DR. JONATHAN (sitting down). There are other things more important than my health. No later news about George, I suppose. ASHER. Yes. I got another telegram early this morning saying that he is on his way home on a transport. DR. JONATHAN. On his way home! ASHER. If he lives to arrive. I'll show you the wire. Apparently they can't make anything out of his condition, but think it's shell shock. This storm has been raging along the coast ever since nine o'clock, the wires are down, but I did manage to telephone to New York and get hold of Frye, the shell-shock specialist. In case George should land today, he'll meet him. DR. JONATHAN. Frye is a good man. ASHER. George is hit by a shell and almost killed nearly a month ago, and not a word do I hear of it until I get that message in your house yesterday! Then comes this other telegram this morning. What's to be said about a government capable of such inefficiency? Of course the chances of his landing today are small, but I can't leave for New York until tonight because that same government sends a labour investigator here to pry into my affairs, and make a preliminary report. They're going to decide whether or not I shall keep my property or hand it over to them! And whom do they send? Not a business man, who's had practical experience with labour, but a professor out of some university,--a theorist! DR. JONATHAN. Awkward people, these professors. But what would you do about it, Asher? Wall up the universities? ASHER. Their trustees, who are business men, should forbid professors meddling in government and politics. This fellow had the impudence to tell me to my face that my own workmen, whom I am paying, aren't working for me. I'm only supposed to be supplying the capital. We talk about Germany being an autocracy it's nothing to what this country has become! DR. JONATHAN (smiling). An autocracy of professors instead of business men. Well, every dog has his day. And George is coming home. ASHER. And what is there left to hand over to him if he lives? What future has the Pindar Shops,--which I have spent my life to build up? DR. JONATHAN. If George lives, as we hope, you need not worry about the future of the Pindar Shops, I think. AUGUSTA. If God will only spare him! ASHER. I guess I've about got to the point where I don't believe that a God exists. (A flash and a loud peal of thunder.) AUGUSTA. Asher ASHER. Then let Him strike me! (He hurries abruptly out of the door, left.) AUGUSTA (after a silence). During all the years of our married life, he has never said such a thing as that. Asher an atheist! DR. JONATHAN. So was Job, Augusta,--for a while. AUGUSTA (avoiding DR. JONATHAN'S glance, and beginning to knit). You wanted to speak to me, Jonathan? (The MAID enters, lower right.) MAID. Timothy Farrell, ma'am. (Exit maid, enter TIMOTHY FARRELL.) AUGUSTA. I'm afraid Mr. Pindar can't see you just now, Timothy.