Part 2, Act 2, Scenes 5-7 Summary

Scene 5. Nicholas travels through the poorest and most degraded section of London (as illustrated by the members of the company who appear as beggars and madmen) to complete his errand for the Cheerybles, paying the deposit on a commission for some household artwork from Madeline. Bray, touchy and in a wheelchair, insists on conducting the transaction as proper business with receipts and all the accompanying paperwork. Nicholas asks when he should return with another payment, and Madeline tells him, a week, in spite of Bray saying three weeks. Madeline wheels her father off, then hurries back to plead with Nicholas to not tell the Cheerybles how difficult her father was. Nicholas impulsively tells her how he feels about her, but Madeline tells him to say nothing more and leaves. Nicholas wonders aloud how he can wait a...