Belfry. [Writing with a fountain-pen in a cheque-book.] By judgment, instinct, sense and common-sense Deserted! Stagger me, Tristram! What, what? Why, There's reams of print on crowd-psychology, If quarter a century of the footlights left you Ignorant of the hickory-hearted truth That God's the popular voice, the public mind! [Offers Sir Tristram a cheque.] You deal?
Sir T. [Taking the cheque.] On terms. What play must I produce?
Belfry. No terms. [Takes out his pocket-book and writes in it.] I buy the theatre. Take Europa To Monte Carlo, or live a decent life At home here on the balance: it reaches that. I want the Grosvenor.
Belfry. You hit the white. The man that staged a play To make the Lord sit up in a theatre Is--fundamentally disqualified. The man that stands Mark Belfry's impudence Will take Mark Belfry's money: it never fails. [Tears from his pocket-book the page on which he has been writing and offers it to Sir Tristram.] Your signature?
Sir T. [Declines the proffered document and tears up the cheque.] No; not for twice the sum. But treble it, and the Grosvenor Theatre's yours.
Belfry. I want the Grosvenor. [He writes another cheque and another receipt. Sir Tristram takes the one, endorses it, and signs the other.] So? You don't inquire?
Belfry. I possess the Grosvenor now, The premier theatre in London. Well, I'm going to change it to a music-hall.
Belfry. I will. The drama's done. This is a new thing I determine. Say: I've fifty theatres in America, And six in London; and I know. It pays, Variety business pays: the public makes Its entertainment, and it makes it that.
Sir T. Drama will flourish while there's love and hate.
Belfry. Although you wrote it in all the copy-books 'Twould still be true, Sir Tristram--as true as this, That there must be religion while there's life. But fashions wear, customs and costumes fade, And change comes jesting like a conjurer. The music-hall begins the world again In Anglo-American drama:--not a joint Of evolution about it; that's to come:-- A clean solution of continuity Between the theatre about to be And that which was. Your Bishop knew a thing: It's Matter people want. Spirit's played out For entertainment. Don't attack it, though! You've had a lesson here to-night to last A year or two.