NANCY. Oh, but I’m sure Jim didn’t mean to suggest—— TENTERDEN (_smiling_). That I was a knave? No, hardly. But that I was a fool! Eh, Chillingham? Oh, I think so. I think so. BROXOPP (_very uncomfortably_). Sir Roger—you see—of course I don’t—— TENTERDEN (_holding up his hand_). Please, please don’t say any more. If anything, the apology should come from me. I have lost your money. (_To NANCY, charmingly_) Yes, Mrs. Chillingham, a good deal of it. And a good deal of my own, too. Fortunately I have already taken steps to recover it. What we lose on the oil, we gain on—shall I say the cocoanuts? NANCY (_prompting him_). Jim! “That’s all right, Sir Roger....” BROXOPP (_with an effort_). That’s all right, Sir Roger. I don’t blame you. You have done your best. TENTERDEN (_amazed that there should have been any thought of blame_). I’m afraid that I haven’t made myself clear. When I say cocoanuts—— NANCY. Sir Roger, has my husband lost much of his money? TENTERDEN. My dear Mrs. Chillingham, five minutes ago I should not have used the word “lost” at all. It was just, if I may put it so, the opening skirmish in a campaign. One does not say that a campaign is lost because at the first few shots—— (_He shrugs his shoulders._) NANCY. Yes, I understand.... And the cocoanuts——? TENTERDEN. A manner of speaking. Actually (_he beams at them both_) a Building Society. Our motto is—Excelsior! BROXOPP (_jumping up_). The Excelsior? My money is in that? TENTERDEN. All, my dear Chillingham. And safe as—shall I say houses? But, of course, whether you leave it there or not is now a matter for your own judgment. Between ourselves, Mrs. Chillingham, I shall be glad to be relieved of the responsibility. (_Looking through the window_) Beautiful weather we’re having just now. The young people are out enjoying themselves, I suppose? Golf, what? No cares, no responsibilities—lucky young people! (_He gives them a pleasant nod and goes out._) (_BROXOPP and NANCY stand looking at each other._) BROXOPP. Well, Nancy? NANCY. Well, Jim? BROXOPP (_with a bitter laugh_). Funny, isn’t it? NANCY (_smiling_). Well, it is rather. BROXOPP (_with a groan_). Funny! I said six hundred a year—you said eight hundred—and now we shall have tuppence. NANCY. That’s what makes it rather funny. BROXOPP. Sir Roger’s a fool, but I’m a worse one to have trusted him. NANCY. There’ll be something left. BROXOPP. And yet—I daresay I’d do it again. There were those Tenterdens and Jack. They wanted me to give up things for them—my name, my home, my business. Well, I wasn’t going to give grudgingly. Let them have it all, I said. Let Sir Roger play the fool with my money, let Jack choose my house for me, let Iris fill it with her friends. It was their show this time. That’s the way I have to do things—the large way. It—it appeals to me somehow, Nancy. Well, you know me—you married that sort of man. NANCY. I’m glad I married that sort of man. BROXOPP. And now he’s let you down.