Will you show Mr. Adene his room? [_Suddenly showing anxiety, and then repressing it._] Oh, you mustn't take those books! Yes, keep them if you like. ADENE. [_Taking the books over and laughing._] Would it be any improvement if I cultivated a squint? [_Exeunt_ ADENE _and_ SERVANT R. [VERA _stands for a moment by the table, then covers her face with her hands_. VERA. His eyes were like a child's eyes, and then that frightful thing! Heaven help me! What am I to do? END OF THE FIRST ACT THE SECOND ACT _The lawn of_ CARLYON'S _house. Wall of house at left and back; steps in left back corner. A French window in the wall to the left. In front right centre garden-seat with bushes behind, concealing seat from main steps in the corner; to the right a garden with trees. Time. After lunch._ _Enter down the big steps_ CARLYON, ADENE _and_ RHEINHARDT. CARLYON. Yes, it would be a grand undertaking. But upon my word your recklessness is infectious. I give notice, "All recent remarks are against my better judgment." ADENE. I'm so grateful for your encouragement, I don't mind what has brought it about. CARLYON. I don't encourage you. The best I hope for is that they will only cut off your ears. Bear witness, Dr. Rheinhardt, have I encouraged him? ADENE. Yes, hasn't he? RHEINHARDT. I comprehend this way his position. Primo, you cannot get into Bhojal; secundo, you can never come again out; tertio, there is nothing to be learned there; conclusion, you had better try it! CARLYON. I admit the premises. ADENE. And I claim the conclusion! Were you going down the garden? CARLYON. I must just get my hat. ADENE. Let me fetch it for you. CARLYON. Nonsense, I am not reduced to that. [_Exit_ CARLYON _up big steps_ L. RHEINHARDT. Gott im Himmel! why do you offer to fetch that man's hat? ADENE. Fetch his hat? Oh, I'd do more than that for him! I think him a really great man, you know. RHEINHARDT. There it comes. Gott im Himmel, there it comes. Your great men! Sit down and do not excite yourself. You are much too excitable. ADENE. [_Sitting down._] Don't you feel something in his manner yourself? He is so strong, and seems so confident that he is right in all he does; that his word---- RHEINHARDT. Do I feel something in his manner? Yes, I feel great solid block rudeness in his manner. He is confident he is right? Yes, when he is very likely wrong! ADENE. But seriously, don't you feel that he is a big man, and a man who can do whatever he means to do, however difficult? RHEINHARDT.