(_Enter HELENA. Exit MARIUS R._) HELENA. (_Crossing to desk_) How do you do? DOMIN. How do you do? What can I do for you? HELENA. You are Mr. Domin, the General Manager? DOMIN. I am. HELENA. I have come-- DOMIN. With President Glory’s card. That is quite sufficient. HELENA. President Glory is my father. I am Helena Glory. DOMIN. Please sit down. Sulla, you may go. (_Exit SULLA L. Sitting down L. of desk_) How can I be of service to you, Miss Glory? HELENA. I have come-- (_Sits R. of desk._) DOMIN. To have a look at our famous works where people are manufactured. Like all visitors. Well, there is no objection. HELENA. I thought it was forbidden to-- DOMIN. To enter the factory? Yes, of course. Everybody comes here with someone’s visiting card, Miss Glory. HELENA. And you show them-- DOMIN. Only certain things. The manufacture of artificial people is a secret process. HELENA. If you only knew how enormously that-- DOMIN. Interests you. Europe’s talking about nothing else. HELENA. (_Indignantly turning front_) Why don’t you let me finish speaking? DOMIN. (_Drier_) I beg your pardon. Did you want to say something different? HELENA. I only wanted to ask-- DOMIN. Whether I could make a special exception in your case and show you our factory. Why, certainly, Miss Glory. HELENA. How do you know I wanted to say that? DOMIN. They all do. But we shall consider it a special honor to show you more than we do the rest. HELENA. Thank you. DOMIN. (_Standing_) But you must agree not to divulge the least-- HELENA. (_Standing and giving him her hand_) My word of honor. DOMIN. Thank you. (_Looking at her hand_) Won’t you raise your veil? HELENA. Of course. You want to see whether I’m a spy or not--I beg your pardon. DOMIN. (_Leaning forward_) What is it? HELENA. Would you mind releasing my hand? DOMIN. (_Releasing it_) Oh, I beg _your_ pardon. HELENA. (_Raising veil_) How cautious you have to be here, don’t you? DOMIN. (_Observing her with deep interest_) Why, yes. Hm--of course--We--that is-- HELENA. But what is it? What’s the matter? DOMIN. I’m remarkably pleased. Did you have a pleasant crossing? HELENA. Yes. DOMIN. No difficulty? HELENA. Why? DOMIN. What I mean to say is--you’re so _young_. HELENA. May we go straight into the factory? DOMIN. Yes. Twenty-two, I think. HELENA. Twenty-two what? DOMIN. Years. HELENA. Twenty-one. Why do you want to know? DOMIN. Well, because--as-- (_Sits on desk nearer her_) You will make a long stay, won’t you? HELENA. (_Backing away R._) That depends on how much of the factory you show me. DOMIN. (_Rises; crosses to her_) Oh, hang the factory. Oh, no, no, you shall see everything, Miss Glory. Indeed you shall. Won’t you sit down? (_Takes her to couch R.C. She sits. Offers her cigarette from case at end of sofa. She refuses._) HELENA. Thank you. DOMIN. But first would you like to hear the story of the invention? HELENA. Yes, indeed.