DANIEL. So should I between ourselves, but still----. Oh, by the way, I--I have something rather important to say to you, you must prepare yourselves for a shock--I--I----SPACELEFT(_He dabs his eyes with his handkerchief._) MRS. DERMOTT. What on earth is it, Danny? DANIEL. I--I----SPACELEFT(_Another dab._) SYLVIA. Oh, uncle, tell us. DANIEL. I--er--it's this. I consulted my doctor just before I sailed. MRS. DERMOTT. Yes? DANIEL. He--he gave me just three years to live. MRS. DERMOTT. Danny, what do you mean? DANIEL (_firmly_). It's true--three years, he said. MRS. DERMOTT. It's the most awful thing. Tell us why--what's the matter with you? (_Quickly._) DANIEL (_rather staggered_). The matter with me? MRS. DERMOTT. Yes, of course, you must see a specialist at once. DANIEL (_pulling himself together dramatically_). No specialist in the world could ever do me any good. MRS. DERMOTT. Well, what is it? For God's sake tell us! DANIEL (_takes big breath_). Sleeping sickness! (_Smiles broadly at_ MRS. DERMOTT.) MRS. DERMOTT. What!! (_They all move._) DANIEL. Yes, it's frightfully prevalent out there. MRS. DERMOTT. Oh, Danny, I hope its not infectious. OLIVER. Sleeping sickness! By Jove! DANIEL. Yes, I simply daren't go to sleep without an alarm clock. MRS. DERMOTT. Danny darling, it's all too dreadful--I can't believe it. BOBBIE (_rising_). But, uncle, I thought sleeping sickness polished you off in one night. DANIEL (_embarrassed_). So it does, but that one night won't happen to me for three years. The doctor says so. He knows. You see I've got it internally or something. MRS. DERMOTT (_firmly_). You must never go back there--you shall stay with us until--until--the end---- (_She breaks down, sobs on_ DANIEL'S _shoulder._) SYLVIA (_goes behind Chesterfield_). Oh, mother darling, don't cry. (_She looks at_ DANIEL _rather angrily._) DANIEL (_rising_). I'm sorry I have upset you, Anne. But I have told you this to-day with a purpose in my mind. (_Moving to_ C.) OLIVER. A purpose? DANIEL (L. _of arm-chair_). Yes, I have a few words to say to you all--words which, though they may sound a little mercenary, are in reality prompted by very deep feeling. MRS. DERMOTT. Poor Danny. DANIEL. Ssh! (_waves her to silence_). It may seem to all of you "banal" in the extreme to talk of money on an occasion such as this, but believe me, it's best to get it over. I came over to England this time, as I have said, with a purpose--one might almost say a double purpose. Firstly, to comfort my sister, your dear mother, in her hour of--er--tribulation. (_He pauses._) If you would just say "yes" or "quite so" whenever I pause, it would help me enormously. SYLVIA. All right, we will. DANIEL. Thank you, you are a good girl. Where was I? BOBBIE. Tribulation. EVANGELINE. Hour of tribulation (_in his tone._) DANIEL.SPACELEFT----hour of tribulation. (_He pauses._) SYLVIA. } Yes. BOBBIE. } Quite so.