Mrs DUDEBAT.  No, not quite yet.

Louis [opening the door and finding Ridgeon there] Hello,
Ridgeon.  Delighted to see you.  Come in.

Mrs DUDEBAT [shaking hands] It’s so good of you to come, doctor.

Louis.  Excuse this place, wont you?  Its only a studio, you know:  theres no real convenience for living here.  But we pig along somehow, thanks to Jennifer.

Mrs Dubedat.  Now I’ll run away.  Perhaps later on, when youre finished with Louis, I may come in and hear the verdict. [Ridgeon bows rather constrainedly].  Would you rather I didnt?

Ridgeon.  Not at all.  Not at all.

Mrs Dubedat looks at him, a little puzzled by his formal manner; then goes into the inner room.

Louis [flippantly] I say:  dont look so grave.  Theres nothing awful going to happen, is there?

Ridgeon.  No.

Louis.  Thats all right.  Poor Jennifer has been looking forward to your visit more than you can imagine.  Shes taken quite a fancy to you, Ridgeon.  The poor girl has nobody to talk to:  I’m always painting. [Taking up a sketch] Theres a little sketch I made of her yesterday.

Ridgeon.  She shewed it to me a fortnight ago when she first called on me.

Louis [quite unabashed] Oh! did she?  Good Lord! how time does fly!  I could have sworn I’d only just finished it.  It’s hard for her here, seeing me piling up drawings and nothing coming in for them.  Of course I shall sell them next year fast enough, after my one-man-show; but while the grass grows the steed starves.  I hate to have her coming to me for money, and having none to give her.  But what can I do?

Ridgeon.  I understood that Mrs Dubedat had some property of her own.

Louis.  Oh yes, a little; but how could a man with any decency of feeling touch that?  Suppose I did, what would she have to live on if I died?  I’m not insured:  cant afford the premiums. [Picking out another drawing] How do you like that?

Ridgeon [putting it aside] I have not come here to-day to look at your drawings.  I have more serious and pressing business with you.

Louis.  You want to sound my wretched lung. [With impulsive candor] My dear Ridgeon:  I’ll be frank with you.  Whats the matter in this house isnt lungs but bills.  It doesnt matter about me; but Jennifer has actually to economize in the matter of food.  Youve made us feel that we can treat you as a friend.  Will you lend us a hundred and fifty pounds?

Ridgeon.  No.

Louis [surprised] Why not?

Ridgeon.  I am not a rich man; and I want every penny I can spare and more for my researches.

Louis.  You mean youd want the money back again.

Ridgeon.  I presume people sometimes have that in view when they lend money.