Venables.  My dear fellow.  My dear Shand, I congratulate you.  Give me your hand.

John.  The speech?

Venables.  You have improved it out of knowledge.  It is the same speech, but those new touches make all the difference. [John sits down heavily.] Mrs. Shand, be proud of him.

Maggie.  I am.  I am, John.

Comtesse.  You always said that his second thoughts were best,
Charles.

Venables [pleased to be reminded of it].  Didn’t I, didn’t I?  Those delicious little touches!  How good that is, Shand, about the flowing tide.

Comtesse.  The flowing tide?

Venables.  In the first speech it was something like this—­’Gentlemen, the Opposition are calling to you to vote for them and the flowing tide, but I solemnly warn you to beware lest the flowing tide does not engulf you.’  The second way is much better.

Comtesse.  What is the second way, Mr. Shand?

[John does not tell her.]

Venables.  This is how he puts it now. [John cannot help raising his head to listen.] ’Gentlemen, the Opposition are calling to you to vote for them and the flowing tide, but I ask you cheerfully to vote for us and Dam the flowing tide.’

[Venables and his old friend the Comtesse laugh heartily, but for different reasons.]

Comtesse.  It is better, Mr. Shand.

Maggie. I don’t think so.

Venables.  Yes, yes, it’s so virile.  Excuse me, Comtesse, I’m off to read the whole thing again. [For the first time he notices that John is strangely quiet.] I think this has rather bowled you over, Shand.

[JOHN’s head sinks lower.]

Well, well, good news doesn’t kill.

Maggie [counsel for the defence].  Surely the important thing about the speech is its strength and knowledge and eloquence, the things that were in the first speech as well as in the second.

Venables.  That of course is largely true.  The wit would not be enough without them, just as they were not enough without the wit.  It is the combination that is irresistible. [JOHN’s head rises a little.] Shand, you are our man, remember that, it is emphatically the best thing you have ever done.  How this will go down at Leeds!

[He returns gaily to his hammock; but lower sinks john’s head, and even the Comtesse has the grace to take herself off.  MAGGIE’s arms flutter near her husband, not daring to alight.]

Maggie.  You heard what he said, John.  It’s the combination.  Is it so terrible to you to find that my love for you had made me able to help you in the little things?

John.  The little things!  It seems strange to me to hear you call me by my name, Maggie.  It’s as if I looked on you for the first time.