BISHOP.  I trust that lady is not as influential as she feels.

TIPPY.  Dog lovers are gossips.  But I get business by gossip as well as lose it.  By gossip, sir, and perfumed soap.  The art of perfuming dogs has a great future.  It’s an undeveloped field.  I’m just beginning to explore it.

BISHOP.  You are a marvelous young man, Timothy.

TIPPY.  It’s the Irish in me—­also the Scotch.

BISHOP.  I wish—­I wish my son were more like you.—­Have you seen him, Timothy?

TIPPY. [Evasively.] Why, yes sir—­earlier this evening.

BISHOP.  I called at his apartment and was told to come here.

TIPPY.  Well, yes—­he was here.  So was Laura. [BISHOP sighs heavily.]

BISHOP.  You have a nice place here.—­And your business?

TIPPY.  I don’t complain.  Only the customers do, as you heard, sir.

BISHOP.  I could see that woman was a fool.

TIPPY.  I would not dispute you.

BISHOP.  But surely not all people who own dogs are fools.

TIPPY.  There are exceptions.

BISHOP.  At least you are busy.  You are occupied and happy.  You have found congenial work.  Why cannot all young men do as you have done?

TIPPY.  Not enough dogs, sir.

BISHOP.  It need not have been dogs.  It might have been—­other things.

TIPPY.  True, sir.  I considered the hanging of clothes lines for women whose husbands are mechanical morons.

BISHOP.  That’s an ingenious idea.

TIPPY.  But I found there weren’t enough morons.  Automobiles, sir, have taught even the gentry to use screw drivers.

BISHOP.  I like your humor.  You have enterprise and perspective.  You renew my faith in youth.  I wish my son had such morale.  I wish ...  Where is he, Timothy?  Where is Kenneth?  And Laura?  Do you know where they went?

TIPPY.  I’m afraid not.

BISHOP.  I must find them. [Rises to go.]

TIPPY.  The best chance is they’ll be back here.

BISHOP. [Sitting again, speaks slowly.] I am guilty of a great wrong against my son.

TIPPY.  I’m sure it wasn’t a wilful wrong.

BISHOP.  No.  I love my son.  I meant to help him.  Sometimes it is hard to know what is right and what is wrong.  Timothy, I arranged for my son to have a job. [Pause.] I conspired to let him think he had secured the job in the usual manner.  I fear I made a great mistake.

TIPPY.  I understand the spirit that prompted you.

BISHOP.  Thank you. [Pause.] He called me up on the telephone and said I had ruined his life with my meddling.  He said I was an unworthy example of a man of God.  He said I had betrayed him ... [He is too moved to go on,] He said harsh things—­very harsh things.

TIPPY.  I am very sorry, sir. [He feels helpless to comfort the old man.  In the ensuing, uncomfortable silence, KEN, MARTIN and LAURA come in.  KEN is drunk and boisterous, MARTIN is trying to hold him back, KEN backs into the room, dragging MARTIN with him.  LAURA follows.]