ROBERT.
[Archly.] I have come up from a lower world and I am filled with astonishment when I find that people have any redeeming virtue at all.
RICHARD.
[Sits up suddenly and leans his elbows on the table.] You are my friend, then?
ROBERT.
[Gravely.] I fought for you all the time you were away. I fought to bring you back. I fought to keep your place for you here. I will fight for you still because I have faith in you, the faith of a disciple in his master. I cannot say more than that. It may seem strange to you... Give me a match.
RICHARD.
[Lights and offers him a match.] There is a faith still stranger than the faith of the disciple in his master.
ROBERT.
And that is?
RICHARD.
The faith of a master in the disciple who will betray him.
ROBERT.
The church lost a theologian in you, Richard. But I think you look too deeply into life. [He rises, pressing Richard’s arm slightly.] Be gay. Life is not worth it.
RICHARD.
[Without rising.] Are you going?
ROBERT.
Must. [He turns and says in a friendly tone.] Then it is all arranged. We meet tonight at the vicechancellor’s. I shall look in at about ten. So you can have an hour or so to yourselves first. You will wait till I come?
RICHARD.
Good.