SCENE II.--_Same as preceding._ Mr. TOOVEY _is slowly recovering from the mental collapse produced by the mention of the word "Eldorado."_
_Mrs. Toovey._ ALTHEA is out of the room, Pa, so there is no reason why you should not speak out plainly.
_Mr. Toovey (to himself)._ No reason--oh! But I must say _something_. If only I knew whether it was my Eldorado--but, no, it's a mere coincidence! (_Aloud--shakily._) CHARLES, my boy, you--you've shocked me very much indeed, as you can see. But, about the name of this establishment, now--isn't it a curious one for--for a _music-hall_, CHARLES? M--mightn't it be confused with--well--say a _mine_, now?
_Mrs. T._ THEOPHILUS, this is scarcely the tone----. I expected you to give this misguided boy a solemn warning of the ruin he may incur by having anything to do with such a haunt.
_Mr. T. (to himself)._ Ah, I'm afraid I'm only too well qualified to do that. (_Aloud._) I do, CHARLES, I _do_--though at the same time, I can quite understand how one may, unwittingly--I mean, you might not be aware of----
_Mrs. T._ You, Pa, of all people in the world, trying to find excuses for his depravity! The very name of the place is enough to indicate its nature!
_Mr. T. (hastily)._ No, my love, surely not. _There_ I think you go too far--too far altogether!
_Mrs. T._ I appeal to Mr. CURPHEW to say whether such a place is a proper resort for _any_ young man.
_Curphew (to himself)._ Wish I was well out of this! (_Aloud._) I--I really don't feel qualified to give an opinion, Mrs. TOOVEY. Many young men _do_ go to them, I believe.
_Charles (to himself)._ Is this chap a prig, or a humbug? I'll draw him. (_Aloud._) I suppose, from that, you never think of going yourself?
_Mrs. T._ Mr. CURPHEW'S tastes are rather different from yours, CHARLES. I am very sure that he is never to be seen among the audience at any music-hall, are you, Mr. CURPHEW?
_Curph. (to himself)._ Could I break it to her gently, I wonder. (_Aloud._) Never--my professional duties make that impossible.
_Charles (to himself)._ I knew he was a muff! (_Aloud._) I should have thought you could easily get a pass to any place you wanted to go--in your profession.
_Curph. (to himself)._ He suspects something. (_Aloud._) Should you? Why?