RIDGEON. Indeed! Well, you will have to find some other means of getting it.
LOUIS. Do you mean that you refuse?
RIDGEON. Do I mean—! [letting his indignation loose] Of course I refuse, man. What do you take me for? How dare you make such a proposal to me?
LOUIS. Why not?
RIDGEON. Faugh! You would not understand me if I tried to explain. Now, once for all, I will not lend you a farthing. I should be glad to help your wife; but lending you money is no service to her.
LOUIS. Oh well, if youre in earnest about helping her, I’ll tell you what you might do. You might get your patients to buy some of my things, or to give me a few portrait commissions.
RIDGEON. My patients call me in as a physician, not as a commercial traveller.
A knock at the door.
Louis goes unconcernedly to open it, pursuing the subject as he goes.
LOUIS. But you must have great influence with them. You must know such lots of things about them—private things that they wouldnt like to have known. They wouldnt dare to refuse you.