'Of course I've taken steps--at least I've taken stalls at most of the theatres, as you know. There isn't a play going on at this moment that isn't full of faults--faults of the most blatant kind--mistakes that I myself would never have made. To begin with, for instance, take Shakespeare.' 'Shakespeare?' 'Yes. A play like _The Merchant of Venice_, for example. My dear girl, it's only the glamour of the name, believe me! It's a wretched play, improbable, badly constructed, full of padding--good gracious! do you suppose that if _I_ had written that play and sent it to Tree, that he would have put it up?' 'I can't suppose it, Bruce.' 'It isn't sense, Edith; it isn't true to life. Why, who ever heard of a case being conducted in any Court of Law as that is? Do you suppose all kinds of people are allowed to stand up and talk just when they like, and say just what they choose--in blank verse, too? Do you think now, if someone brought an action against me and you wanted me to win it, that you and Bennett could calmly walk off to the Law Courts disguised as a barrister and his clerk, and that you could get me off? Do you suppose, even, that you would be let in? People don't walk in calmly saying that they're barristers and do exactly what they please, and talk any nonsense that comes into their head. 'I know that; but this is poetry, and years and years ago, in Elizabeth's time.' 'Oh, good gracious, Edith, that's no excuse! It isn't sense. Then take a play like _The Merry Widow_. What about that? Do you suppose that if I liked I couldn't do something better than that? Look here, Edith, tell me, what's the point? Why are you so anxious that I should write this play?' He looked at her narrowly, in his suspicious way. 'First of all, because I think it would amuse you.' 'Amuse me, indeed!' 'And then, far more, because--Bruce, do you remember assuring me that you were going to make L5,000 a year at least?' 'Well, so I shall, so I shall. You must give a fellow time. Rome wasn't built in a day.' 'I know it wasn't, and if it had been it would be no help to me. Will you look at the bills?' 'Oh, confound it!' 'Bruce dear, if you're not going to work at your play tonight, won't you just glance at the accounts?' 'You know perfectly well, Edith, if there's one thing I hate more than another it's glancing at accounts. Besides, what good is it? What earthly use is it?' 'Of course it would be use if you would kindly explain how I'm going to pay them?' 'Why, of course, we'll pay them--gradually.' 'But they're getting bigger gradually.' 'Dear me, Edith, didn't we a year or two ago make a Budget? Didn't we write down exactly how much every single item of our expenditure would be?' 'Yes; I know we did; but--' 'Well, good heavens, what more do you want?' 'Lots more. You made frightful mistakes in the Budget, Bruce; at any rate, it was extraordinarily under-estimated.' 'Why, I remember I left a margin for unexpected calls.'