REMBRANDT TEMPENNY.

Certainly I will.  I will write you to-morrow.  I am anxious to have your opinion.

HENRICH SCHERCL.

Who is the friend in whose studio you vork?

REMBRANDT TEMPENNY.

Eh?  In Mr. Sylvester’s—­Charles Sylvester.  You should hear him talk about it.  By Jove, he does think a lot of it.  I blush to repeat what he says.  He considers it magnificent.

(Enter SYLVESTER.)

CHARLES SYLVESTER.

Afternoon, Rembrandt.  Ah, Mr. Schercl, how-d’ye do.

REMBRANDT TEMPENNY.

Sylvester himself—­the devil. (Aloud.) Dear old man, we were talking of you!  I was just telling Mr. Schercl what you are kind enough to say of “Susannah.”

(Kicks him aside.)

HENRICH SCHERCL.

You think it goot, Mr. Sylvester, yes?

REMBRANDT TEMPENNY.

He thinks it superb, so far as it has gone.

(Kicks him again.)

CHARLES SYLVESTER.

What’s that?  Who is “Susannah?”

REMBRANDT TEMPENNY.

“Who is Susannah!” (With a sickly laugh.) What a chap to chaff you are.  “Who is Susannah?” Ha, ha, ha.

HENRICH SCHERCL.

But in pusiness I do not like the chokes.  Let us be serious if you please.  What is your opinion, Mr. Sylvester, of the vork?

REMBRANDT TEMPENNY (desperately).

Yes, I quite agree with you, Mr. Schercl, I quite agree—­there is a time for all things.  Tell Mr. Schercl what you think of it, Charlie, do.

(Kicks him savagely.)

CHARLES SYLVESTER (aside to TEMPENNY).

You’ll break my ankle directly, hang you.  What do you want?

REMBRANDT TEMPENNY (aside to SYLVESTER).

Intelligence.  I’ll break your neck in another minute, you born fool! (Aloud suavely.) Mr. Schercl is naturally anxious to hear how the picture he had given me a commission for is getting along.  I was telling him how much you think of it but he would like to hear your views from your own mouth.

CHARLES SYLVESTER.

Oh—­oh!—­now I know what you’re talking about!  Well, I have a very high opinion of the work indeed, Mr. Schercl—­a very high opinion. (Aside to TEMPENNY.) What’s the subject?

REMBRANDT TEMPENNY (aside to SYLVESTER).

“Susannah before the Elders”—­pitch it strong.

CHARLES SYLVESTER.

The conception of Susannah, and in fact the entire treatment if I may say so, is bold in the extreme.  He makes a school, our friend here.  You will be surprised when you see the work, and impressed.

HENRICH SCHERCL.

Vell, we will make the abbointment soon, Mr. Tempenny.  I am sorry I could not see it to-day.  So I shall be imbressed?  That is goot.  Gootday, gentlemen.  We will make the abbointment very soon.