I'm not good enough for you, I suppose? BASIL. No, you're not. JAMES. [_Angrily._] Ah, you're a pretty specimen, you are. You mean skinflint! BASIL. Don't be abusive, James. It's rude. JAMES. I shall say what I choose. BASIL. And please don't talk so loud. It annoys me. JAMES. [_Malevolently._] I dare say you'd like to get me out of the way. But I mean to keep my eye on you. BASIL. [_Sharply._] What d'you mean by that? JAMES. You know what I mean. Jenny has something to put up with, I lay. BASIL. [_Containing his anger._] You'll have the goodness to leave the relations between Jenny and myself alone--d'you hear? JAMES. Ha, that's touched you up, has it? You think I don't know what sort of a feller you are. I can just about see through two of you. And I know a good deal more about you than you think. BASIL. [_Contemptuously._] Don't be foolish, James. JAMES. [_Sarcastic._] A nice thing Jenny did when she married you. BASIL. [_Recovering himself, with a smile._] Has she been telling you my numerous faults? [_To_ JENNY.] You must have had plenty to talk about, my love. JENNY. [_Who has been going on with her sewing, looking up now and then uneasily._] I haven't said a word against you, Basil. BASIL. [_Turning his back on_ JAMES.] Oh, my dear Jenny, if it amuses you, by all means discuss me with your brother and your sister and your father and your mother, and the whole crew of them.... I should be so dull if I had no faults. JENNY. [_Anxiously._] Tell him I've not said anything against him, Jimmie. JAMES. It's not for want of something to say, I lay. BASIL. [_Over his shoulder._] I'm getting rather tired, brother James. I'd go, if I were you. JAMES. [_Very aggressively._] I shan't go till I choose. BASIL. [_Turns round, smiling blandly._] Of course, we're both Christians, dear James; and there's a good deal of civilisation kicking about the world nowadays. But, notwithstanding, the last word is still with the strongest. JAMES. What d'you mean by that? BASIL. [_Good-humouredly._] Merely that discretion is the better part of valour. They say that proverbs are the wealth of nations. JAMES. [_Indignantly._] That's just the sort of thing you'd do--to 'it a feller smaller than yourself. BASIL. Oh, I wouldn't hit you for worlds, brother James. I should merely throw you downstairs. JAMES. [_Making for the door._] I should just like to see you try it on. BASIL. Don't be silly, James. You know you wouldn't like it at all. JAMES. I'm not afraid of you. BASIL. Of course not. But still--you're not very muscular, are you? JAMES. You coward! BASIL. [_Smiling._] Your repartees are not brilliant, James. JAMES. [_Standing at the door for safety's sake._] I'll pay you out before I've done. BASIL. [_Raising his eyebrows._] James, I told you to get out five minutes ago. JAMES.