By endowing that brilliant boy in there to carry on his search for immortality—give him some of your useless millions. FANNY Mother! He isn’t a beggar. He can give himself and me everything we need by work. MRS. FELIX Yes, but can he give the _world_ everything— TROMPER He can give the world more iron rails for railroads; more armor-plate for battleships— MRS. FELIX More money for Magnus, you mean. Railroads and battleships never made anybody wiser or happier— VANILLITY Oh, really, Mrs. Felix—travel— MRS. FELIX Whisking past interesting places at a mile a minute isn’t travelling. That’s moving pictures for the rich. (_To Magnus_) John, with your money translated into real power—not petty authority—you’ll go down to history as big a man as the boy in there—your name linked with his— JUDGE CRITTY Pardon me, Mrs. Felix; _his_ name linked with Mr. Magnus. MRS. FELIX No. The boy is a fool at everything except his work. But his wisdom in that is greater than all of yours, John Magnus. [_Judge Critty lifts his hands, about to protest._ MAGNUS If he can make men immortal, certainly— [_Judge Critty subsides._ MRS. FELIX Well, at twenty-nine he’s made animals’ hearts and lungs immortal. In fifty years, endowed with millions— [_Magnus nods._ MRS. FELIX You _do_ see, don’t you? Now, will you bury that talent in a vulgar manufactory— TROMPER (_offended_) Vulgar! Why, some of our men come to work in their own automobiles. MRS. FELIX Prosaic manufactory, then. (_To Magnus_) Remember, when you bury him, you bury your own chance to be a great man! Whoever heard of a mere money-maker in history unless as the patron of artists, writers, or scientists? MAGNUS Loo, I’ve a good mind to _make_ you marry me! I believe you’d make life interesting again— MRS. FELIX You’d have to change a good many of your ways before you can do that. I admire your brains, but what’s the sense of having them when they aren’t put to any good use? Will you endow the boy? (_Nods toward laboratory_) MAGNUS Yes. MRS. FELIX A few more answers like that, and I’ll say “yes” to you. MAGNUS I’ll endow him—to please you. But I demand interest on my investment. I’ll build the finest workshop a scientist ever had: give him ten, twenty, a hundred assistants; the most renowned scientists in the world, no matter what they cost.—He can spend any amount on whatever he needs in his work. But I’ll have no young society-man business— [_Fanny starts and her expression grows sullen._ MAGNUS He’ll stay _here_, on Long Island. And he’ll spend no more on himself than he needs to live decently. If I sacrifice _millions_, he must sacrifice _something_— FANNY What do you mean by living decently. (_Biting her lips_) The way _you_ live? MAGNUS No, that’s living extravagantly. (_Smiling_) FANNY Mother, Mr. Magnus has just been joking at your expense. MRS. FELIX I see no joke. FANNY