Don't be absurd, sir. How dare you misunderstand me? I mean am I to blame for not wanting to? ADAM CHERRY. We won't go into that question. I am with you so far as to think that she will be much better off without you, and I also admit that I have no _wish_ to lodge an information against you on my own account--if we can come to terms. MR. BEN DIXON. Come to terms! What do you mean? ADAM CHERRY. I mean I want £4,000 in notes or gold out of you before you leave this house. MR. BEN DIXON. £4,000! Do you think, sir, that I'm a travelling bank? ADAM CHERRY. I know that you've made arrangements to go straight from this house on an absconding tour to the continent, and it's not unreasonable to suppose that under the circumstances you've got about you all the cash you could scrape together. Anyhow, if I don't have the satisfaction of getting the £4,000 out of you I'll have the satisfaction of handing you over to the police. MR. BEN DIXON. (_Mounting the high horse._) My good sir, do you know the legal term for what you are doing? "Endeavouring to extort money by threats." Are you aware that that is an indictable offence? ADAM CHERRY. (_Putting his hands in his pockets._) All right. Indict away. MR. BEN DIXON. (_Looks at watch_.) Damn it, here's five minutes gone already. My dear sir, do be reasonable. ADAM CHERRY. My dear Mr. Ben Dixon--or Wheedles--or whatever your name really is, don't argue You are getting off uncommonly cheap. I say nothing about the money you've swindled Mrs. Ben Dixon out of. I say nothing about the money you've swindled me out of. But I want the money you've swindled that poor boy and girl upstairs out of--and I mean to have it. MR. BEN DIXON. But if I haven't got it? ADAM CHERRY. Then you'll get five years' penal servitude for bigamy. MR. BEN DIXON. Dear, dear me, how Providence does seem against me to-day. Oh, this is a beast of a house (_savagely._) What is it you do want? Be quick about it? (_Slams down bag and umbrella and seats himself at table._) ADAM CHERRY. (_He has brought writing materials from sideboard and placed them_.) I want you to write a pleasant little note to Ted and Nelly, explaining the circumstances, and enclosing the £4,000, that's all. MR. BEN DIXON. Say £2,000, Mr. Cherry--£2,000 and a little something for yourself. I should like to give you a little something for yourself. ADAM CHERRY. £4,000--or Bow Street. You'd better be quick. You wouldn't look well with your hair short. MR. BEN DIXON.