MACKENZIE (_scornfully_). London's not an engineering centre--Glasgow, Hartlepool, Newcastle----
DANIEL. Well, all those places. He could keep himself posted up in all the newest ideas then, and inventions.
MACKENZIE. But a man can keep himself to the fore if he reads the technical journals and follows their articles. What technical papers do you get? Do you ever get the Scottish Engineers' Monthly Handbook, price sixpence monthly? I'm the writer on the inventors' column. My articles are signed Fergus McLachlan. Perhaps you've read them?
DANIEL. I think--um--I'm not quite sure that I have.
MACKENZIE. You remember one I wrote on the new compressed air drills last July?
DANIEL (_looking across at_ JOHN, _who is standing with his back to the fireplace_). I don't think I do.
JOHN. No. We don't get them sort of papers. I did buy one or two like them for Daniel, but he told me he would just as soon have the _Whig_, for there was just as much information in it.
MACKENZIE (_laughing_). O spirit of Burns! Just as much information--well, so much for that. Now, about this new patent, this new fan bellows that I hear you're working at, Mr. Murray.
ANDY. We both seen the drawings in there, Daniel, but I don't think either of us made much of it. Could you not explain it to him, Daniel. Give him an idea what you mean to do with it.
JOHN. Aye. Now's your chance, Daniel. You were talking of some difficulty or other. Maybe this gentleman could help you with it.
DANIEL (_shifting uneasily, and looking appealingly at_ JOHN). Well. There's no great hurry. A little later on in the evening. (_He looks at_ SARAH.) I'm thinking about Miss McMinn. I don't think this conversation would be very interesting to her.
SARAH. Oh, indeed now, Mr. Murray, I just love to know about it. A good fan bellows would be the great thing for yon fireplace of ours, Andy.
DANIEL (_uncomfortably_). No. Not just yet, John. A bit later on. I'm shy, John, you know. A bit backward before company.
JOHN. You're a man to talk about going to see people in London.
JOHN. Aye. He was talking about going to London, and I was half-minded to let him go.
ANDY (_who exchanges meaning glances with_ SARAH). Boys, that would cost a wheen of pounds!