AGNUS (shaking and trembling with rage)
Give me back my body, or I’ll kill you—
THE DEVIL
Kill me? You can only kill your own nice attractive body. You’ll suffer for any harm done to it when I give it back. So don’t knock out any teeth, or you’ll have toothache all your life.
[The light has been darting viciously between The Devil and Agnus.
THE DEVIL
Oh, go home to your bombs again, Schwartzenhopfel! This gentleman didn’t want your old body. When he sees how ridiculous it looks on him, he’s liable to shoot himself—or yourself. Nobody can love a body like that. (He draws aside curtains hiding a mirror set in the wall) I leave it to you, Agnus. Can you blame me for wanting to get rid of it?
[Agnus, seeing himself as a short squat German, staggers back clutching his throat.
THE DEVIL (having smoothed down his coat lapels so as to reveal a silk shirt, and twisted the carelessly tied necktie to a smart shape, takes off tortoise-shell spectacles, presenting, instead of the absorbed scientist, a young debonair man of fashion) Now—am I a lunatic? (Searches pockets and finds a letter)
AGNUS