B. B. But then, what are many of my patients? Vicious and ignorant young men without a talent for anything. If I were to stop to argue about their merits I should have to give up three-quarters of my practice. Therefore I have made it a rule not so to argue. Now, as an honorable man, having made that rule as to paying patients, can I make an exception as to a patient who, far from being a paying patient, may more fitly be described as a borrowing patient? No. I say No. Mr Dubedat: your moral character is nothing to me. I look at you from a purely scientific point of view. To me you are simply a field of battle in which an invading army of tubercle bacilli struggles with a patriotic force of phagocytes. Having made a promise to your wife, which my principles will not allow me to break, to stimulate those phagocytes, I will stimulate them. And I take no further responsibility. [He digs himself back in his seat exhausted]. SIR PATRICK. Well, Mr Dubedat, as Sir Ralph has very kindly offered to take charge of your case, and as the two minutes I promised you are up, I must ask you to excuse me. [He rises]. LOUIS. Oh, certainly. Ive quite done with you. [Rising and holding up the sketch block] There! While youve been talking, Ive been doing. What is there left of your moralizing? Only a little carbonic acid gas which makes the room unhealthy. What is there left of my work? That. Look at it [Ridgeon rises to look at it]. SIR PATRICK [who has come down to him from the throne] You young rascal, was it drawing me you were? LOUIS. Of course. What else? SIR PATRICK [takes the drawing from him and grunts approvingly] Thats rather good. Dont you think so, Lolly? RIDGEON. Yes. So good that I should like to have it. SIR PATRICK. Thank you; but _I_ should like to have it myself. What d'ye think, Walpole? WALPOLE [rising and coming over to look] No, by Jove: _I_ must have this. LOUIS. I wish I could afford to give it to you, Sir Patrick. But I'd pay five guineas sooner than part with it. RIDGEON. Oh, for that matter, I will give you six for it. WALPOLE. Ten. LOUIS. I think Sir Patrick is morally entitled to it, as he sat for it. May I send it to your house, Sir Patrick, for twelve guineas? SIR PATRICK. Twelve guineas! Not if you were President of the Royal Academy, young man. [He gives him back the drawing decisively and turns away, taking up his hat]. LOUIS [to B. B.] Would you like to take it at twelve, Sir Ralph? B. B. [coming between Louis and Walpole] Twelve guineas? Thank you: I'll take it at that. [He takes it and presents it to Sir Patrick]. Accept it from me, Paddy; and may you long be spared to contemplate it. SIR PATRICK. Thank you. [He puts the drawing into his hat]. B. B. I neednt settle with you now, Mr Dubedat: my fees will come to more than that. [He also retrieves his hat]. LOUIS [indignantly] Well, of all the mean--[words fail him]! I'd let myself be shot sooner than do a thing like that. I consider youve stolen that drawing.