(CRAWSHAW goes to his desk and selects a "Who's Who" from a little pile
of reference-books on it. He walks round to his chair, sits down in
it and begins to turn the pages, murmuring names beginning with "C"
to himself as he gets near the place. When he finds it, he murmurs
"Clifton--that's funny," and closes the book. Evidently the publishers
have failed him.)
[Enter RICHARD.]
RICHARD. Well, what's the news? (He goes to his old seat on the fender.)
Been left a fortune?
CRAWSHAW (simply). Yes.... By a Mr. Antony Clifton. I never met him and
I know nothing about him.
RICHARD (surprised). Not really? Well, I congratulate you. (He sighs.)
To them that hath--But what on earth do you want my advice about?
CRAWSHAW. There is a slight condition attached.
RICHARD. Oho!
CRAWSHAW. The condition is that with this money--fifty thousand
pounds--I take the name of--ah--Wurzel-Flummery.
RICHARD (jumping up). What!
CRAWSHAW (sulkily). I said it quite distinctly--Wurzel-Flummery.
(RICHARD in an awed silence walks over to the desk and stands looking
down at the unhappy CRAWSHAW. He throws out his left hand as if
introducing him.)
RICHARD (reverently). Mr. Robert Wurzel-Flummery, M. P., one of the most
prominent of our younger Parliamentarians. Oh, you...oh!... oh, how too
heavenly! (He goes back to his seat, looks up and catches CRAWSHAW'S
eye, and breaks down altogether.)
CRAWSHAW (rising with dignity). Shall we discuss it seriously, or shall
we leave it?
RICHARD. How can we discuss a name like Wurzel-Flummery seriously? "Mr.
Wurzel-Flummery in a few well-chosen words seconded the motion."...
"'Sir,' went on Mr. Wurzel-Flummery"--Oh, poor Robert!
CRAWSHAW (sitting down sulkily). You seem quite certain that I shall
take the money.
RICHARD. I am quite certain.
CRAWSHAW. Would you take it?
RICHARD (hesitating). Well--I wonder.
CRAWSHAW. After all, as William Shakespeare says, "What's in a name?"
RICHARD. I can tell you something else that Shakespeare--_William_
Shakespeare--said. (Dramatically rising) Who steals my purse with fifty
thousand in it--steals trash. (In his natural voice) Trash, Robert:
(Dramatically again) But he who filches from me my good name of Crawshaw
(lightly) and substitutes the rotten one of Wurzel--
CRAWSHAW (annoyed). As a matter of fact, Wurzel-Flummery is a very good
old name. I seem to remember some--ah--Hampshire Wurzel-Flummeries.
It is a very laudable spirit on the part of a dying man to wish
to--ah--perpetuate these old English names. It all seems to me quite
natural and straightforward. If I take this money I shall have nothing
to be ashamed of.
RICHARD. I see.... Look here, may I ask you a few questions? I should
like to know just how you feel about the whole business?
CRAWSHAW (complacently folding his hands). Go ahead.
RICHARD. Suppose a stranger came up in the street to you and said, "My
poor man, here's five pounds for you," what would you do? Tell him to go
to the devil, I suppose, wouldn't you?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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