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MALONE。 Yes？
VIOLET。 Don't take one of them until I've seen it。 One never
knows what may be wrong with these places。
MALONE。 I won't。 I'll do nothing without consulting you； never
fear。
VIOLET。 ＇politely； but without a ray of gratitude＇ Thanks： that
will be much the best way。 ＇She goes calmly back to the villa；
escorted obsequiously by Malone to the upper end of the garden＇。
TANNER。 ＇drawing Ramsden's attention to Malone's cringing
attitude as he takes leave of Violet＇ And that poor devil is a
billionaire！ one of the master spirits of the age！ Led on a
string like a pug dog by the first girl who takes the trouble to
despise him。 I wonder will it ever come to that with me。 ＇He
comes down to the lawn。＇
RAMSDEN。 ＇following him＇ The sooner the better for you。
MALONE。 ＇clapping his hands as he returns through the garden＇
That'll be a grand woman for Hector。 I wouldn't exchange her for
ten duchesses。 ＇He descends to the lawn and comes between Tanner
and Ramsden＇。
RAMSDEN。 ＇very civil to the billionaire＇ It's an unexpected
pleasure to find you in this corner of the world； Mr Malone。 Have
you come to buy up the Alhambra？
MALONE。 Well； I don't say I mightn't。 I think I could do better
with it than the Spanish government。 But that's not what I came
about。 To tell you the truth； about a month ago I overheard a
deal between two men over a bundle of shares。 They differed about
the price： they were young and greedy； and didn't know that if
the shares were worth what was bid for them they must be worth
what was asked； the margin being too small to be of any account；
you see。 To amuse meself； I cut in and bought the shares。 Well；
to this day I haven't found out what the business is。 The office
is in this town； and the name is Mendoza； Limited。 Now whether
Mendoza's a mine； or a steamboat line； or a bank； or a patent
article
TANNER。 He's a man。 I know him： his principles are thoroughly
commercial。 Let us take you round the town in our motor； Mr
Malone； and call on him on the way。
MALONE。 If you'll be so kind； yes。 And may I ask who
TANNER。 Mr Roebuck Ramsden； a very old friend of your
daughter…in…law。
MALONE。 Happy to meet you； Mr Ramsden。
RAMSDEN。 Thank you。 Mr Tanner is also one of our circle。
MALONE。 Glad to know you also； Mr Tanner。
TANNER。 Thanks。 ＇Malone and Ramsden go out very amicably through
the little gate。 Tanner calls to Octavius； who is wandering in
the garden with Ann＇ Tavy！ ＇Tavy comes to the steps； Tanner
whispers loudly to him＇ Violet has married a financier of
brigands。 ＇Tanner hurries away to overtake Malone and Ramsden。
Ann strolls to the steps with an idle impulse to torment
Octavius＇。
ANN。 Won't you go with them； Tavy？
OCTAVIUS。 ＇tears suddenly flushing his eyes＇ You cut me to the
heart； Ann； by wanting me to go ＇he comes down on the lawn to
hide his face from her。 She follows him caressingly＇。
ANN。 Poor Ricky Ticky Tavy！ Poor heart！
OCTAVIUS。 It belongs to you； Ann。 Forgive me： I must speak of it。
I love you。 You know I love you。
ANN。 What's the good； Tavy？ You know that my mother is determined
that I shall marry Jack。
OCTAVIUS。 ＇amazed＇ Jack！
ANN。 It seems absurd； doesn't it？
OCTAVIUS。 ＇with growing resentment＇ Do you mean to say that Jack
has been playing with me all this time？ That he has been urging
me not to marry you because he intends to marry you himself？
ANN。 ＇alarmed＇ No no： you mustn't lead him to believe that I said
that： I don't for a moment think that Jack knows his own mind。
But it's clear from my father's will that he wished me to marry
Jack。 And my mother is set on it。
OCTAVIUS。 But you are not bound to sacrifice yourself always to
the wishes of your parents。
ANN。 My father loved me。 My mother loves me。 Surely their wishes
are a better guide than my own selfishness。
OCTAVIUS。 Oh； I know how unselfish you are； Ann。 But believe me
though I know I am speaking in my own interestthere is another
side to this question。 Is it fair to Jack to marry him if you do
not love him？ Is it fair to destroy my happiness as well as your
own if you can bring yourself to love me？
ANN。 ＇looking at him with a faint impulse of pity＇ Tavy； my
dear； you are a nice creaturea good boy。
OCTAVIUS。 ＇humiliated＇ Is that all？
ANN。 ＇mischievously in spite of her pity＇ That's a great deal； I
assure you。 You would always worship the ground I trod on；
wouldn't you？
OCTAVIUS。 I do。 It sounds ridiculous； but it's no exaggeration。 I
do； and I always shall。
ANN。 Always is a long word； Tavy。 You see； I shall have to live
up always to your idea of my divinity； and I don't think I could do
that if we were married。 But if I marry Jack； you'll never be
disillusionedat least not until I grow too old。
OCTAVIUS。 I too shall grow old； Ann。 And when I am eighty； one
white hair of the woman I love will make me tremble more than the
thickest gold tress from the most beautiful young head。
ANN。 ＇quite touched＇ Oh； that's poetry； Tavy； real poetry。 It
gives me that strange sudden sense of an echo from a former
existence which always seems to me such a striking proof that we
have immortal souls。
OCTAVIUS。 Do you believe that is true？
ANN。 Tavy； if it is to become true you must lose me as well as
love me。
OCTAVIUS。 Oh！ ＇he hastily sits down at the little table and
covers his face with his hands＇。
ANN。 ＇with conviction＇ Tavy： I wouldn't for worlds destroy your
illusions。 I can neither take you nor let you go。 I can see
exactly what will suit you。 You must be a sentimental old
bachelor for my sake。
OCTAVIUS。 ＇desperately＇ Ann： I'll kill myself。
ANN。 Oh no you won't： that wouldn't be kind。 You won't have a bad
time。 You will be very nice to women； and you will go a good deal
to the opera。 A broken heart is a very pleasant complaint for a
man in London if he has a comfortable income。
OCTAVIUS。 ＇considerably cooled； but believing that he is only
recovering his self…control＇ I know you mean to be kind； Ann。
Jack has persuaded you that cynicism is a good tonic for me。 ＇He
rises with quiet dignity＇。
ANN。 ＇studying him slyly＇ You see； I'm disillusionizing you
already。 That's what I dread。
OCTAVIUS。 You do not dread disillusionizing Jack。
ANN。 ＇her face lighting up with mischievous ecstasywhispering＇ I
can't： he has no illusions about me。 I shall surprise Jack the
other way。 Getting over an unfavorable impression is ever so much
easier than living up to an ideal。 Oh； I shall enrapture Jack
sometimes！
OCTAVIUS。 ＇resuming the calm phase of despair； and beginning to
enjoy his broken heart and delicate attitude without knowing it＇
I don't doubt that。 You will enrapture him always。 And hethe
fool！thinks you would make him wretched。
ANN。 Yes： that's the difficulty； so far。
OCTAVIUS。 ＇heroically＇ Shall I tell him that you love？
ANN。 ＇quickly＇ Oh no： he'd run away again。
OCTAVIUS。 ＇shocked＇ Ann： would you marry an unwilling man？
ANN。 What a queer creature you are； Tavy！ There's no such thing
as a willing man when you really go for him。 ＇She laughs
naughtily＇。 I'm shocking you； I suppose。 But you know you are
really getting a sort of satisfaction alread