If Only etc. Part 24

What!!

ROBERT ADDISON.

It would explain the terms, that's all, dear boy. Au revoir. (_Exit_ ROBERT ADDISON D.F.)

REMBRANDT TEMPENNY (_aside_).

Good Lord! (_Aloud, blandly_). My dear Mr. Schercl, this is a pleasure indeed.

 

HENRICH SCHERCL.

I do not know dat it is a great bleasure, but pusiness must be attended to, hein? Vell, my friendt, and how is the bicture, eh! Let us see how it has brogressed.

REMBRANDT TEMPENNY.

The picture is going well--well, very well,--excellently. I am a modest man--

HENRICH SCHERCL.

Humph! (_Aside_.) This is a very boor blace for zo famous a bainter. I do not understand it! But I have certainly done goot business mid him!

REMBRANDT TEMPENNY (_disconcerted_).

I say I am a modest man, Mr. Schercl, but I feel safe in declaring that you will be satisfied with your bargain.

HENRICH SCHERCL.

"Bargain?" I do not tink dat ven I pay tree hundred bounds for a bicture it should be called a "pargain." Tree hundred bounds is very large brice; I shall have not made a pargain.

REMBRANDT TEMPENNY.

Er--quite so. You misunderstand me. I should have said your "contract"--you will be satisfied with your contract.

HENRICH SCHERCL.

If you should have said "gontract," vy did you say "Pargain." Vell, vell, let us see the bicture.

REMBRANDT TEMPENNY.

(_With a desperate attempt to throw enthusiasm in his voice_.) It is the best work I have done. I look to "Susannah" to advance my position enormously. People will talk about "Susannah." It is--er--full of rapture.

HENRICH SCHERCL.

"Rapture?" Vat is "Rapture?"

REMBRANDT TEMPENNY.

_You_ know what "rapture" is. It is the term best understood by the movement of to-day. It is our watchword, our ideal. "Rapture!"

HENRICH SCHERCL.

(_Puzzled, but not wis.h.i.+ng to appear ignorant_.) Oh "Rapture," I did not understand you. Of course I know what rapture is.

REMBRANDT TEMPENNY.

Of course you do. Well, "Susannah" brims over with it.

HENRICH SCHERCL.

Goot, goot.

REMBRANDT TEMPENNY.

It is the very apotheosis of rapture.

HENRICH SCHERCL.

I gongratulate you.

REMBRANDT TEMPENNY.

It exudes with rapture.

HENRICH SCHERCL.

Is dat so?

REMBRANDT TEMPENNY.

It is bathed in rapture. (_Aside_.) I can't go on much longer.

HENRICH SCHERCL.

Now show it to me.

REMBRANDT TEMPENNY (_with feigned surprise_).

Show it to you? I can't show it to you--it isn't here.

HENRICH SCHERCL.

Vat is dat you say? Not here?

REMBRANDT TEMPENNY.

Certainly not. I am working on it in a friend's studio, not my own. The light here is not nearly good enough for a work like that.

HENRICH SCHERCL.