Mr. Valdingam: It is pitiful, and it is strange; strange because my daughter Rose is, to all outward appearances, as sane as you or I.
Dr. Van Hyde: But there are symptoms—
Mr. Valdingam: Symptoms which my keen sight discovered long ago. (Mysteriously.) My daughter is morally irresponsible in her social relations with men.
Dr. Van Hyde: You astonish me!
Mr. Valdingam: Prepare yourself for still greater astonishment. Accustomed though you are to dealings with the insane, I venture to say that Rose will deceive you at first as she has deceived others.... However, you are now on your guard. If you will permit me to do so, I will indicate to you the line of inquiry which you may adopt in your preliminary examination of my daughter.
(As this conversation progresses the door at L. is opened slightly, and Susan is seen to be listening. Later she closes the door softly and disappears.)
Dr. Van Hyde: With pleasure, sir.
Mr. Valdingam: Here is the point, then. My daughter appears to fall in love with every young man that strikes her fancy.
Dr. Van Hyde: Really—