DAVID. The pin?
COMTESSE. As I have read, a self-made man always begins by picking up a pin. After that, as the memoirs say, his rise was rapid.
[DAVID, however, is once more master of himself, and indeed has begun to tot up the cost of their garments.]
DAVID. It wasn’t a pin he picked up, my lady; it was L300.
ALICK [who feels that JOHN’s greatness has been outside the conversation quite long enough]. And his rise wasn’t so rapid, just at first, David!
DAVID. He had his fight. His original intention was to become a minister; he’s university-educated, you know; he’s not a working-man member.
ALICK [with reverence]. He’s an M.A. But while he was a student he got a place in an iron-cementer’s business.
COMTESSE [now far out of her depths]. Iron-cementer?
DAVID. They scrape boilers.
COMTESSE. I see. The fun men have, Sybil!