BURGE-LUBIN [resolutely genial and gallant] Delighted to see you, Mrs Lutestring.

CONFUCIUS.  We are honored by your celestial presence.

BARNABAS.  Good day, madam.

THE ARCHBISHOP.  I have not had the pleasure of meeting you before.  I am the Archbishop of York.

MRS LUTESTRING.  Surely we have met, Mr Archbishop.  I remember your face.  We—­[she checks herself suddenly] Ah, no:  I remember now:  it was someone else. [She sits down].  They all sit down.

THE ARCHBISHOP [also puzzled] Are you sure you are mistaken?  I also have some association with your face, Mrs Lutestring.  Something like a door opening continually and revealing you.  And a smile of welcome when you recognized me.  Did you ever open a door for me, I wonder?

MRS LUTESTRING.  I often opened a door for the person you have just reminded me of.  But he has been dead many years.  The rest, except the Archbishop, look at one another quickly.

CONFUCIUS.  May I ask how many years?

MRS LUTESTRING [struck by his tone, looks at him for a moment with some displeasure; then replies] It does not matter.  A long time.

BURGE-LUBIN.  You mustnt rush to conclusions about the Archbishop, Mrs Lutestring.  He is an older bird than you think.  Older than you, at all events.

MRS LUTESTRING [with a melancholy smile] I think not, Mr President.  But the subject is a delicate one.  I had rather not pursue it.

CONFUCIUS.  There is a question which has not been asked.

MRS LUTESTRING [very decisively] If it is a question about my age, Mr Chief Secretary, it had better not be asked.  All that concerns you about my personal affairs can be found in the books of the Accountant General.

CONFUCIUS.  The question I was thinking of will not be addressed to you.  But let me say that your sensitiveness on the point is very strange, coming from a woman so superior to all common weaknesses as we know you to be.

MRS LUTESTRING.  I may have reasons which have nothing to do with common weaknesses, Mr Chief Secretary.  I hope you will respect them.

CONFUCIUS [after bowing to her in assent] I will now put my question.  Have you, Mr Archbishop, any ground for assuming, as you seem to do, that what has happened to you has not happened to other people as well?

BURGE-LUBIN.  Yes, by George!  I never thought of that.

THE ARCHBISHOP.  I have never met any case but my own.

CONFUCIUS.  How do you know?

THE ARCHBISHOP.  Well, no one has ever told me that they were in this extraordinary position.

CONFUCIUS.  That proves nothing.  Did you ever tell anybody that you were in it?  You never told us.  Why did you never tell us?