CONFUCIUS. It is very ingenious, Mr Archbishop. And very well told.
BURGE-LUBIN. Of course you understand that I don't for a moment suggest the very faintest doubt of your absolute veracity, Archbishop. You know that, don't you?
THE ARCHBISHOP. Quite, Mr President. Only you don't believe me: that is all. I do not expect you to. In your place I should not believe. You had better have a look at the films. [Pointing to the Accountant General] He believes.
BURGE-LUBIN. But the drowning? What about the drowning? A man might get drowned once, or even twice if he was exceptionally careless. But he couldn't be drowned four times. He would run away from water like a mad dog.
THE ARCHBISHOP. Perhaps Mr Chief Secretary can guess the explanation of that.
CONFUCIUS. To keep your secret, you had to die.
BURGE-LUBIN. But dash it all, man, he isn't dead.
CONFUCIUS. It is socially impossible not to do what everybody else does. One must die at the usual time.
BARNABAS. Of course. A simple point of honour.
CONFUCIUS. Not at all. A simple necessity.