MANGAN. No. I can't say that. Fifty thousand, perhaps. CAPTAIN SHOTOVER. His half brother only [he turns away from Mangan with his usual abruptness, and collects the empty tea-cups on the Chinese tray]. MANGAN [irritated]. See here, Captain Shotover. I don't quite understand my position here. I came here on your daughter's invitation. Am I in her house or in yours? CAPTAIN SHOTOVER. You are beneath the dome of heaven, in the house of God. What is true within these walls is true outside them. Go out on the seas; climb the mountains; wander through the valleys. She is still too young. MANGAN [weakening]. But I'm very little over fifty. CAPTAIN SHOTOVER. You are still less under sixty. Boss Mangan, you will not marry the pirate's child [he carries the tray away into the pantry]. MANGAN [following him to the half door]. What pirate's child? What are you talking about? CAPTAIN SHOTOVER [in the pantry]. Ellie Dunn. You will not marry her. MANGAN. Who will stop me? CAPTAIN SHOTOVER [emerging]. My daughter [he makes for the door leading to the hall]. MANGAN [following him]. Mrs Hushabye! Do you mean to say she brought me down here to break it off? CAPTAIN SHOTOVER [stopping and turning on him]. I know nothing more than I have seen in her eye. She will break it off. Take my advice: marry a West Indian negress: they make excellent wives. I was married to one myself for two years. MANGAN. Well, I am damned! CAPTAIN SHOTOVER. I thought so. I was, too, for many years. The negress redeemed me. MANGAN [feebly]. This is queer. I ought to walk out of this house. CAPTAIN SHOTOVER. Why? MANGAN. Well, many men would be offended by your style of talking. CAPTAIN SHOTOVER. Nonsense! It's the other sort of talking that makes quarrels. Nobody ever quarrels with me. A gentleman, whose first-rate tailoring and frictionless manners proclaim the wellbred West Ender, comes in from the hall. He has an engaging air of being young and unmarried, but on close inspection is found to be at least over forty. THE GENTLEMAN. Excuse my intruding in this fashion, but there is no knocker on the door and the bell does not seem to ring. CAPTAIN SHOTOVER. Why should there be a knocker? Why should the bell ring? The door is open. THE GENTLEMAN. Precisely. So I ventured to come in. CAPTAIN SHOTOVER. Quite right. I will see about a room for you [he makes for the door]. THE GENTLEMAN [stopping him]. But I'm afraid you don't know who I am. CAPTAIN SHOTOVER. DO you suppose that at my age I make distinctions between one fellow creature and another? [He goes out. Mangan and the newcomer stare at one another]. MANGAN. Strange character, Captain Shotover, sir. THE GENTLEMAN. Very. CAPTAIN SHOTOVER [shouting outside]. Hesione, another person has arrived and wants a room. Man about town, well dressed, fifty. THE GENTLEMAN. Fancy Hesione's feelings! May I ask are you a member of the family? MANGAN. No. THE GENTLEMAN. I am. At least a connection.