Embarrassed silence.

Sir Patrick [grunts and looks hard at Ridgeon]!

Schutzmacher [looking at his watch and rising] I must go.  It’s been a very pleasant evening, Colly.  You might let me have my portrait if you dont mind.  I’ll send Mr Dubedat that couple of sovereigns for it.

Ridgeon [giving him the menu card] Oh dont do that, Loony.  I dont think he’d like that.

Schutzmacher.  Well, of course I shant if you feel that way about it.  But I dont think you understand Dubedat.  However, perhaps thats because I’m a Jew.  Good-night, Dr Blenkinsop [shaking hands].

Blenkinsop.  Good-night, sir—­I mean—­Good-night.

Schutzmacher [waving his hand to the rest] Goodnight, everybody.

Walpole {
B. B. {
Sir Patrick { Good-night. 
Ridgeon {

B. B. repeats the salutation several times, in varied musical tones.  Schutzmacher goes out.

Sir Patrick.  Its time for us all to move. [He rises and comes between Blenkinsop and Walpole.  Ridgeon also rises].  Mr Walpole:  take Blenkinsop home:  he’s had enough of the open air cure for to-night.  Have you a thick overcoat to wear in the motor, Dr Blenkinsop?

Blenkinsop.  Oh, theyll give me some brown paper in the hotel; and a few thicknesses of brown paper across the chest are better than any fur coat.

Walpole.  Well, come along.  Good-night, Colly.  Youre coming with us, arnt you, B. B.?

B. B. Yes:  I’m coming. [Walpole and Blenkinsop go into the hotel].  Good-night, my dear Ridgeon [shaking hands affectionately].  Dont let us lose sight of your interesting patient and his very charming wife.  We must not judge him too hastily, you know. [With unction] G o o o o o o o o d-night, Paddy.  Bless you, dear old chap. [Sir Patrick utters a formidable grunt.  B. B. laughs and pats him indulgently on the shoulder] Good-night.  Good-night.  Good-night.  Good-night. [He good-nights himself into the hotel].

The others have meanwhile gone without ceremony.  Ridgeon and Sir Patrick are left alone together.  Ridgeon, deep in thought, comes down to Sir Patrick.

Sir Patrick.  Well, Mr Savior of Lives:  which is it to be? that honest decent man Blenkinsop, or that rotten blackguard of an artist, eh?

Ridgeon.  Its not an easy case to judge, is it?  Blenkinsop’s an honest decent man; but is he any use?  Dubedat’s a rotten blackguard; but he’s a genuine source of pretty and pleasant and good things.

Sir Patrick.  What will he be a source of for that poor innocent wife of his, when she finds him out?

Ridgeon.  Thats true.  Her life will be a hell.

Sir Patrick.  And tell me this.  Suppose you had this choice put before you:  either to go through life and find all the pictures bad but all the men and women good, or to go through life and find all the pictures good and all the men and women rotten.  Which would you choose?