I’m very comfortable here, sir. Can you give me no reason for this decision? GERALD. You gave it yourself, Charles. As you justly observed, them mining shares is very low. You are sufficiently acquainted with my correspondence to be aware that my creditors have passed with singular unanimity from the stage of remonstrance to that of indignation. BLENKINSOP. I say, I’m sorry to hear this, old man. CHARLES. If it’s just a matter of wages, sir, I shall be ’appy to wait till it suits your convenience to pay me. GERALD. [_With a smile of thanks._] I’m grateful to you for that, Charles; but, honestly, do you think half-measures can be of any use to me? CHARLES. Well, sir, so far as I’m acquainted with your circumstances.... GERALD. Come, come, this modesty ill becomes you. Is there a bill in this room, or a solicitor’s letter, with which you are not intimately acquainted? CHARLES. Well, sir, if you ask me outright--things is pretty bad. FREDDIE. I say, don’t play the ass any more. What the deuce does it all mean? GERALD. I’m sorry the manner in which I’m imparting to you an interesting piece of information, doesn’t meet with your approval. Would you like me to tear my hair in handfuls? BLENKINSOP. It would be picturesque, but painful. FREDDIE. Are you really broke? GERALD. So much so that I’ve to-day sublet my rooms. In a week, Charles, I shall cast the dust of London off my feet, a victim to the British custom of primogeniture. CHARLES. Yes, sir. GERALD. Have you the least idea what I mean? CHARLES. No, sir. GERALD. Well, I feel certain that during some of the many leisure moments you have enjoyed in my service, you have cast an eye upon that page in Burke upon which my name figures--insignificantly. CHARLES. Begging your pardon, sir, I looked you up in the Peerage before I accepted the situation. GERALD. It rejoices me to learn that your investigations were satisfactory. CHARLES. Well, sir, always having lived before with titled gentlemen, I felt I owed it to myself to be careful. GERALD. I am overpowered by your condescension, Charles. It never occurred to me that you were taking my character while I was taking yours. CHARLES. If servants wanted as good characters from masters as masters want from servants, I ’ave an idea that many gentlemen would ’ave to clean their own boots. GERALD. You scintillate, Charles, but I deplore your tendency to digress. CHARLES. I beg pardon, sir. As you was the second son of an honourable and very well connected, I didn’t mind stretching a point. If I may say so, your father was almost a nobleman. GERALD. The consequence is, however, that I was brought up without in the least knowing how to earn my living. I belong to that vast army of younger sons whose sole means of livelihood is a connection with a peer of the realm and such mother-wit as Dame Nature has provided them with. [_A ring is heard._ CHARLES. There’s some one at the door, sir. Are you at home?