Kill me? You can only kill your own nice attractive body. You’ll suffer for any harm done to it when I give it back. So don’t knock out any teeth, or you’ll have toothache all your life. [_The light has been darting viciously between The Devil and Agnus._ THE DEVIL Oh, go home to your bombs again, Schwartzenhopfel! This gentleman didn’t want your old body. When he sees how ridiculous it looks on him, he’s liable to shoot himself—or yourself. Nobody can love a body like that. (_He draws aside curtains hiding a mirror set in the wall_) I leave it to you, Agnus. Can you blame me for wanting to get rid of it? [_Agnus, seeing himself as a short squat German, staggers back clutching his throat._ THE DEVIL (_having smoothed down his coat lapels so as to reveal a silk shirt, and twisted the carelessly tied necktie to a smart shape, takes off tortoise-shell spectacles, presenting, instead of the absorbed scientist, a young debonair man of fashion_) Now—am I a lunatic? (_Searches pockets and finds a letter_) AGNUS You—Devil— THE DEVIL (_correcting him suavely as he exhibits the address on the letter_) Dr. Agnus, please! CURTAIN THE SECOND ACT _The scene and the time are unchanged, although one minute may have elapsed since the last word was spoken. During this time Agnus has realized his misfortune. His face has ceased to be agonized and is now only blank._ _The Devil still stands at the back of the chair, twirling Agnus’s former moustache and admiring himself._ _The light is stationary._[1] [Footnote 1: It must be remembered that when the word Agnus is written, it means Agnus’s spirit; not his body, that is now The Devil’s.] THE DEVIL With these slight alterations in your dress, your face lighted up with my attractive smile (_smiles_) and my bold intelligent gaze, you are a handsome fellow, Agnus—by Saturn, a handsome fellow! I really believe I’d rather have this body than that velvet-jacketed fellow’s— AGNUS (_pleadingly_) Don’t say that. It’s not much of a body. I have all sorts of pains and aches—neglect, you know. You’ll be ill half your time. You won’t have _any_ fun. Now this body (_strikes the Dutchman’s_) may not be good-looking, but what’s that? It’s a fine healthy body—a sound body— [_The light bobs up and down; as though nodding sorrowfully._ THE DEVIL In that case you’re better off than you were. You ought to thank me. [_The light darts at him._ THE DEVIL I wish I could lose that German. AGNUS (_feverishly_) I _do_ thank you—physically. But that isn’t it. I’m engaged—to a girl. She—she—she won’t know me in this body— THE DEVIL Engaged to a girl! Engaged!—(_Blankly_) Has the time been set for marriage? AGNUS No, but— THE DEVIL Oh, well, that’s all right. I can get rid of her. AGNUS Get rid of her? Get rid of her! (_Wildly_) What do you mean? THE DEVIL (_with a gesture_) Scat, girl, scat! Chase her away! AGNUS