAN. No, no, no. I had much rather discuss your intention of withdrawing from the Conservative party. How the Conservatives have tolerated your opinions so far is more than I can imagine: I can only conjecture that you have contributed very liberally to the party funds. [_He picks up his hat, and sits down again_]. ZOO. Do not babble so senselessly: our chief political controversy is the most momentous in the world for you and your like.