JUDGE CRITTY } Your success warms me like } old wine, my boy. } VANILLITY } My dear pupil; I have an } (_almost excuse for having lived. } simultaneously_) MAGNUS } The heartiest congratulations. } MRS. FELIX } Addington—you’re a great } man. [_Now that he is nearer, one perceives that Agnus is a youthful, enthusiastic, absent-minded genius, with a strong face save for his unsophisticated juvenile glance. This is now hidden, for he wears heavy tortoise-shell spectacles; also white trousers and tunic, heavily braided at collar and sleeves and along trousers legs—an old army uniform in fact, with insignia stripped off, though the buttoned shoulder-straps remain._ MAGNUS May I re-admit Mr. Tromper, Loo? (_He opens the hallway door_) Tromper! [_Tromper enters just as Agnus has shaken the last hand._ FANNY (_hastening over_) Addington—the man who made the offer—Mr. Tromper— TROMPER Pleasedtermeetcher— [_Agnus shakes hands with Tromper, muttering and looking puzzled._ FANNY You know, on the telephone this morning— AGNUS (_turning away: utterly forgetting Tromper_) Fanny, you didn’t mean that, did you? Of course you didn’t—I know you didn’t! Why—after me winning the prize— TROMPER (_walking around and facing him again_) That’s why we make the offer, Doctor— FANNY (_dangerously_) You’re going back on your word, Addington? AGNUS (_turning his back, forgetting Tromper again_) Fanny, I forgot all about it. I began experimenting and— FANNY Forgot your word of honor—for smelly chemicals— AGNUS Fanny! TROMPER (_again, to the amusement of the others, walking around to face him_) We wouldn’t take up _all_ your time, you know, doctor.—After hours you could go on with your work— ONFROY Correspondence-course immortality—a few hours every night will open every door for you—even immortality— MRS. FELIX Don’t accept, Addington— ONFROY By no means, Chub—_Never!_ JUDGE CRITTY (_clearing throat_) You have said you valued my opinion, my dear lad: you have called me a second father— ONFROY And Little Red Riding Hood called the wolf grandmother, too. (_To Agnus_) Decline it! FANNY Good day to you, Addington! (_She is at the garden door; Agnus rushes over to her; she throws off his hand_) You’ve broken your word. Good-bye! AGNUS Good-bye? [_The rest remain farther down the stage, watching the couple with curiosity._ FANNY I’ll _send_ your ring and your letters— [_The following colloquy is held in half-whispers to give impression that the others do not hear it._ AGNUS But, Fanny— FANNY I told you, this was your chance. I can’t wait to marry until I’m gray. AGNUS (_excitedly_) But you love me? [_Fanny shrugs her shoulders._ AGNUS (_wildly_) You’re tired of me? FANNY No, of waiting.