ALLISON. I’m offered two thousand nine hundred pounds by a strange gentleman who has evidently come to buy Rush Hill and who has no quarrel with anyone. Any advance? PROF. Another fifty pounds. Keep the ball rolling.... MRS. S. [_shrieks_]. Don’t take his bid! The man couldn’t buy a box of matches.... James Kilroy, a word with you and Joseph. _MRS. S., KILROY and JOSEPH confer._ PROF. Did you take my bid, mister? ALLISON. No, sir. I don’t want to hear from you again. If you have money to buy Rush Hill, you ought to invest a little in soap and a shave.... PROF. Mister, you’ve no more brains than that hammer. _KILROYS and MRS. S. come back._ ALLISON. Well, Mr. Kilroy. Are you going to give us another bid? JOSEPH. Gwon, father. KILROY [_after a glance at PADDY_]. Three thousand pound.... PADDY. Thirty-one ’undred. KILROY [_losing his head_]. Thirty-two hundred. PADDY. Thirty-three. KILROY [_dancing_]. Thirty-four. PADDY. Thirty-four-fifty. KILROY. Thirty-five hundred! PADDY [_turns away_]. I’m through. KILROY [_grabs hold of him_]. Don’t go away. Stand your ground like a man.... PADDY [_freeing himself_]. Mind your own business. I’m through. ALLISON. At three thousand five hundred pounds ... going ... going.... KILROY. Don’t, Allison! Wait a minute. [_Looks wildly at PADDY_] Come on, man. Give it another bid. PADDY. No more. I’m through. [_Exit, followed by MOLL._] ALLISON. If no advance, at three thousand five hundred pounds ... going ... going ... gone! Mr. James J. Kilroy’s the buyer. JOSEPH. Hurrah for my father! The finest man in the nation. He can buy Rush Hill. And I can marry Peggy Scally. [_He runs out._] KILROY [_sighs_]. I’m ruined. ALLISON [_getting down_]. Nonsense. It’s worth five thousand pounds. [_Takes out document._] Sign this agreement, James. KILROY. I’ll sign nothing here. I’ll sign at the Bank. I’m going straight in to the Bank. ALLISON. I’m the auctioneer. This preliminary agreement has got to be signed here and now. KILROY [_irritably_]. I’ll not sign it! ALLISON. All right, sir. As agent for buyer and seller I can sign for both. [_He writes KILROY’S name._] PROF. That’s right, Allison. Don’t let the big codfish escape.... KILROY [_pulling himself together_]. James J. Kilroy, R.D.C., never hedged in a deal yet. I wanted Rush Hill at less money, but it’s worth all it cost.... Hand me that pen, Allison. I’ll sign. ALLISON. It’s all right, James. I signed your name. You can meet me in the Bank at two o’clock. KILROY. I’ll be there! ALLISON. Good-bye, Mr. O’Cahan. Thank you for treating us so well. O’C. Don’t mention it, Sam. _ALLISON goes out._ PROF. We made you pay through the nose for it, Kilroy. KILROY. Mrs. Scally, if you’ve that man about the house to-night I needn’t bring Mrs. Kilroy....