WALTER (_turns_). Oh, _you’ve_ come back; has Jack told you what he’s playing at? (_He comes down a little--they retreat from him._) JACK. Isn’t it wonderful! Calls me Jack! WALTER (_as they are staring at him_). When you’ve done staring, perhaps you’ll drop this. STELLA. Jack, I can’t believe it! (_WALTER walks about in rage._) JACK. At first I couldn’t, but there is a difference, I begin to see it, a very subtle difference; watch how it moves; aren’t its joints a little stiff and so on? WALTER (_quick step to him_). You thick-headed-addle-pated numskull! (_JACK in fright falls headlong backwards over sofa L., STELLA runs and crouches R., then they rise on knees and wave to pacify him._) JACK. Gently, gently! STELLA. Oh, please, Mr. Davidson, please don’t be so angry; we are both awfully interested in you and really sorry for you. It must be terrible to be born full grown. WALTER. Am I mad, or are you? JACK. _You_ are. WALTER. That’s settled. STELLA. Of course, you think you’re real, but we _know_. You’re only a made thing, like a cheese or a pudding. WALTER (_hand to head_). You honestly say and believe that I am my own invention? (_They nod solemnly._) WALTER. Am I myself, or am I the thing I made? JACK. You are the thing you made. WALTER. Then where is myself--the other fellow? JACK. Your esteemed creator left home before you began to exist, changed coats and went. WALTER. Changed coats? I never changed coats at all! JACK. } } What? STELLA. } WALTER. The moment I tried to, the figure rose up and stunned me. STELLA (_up to him, throws arms round him_). It’s Walter! (_Enter MRS. ANDERSON with telegram D. in F., and gives it. JACK opens it._) MRS. ANDERSON (_seeing WALTER_). Ow! Ow! Lawk a floury me! (_Exit._) JACK. Jobbins is somewhere near Euston. (_Gives telegram to STELLA._) WALTER. Who’s Jobbins? JACK. The detective who’s gone after you to bring you back. WALTER. Then it really went out? STELLA (_reading telegram_). “Have taken a cab, he’s still running.” What will happen if Mr. Jobbins catches it? WALTER. I expect he _will_ catch it. JACK. Another telegram! (_Going up to D. in F._) (_MRS. ANDERSON hands in a telegram and retires._) (_Coming down, reading:_) “He has smashed some more windows, and is still running.” STELLA (_taking the telegram_). More windows! JACK. “The crowd are still after him.” WALTER. Crowd? JACK. “He has just climbed a tall chimney stack marked Bovril, and is now sitting on the top.” WALTER. Good Lord! JACK. “Marked Bovril,” is this to be your fate, alas, my poor brother! WALTER (_snatches the wire and reads_). “They are fetching a fire escape. He keeps yowling.” STELLA (_taking telegram_). Yowling? WALTER. Suppose the police get him and think it’s me, I’ll be blamed for all this damned thing. We must catch him. We’ll buy a gag and handcuffs as we go along. STELLA. Gag? Why?