Oh, I know—Olive was all you are, Fanny, and more. Then along comes the coxcomb. In three weeks she’s telling me he says he can’t afford to marry her—and won’t I please settle a dowry on them so that he can give up portrait painting where all the women are wild about him—marry her—and settle down to art for art’s sake. ONFROY I’ll say this for you, Ivan the Terrible: you were game; took your medicine standing up; came across with the dowry like a little man, thereby earning the thanks of every true lover of art. No more pot-boilers, no more portraits, no more demnition fool chromos for the demnition fool public! You’ve got yourself into history, Kubla Khan. You will live as my patron. MAGNUS The way we poor financiers are patronized! It’s the second time I’ve been told that this morning— ONFROY (_to Mrs. Felix_) You’ve been praising me, Joan of Arc? MRS. FELIX The thought of you hasn’t crossed my mind in weeks, Sir Egotist. ONFROY Oh, the Chub? (_Glancing at laboratory_) Right, too! (_To Magnus_) Endow him, Governor. The other thing is damnable—downright damnable. I’ll say this—and me saying it means a lot—I’m nobody compared to him. (_Hastily_) Not personally! I should have said: “Art’s nothing to his sort of science” (_To Fanny_) One little bit of pink and white prettiness stopping the greatest thing science ever tackled! FANNY (_goes to the Judge, stopping her ears while Onfroy talks; then tearfully_) Judge Critty, you’re the only one with the least chivalry. Why should I be abused so? Because I want my husband to have some pleasure in life? Instead of frowsing in smelly chemicals all day—risking his life— VANILLITY Oh, no, my dear Miss Felix! Oh, no! (_Eagerly_) No risk!—Not the slightest! It’s as peaceful, as harmless as—as— [_A succession of sharp reports like pistol-shots ring out. The folding-doors are thrown back and H. Addington Agnus stumbles in backward and sits down, staring blankly, seeing nothing. Smoke arises from the laboratory. As it clears away, Agnus rushes back again, examines something through a microscope._ FANNY (_sharply_) Addington, stop making yourself ridiculous. (_She goes into the laboratory and shakes him_) AGNUS (_comes to, as one who has been in a trance_) My own—my darling! (_Embraces her_) FANNY (_wriggling_) Addington! There are peo—(_muffled by kiss_)—ple here, I tell you—(_Releases herself_) AGNUS (_not seeing anyone else, abstractedly_) Just had a most successful discovery—chemical—out of my line, rather—but—(_Seizes and kisses her again_) FANNY Addington! Don’t you see there are visitors? [_Agnus turns and almost collapses; then he turns away from the rest again._ FANNY (_taking hold of him_) Mr. Magnus— AGNUS Oh, Lord! FANNY (_pulls him out, protesting_) Mr. Magnus—and— ONFROY Hello, Chub! How’s the Chub? Celebrated Chub, eh? [_Agnus has, in his embarrassment, been going from one to another, shaking hands._