, Idon': .
CUSINS [fromtheplatform] Dummysoldiers?
: therealthing.[, andhelooksupatherinasortofwhimsicaldesperation].Well, Stephen, whatdoyouthinkoftheplace?
, , mydearfather, Ihavebeenafool: Ihadnoideaofwhatitallmeant—ofthewonderfulforethought, thepoweroforganization, theadministrativecapacity, thefinancialgenius, "PeacehathhervictoriesnolessrenownedthanWar." Ihaveonlyonemisgivingaboutitall.
.
, —howtheygaveusallthatluxuryandcakeandjamandcreamforthreepenceIreallycannotimagine!—, forinstance! Areyousuresomuchpamperingisreallygoodforthemen'scharacters?
, mydearboy, , then, Itakeit, yousimplydon'torganizecivilization; andthereyouare, withtroubleandanxietyenoughtomakeusallangels! Butifyoudecidetheotherway, , Stephen, .
, papa, wheredoyoumaketheexplosives?
, , itcostsverylittle; andonlythepeoplequiteclosetoitarekilled.
Stephen, whoisquiteclosetoit, looksatitratherscaredly, ; andaforemaninoverallsandlistslipperscomesoutonthelittlelandingandholdsthedooropenforLomax, whoappearsinthedoorway.
LOMAX [withstudiedcoolness] Mygoodfellow: youneedn''sgoingtohappentoyou; andIsupposeitwouldn', oldchap.[HedescendsandstrollsacrosstoSarah].
UNDERSHAFT [totheforeman] Anythingwrong, Bilton?
BILTON [withironiccalm] Gentlemanwalkedintothehighexplosivesshedandlitacigaret, sir: that'sall.
, quiteso.[ToLomax] Doyouhappentorememberwhatyoudidwiththematch?
! I'.
, sir.
, supposeitwas! Ididn'tchuckitintoanyofyourmesses.
, , wouldyoumindlendingmeyourmatches?
LOMAX [offeringhisbox] Certainly.
.[Hepocketsthematches].
