CONJURER. [_Violently._] I want you to be martyred. I want you to _bear_ witness to your own creed. I say these things are supernatural. I say this was done by a spirit. The Doctor does not believe me. He is an agnostic; and he knows everything. The Duke does not believe me; he cannot believe anything so plain as a miracle. But what the devil are you for, if you don't believe in a miracle? What does your coat mean, if it doesn't mean that there is such a thing as the supernatural? What does your cursed collar mean if it doesn't mean that there is such a thing as a spirit? [_Exasperated._] Why the devil do you dress up like that if you don't believe in it? [_With violence._] Or perhaps you don't believe in devils? SMITH. I believe.... [_After a pause._] I wish I could believe. CONJURER. Yes. I wish I could disbelieve. [_Enter_ PATRICIA _pale and in the slight negligee of the amateur nurse._ PATRICIA. May I speak to the Conjurer? SMITH. [_Hastening forward._] You want the Doctor? PATRICIA. No, the Conjurer. DOCTOR. Are there any developments? PATRICIA. I only want to speak to the Conjurer. [_They all withdraw, either at the garden or the other doors._ PATRICIA _walks up to_ CONJURER. PATRICIA. You must tell me how you did the trick. You will. I know you will. O, I know my poor brother was rude to you. He's rude to everybody! [_Breaks down._] But he's such a little, little boy! CONJURER. I suppose you know there are things men never tell to women. They are too horrible. PATRICIA. Yes. And there are things women never tell to men. They also are too horrible. I am here to hear them all. CONJURER. Do you really mean I may say anything I like? However dark it is? However dreadful it is? However damnable it is? PATRICIA. I have gone through too much to be terrified now. Tell me the very worst. CONJURER. I will tell you the very worst. I fell in love with you when I first saw you. [_Sits down and crosses his legs._ PATRICIA. [_Drawing back._] You told me I looked like a child and.... CONJURER. I told a lie. PATRICIA. O; this is terrible. CONJURER. I was in love, I took an opportunity. You believed quite simply that I was a magician? but I.... PATRICIA. It is terrible. It is terrible. I never believed you were a magician. CONJURER. [_Astounded._] Never believed I was a magician...! PATRICIA. I always knew you were a man. CONJURER. [_Doing whatever passionate things people do on the stage._] I am a man. And you are a woman. And all the elves have gone to elfland, and all the devils to hell. And you and I will walk out of this great vulgar house and be married.... Every one is crazy in this house to-night, I think. What am I saying? As if _you_ could marry _me_! O my God! PATRICIA. This is the first time you have failed in courage. CONJURER. What do you mean? PATRICIA. I mean to draw your attention to the fact that you have recently made an offer, I accept it.