Eustace (taken aback): Mercia, dear. I know you mean it awfully nicely. But really, in public——
Hashovit (glowering): You see—you degrade yourself to no purpose.
The Colonel (warmly): Degrade? Nonsense!... I, of course, dont mean to imply——
Hashovit: But damn it all, Colonel——
Mercia (screaming): Dont shout, Harmodius.
The wrangle proceeds on the familiar Shavian lines, the party being reinforced for no apparent reason by the arrival of Dan Bigby, an old sea-captain, and Michael John O’Sullivan.
Eustace (at long last): Look here, Im getting sick of this. Its all too much like a play by Bernard Shaw.
Hashovit (growling): Everyone is at heart a Shavian.
The Colonel (hastily): No, really, Harmodius.... O’Sullivan, Brill, we cant have that——
| Eustace: The truth about Shaw—— | } | (Spoken together.) |
| Hashovit: My idea of Shaw—— | } | |
| Michael John: Sure, if you cometo talk about Shaw—— | } | |
| Mrs. Lazyboy: Hes quite right. Theinfluence of that man Shaw—— | } | |
| Captain Dan: Who was Shaw, anyway? | } |