Cosi. Yesh, I’ve seen dat.
Olang. Understand, that is a most valuable picture! I would not part from it for any sum you like to name!
Cosi. I wouldn’t like to name any sum. It’s out of date; and it’s in a bad state of preservation.
Olang. Then you know nothing about it! Its preservation is perfect.
Cosi. Dat’s what I mean: its been over-preserved. It ought to have been destroyed long ago.... Have you got nothing better dan dat to raise money on?
Olang. Than that? No.
Mrs. O. Than that? Yes? Have you never heard of our son, Yunglangtsi?
Cosi. No.
Mrs. O. Well, I’ll tell you! Seven years ago his future was foretold from the stars. In three years from now he’ll have become the greatest of living artists.
Josi. [Aside.] Don’t you believe it, Coshi.