MENDEL [Anxiously to Pappelmeister]

Of course you must remember his youth and his lack of musical education——

PAPPELMEISTER

Bitte, das Pult!

[Mendel moves David's music-stand from the corner to the centre of the room. Pappelmeister puts MS. on it.]

So!

[All eyes centre on him eagerly, Mendel standing uneasily, the others sitting. Pappelmeister polishes his glasses with irritating elaborateness and weary "achs," then reads in absolute silence. A pause.]

QUINCY [Bored by the silence]

But won't you play it to us?

PAPPELMEISTER