BERTHA. [_Listening._] The gate opened. ROBERT. [_Intensely._] I will wait for you. [_He takes the slip from the table. Bertha moves away from him slowly. Richard comes in from the garden._] RICHARD. [_Advancing, takes off his hat._] Good afternoon. ROBERT. [_Rises, with nervous friendliness._] Good afternoon, Richard. BERTHA. [_At the table, taking the roses._] Look what lovely roses Mr Hand brought me. ROBERT. I am afraid they are overblown. RICHARD. [_Suddenly._] Excuse me for a moment, will you? [_He turns and goes into his study quickly. Robert takes a pencil from his pocket and writes a few words on the slip; then hands it quickly to Bertha._] ROBERT. [_Rapidly._] The address. Take the tram at Lansdowne Road and ask to be let down near there. BERTHA. [_Takes it._] I promise nothing. ROBERT. I will wait. [_Richard comes back from the study._] BERTHA. [_Going._] I must put these roses in water. RICHARD. [_Handing her his hat._] Yes, do. And please put my hat on the rack. BERTHA. [_Takes it._] So I will leave you to yourselves for your talk. [_Looking round._] Do you want anything? Cigarettes? RICHARD. Thanks. We have them here. BERTHA. Then I can go? [_She goes out on the left with Richard’s hat, which she leaves in the hall, and returns at once; she stops for a moment at the davenport, replaces the slip in the drawer, locks it, and replaces the key, and, taking the roses, goes towards the right. Robert precedes her to open the door for her. She bows and goes out._] RICHARD. [_Points to the chair near the little table on the right._] Your place of honour. ROBERT. [_Sits down._] Thanks. [_Passing his hand over his brow._] Good Lord, how warm it is today! The heat pains me here in the eye. The glare. RICHARD. The room is rather dark, I think, with the blind down but if you wish... ROBERT. [_Quickly._] Not at all. I know what it is—the result of night work. RICHARD. [_Sits on the lounge._] Must you? ROBERT. [_Sighs._] Eh, yes. I must see part of the paper through every night. And then my leading articles. We are approaching a difficult moment. And not only here. RICHARD. [_After a slight pause._] Have you any news? ROBERT. [_In a different voice._] Yes. I want to speak to you seriously. Today may be an important day for you—or rather, tonight. I saw the vicechancellor this morning. He has the highest opinion of you, Richard. He has read your book, he said. RICHARD. Did he buy it or borrow it? ROBERT. Bought it, I hope. RICHARD. I shall smoke a cigarette. Thirtyseven copies have now been sold in Dublin. [_He takes a cigarette from the box on the table, and lights it._] ROBERT. [_Suavely, hopelessly._] Well, the matter is closed for the present. You have your iron mask on today. RICHARD. [_Smoking._] Let me hear the rest.