CONFUCIUS. I shall have you safe in a lunatic asylum the day after you blab.
BARNABAS. You forget that I can produce the Archbishop to prove my statement.
CONFUCIUS. So can I. Which of us do you think he will support when I explain to him that your object in revealing his age is to get him killed?
BARNABAS [desperate] Burge: are you going to back up this yellow abomination against me? Are we public men and members of the Government? or are we damned blackguards?
CONFUCIUS [unmoved] Have you ever known a public man who was not what vituperative people called a damned blackguard when some inconsiderate person wanted to tell the public more than was good for it?
BARNABAS. Hold your tongue, you insolent heathen. Burge: I spoke to you.
BURGE-LUBIN. Well, you know, my dear Barnabas, Confucius is a very long-headed chap. I see his point.
BARNABAS. Do you? Then let me tell you that, except officially, I will never speak to you again. Do you hear?
BURGE-LUBIN [cheerfully] You will. You will.
BARNABAS. And don't you ever dare speak to me again. Do you hear? [He turns to the door].