JANET. Oh! the Continent. It's not Mr. Shawn that's ill?
CARVE. (Hesitating.) Mr. Shawn? Oh no, no! It's Ilam Carve.
JANET. (Half whispering. Awed.) Oh, him! Poor thing. And nobody but men in the house.
JANET. Well! (waves her hand to indicate the state of the room, smiling indulgently) I always feel sorry for gentlemen when they have to manage for themselves, even if they're well and hearty. But when it comes to illness--I can't bear to think about it. Still, everybody has their own notions of comfort. And I've no doubt he'll very soon be better.
JANET. (Blandly cheerful.) As a general rule, you may say that people do get better. That's my experience. Of course sometimes they take a longish time. And now and then one dies--else what use would cemeteries be? But as a general rule they're soon over it. Now am I going to see Mr. Shawn, or shall I----
CARVE. Not precisely a message. But if you could call again----
CARVE. (Rather eagerly.) Any time. Any time. Soon.
JANET. Perhaps morning is safer. Thank you. Very well, then. Day after to-morrow.... I suppose Mr. Shawn has a rare fine situation here?
CARVE. (Shrugging his shoulders.) Nothing to complain of, if you ask me.
(JANET offers her hand quite simply. The double doors open, CARVE looks alarmed.)
JANET. Thank you very much. I think I can open the front door myself.
PASCOE. (At double doors, to HORNING invisible behind.) Then there's no reason why the nurse at Edith Grove shouldn't come along here.
HORNING. (Off.) Yes. She'll be free in an hour.
HORNING. (Nervous.) What am I to do if his respiration----
PASCOE. (Interrupting.) Don't worry. I'm not gone yet. I must just clean up my hypodermic. Shut those doors.
PASCOE. (Busy with syringe, water, and syringe-case.) I'm sending one in. (Ironically.) Do you see any objection?
CARVE. On the contrary, I should like him to be treated with every care. He's invaluable to me.
PASCOE. (Staggered.) Invaluable to you! Of course in my line of business I get used to meeting odd people----
CARVE. (Recovering from his mistake.) But you think I carry oddness rather far?
PASCOE. The idea did pass through my mind.
CARVE. Nervousness--nothing but nervousness. I'm very nervous. And then--you know the saying--like master, like man.