BROXOPP. Does an artist regret selling a picture after he has painted it? I made the name of Broxopp, and when I had made it, I sold it. Now I’m going to make the name of Chillingham. I can make any name—with you helping me, Nancy.
NANCY (hopefully). Of course you can. (Twenty-five years ago how certain she would have been!) Have you decided what we shall make the name of Chillingham famous about?
BROXOPP (offhand). Well, well, there’s no hurry. I shall find something. I shall think of something directly. Don’t let us be in a hurry. (Taking off his hat and regarding it) I think the new hat is striking—don’t you? But keep the old one, Nancy. When the story of my life comes to be written, the author may wish to see it personally. Well, I’ll go and put the tie on.... But I was forgetting. Who do you think I saw to-day?
NANCY (eagerly). Not Jack?
BROXOPP. Jack.
NANCY. But why didn’t you tell me? How is he? How is he looking?
[79]BROXOPP. You’ll see for yourself directly. He and Iris are coming round this afternoon.
NANCY. How nice! Then I suppose his picture is finished. How is Iris?
BROXOPP. He didn’t tell me anything, except that he was coming. We were both of us in a hurry. Well, I’ll go and put on this tie. On this day The Great Chillingham was born.
[BROXOPP goes out.