Don’t, Archie.  There’s no saying.  And I feel responsible for you.

ARCHIE BEAL

Well, they can have my hat.  It looks silly, somehow.  I don’t know why.  What are we going to do?

JOHN BEAL

Well, now that you’ve come we can go ahead.

ARCHIE BEAL

Righto.  What at?

JOHN BEAL

We’ve got to see Hussein’s accounts, and get everything clear in black and white, and see just what he owes to Miss Miralda Clement.

ARCHIE BEAL

But they don’t keep accounts here.

JOHN BEAL

How do you know?

ARCHIE BEAL

Why, of course they don’t.  One can see that.

JOHN BEAL

But they must.

ARCHIE BEAL

Well, you haven’t changed a bit for your six months here.

JOHN BEAL

Haven’t changed?

ARCHIE BEAL

No.  Just quietly thinking of business.  You’ll be a great business man, Johnny.

JOHN BEAL

But we must do business; that’s what I came here for.

ARCHIE BEAL

You’ll never make these people do it.

JOHN BEAL

Well, what do you suggest?

ARCHIE BEAL

Let’s have a look at old Hussein.

JOHN BEAL

Yes, that’s what I have been waiting for.  Daoud!

Daoud [off]

Master. [Enters.]

JOHN BEAL

Go to the palace of the Lord of the pass and beat on the outer door.  Say that I desire to see him.  Pray him to come to my tent.

[Daoud bows and Exit.]

[To Archie.] I’ve sent him to the palace to ask Hussein to come.

ARCHIE BEAL

Lives in a palace, does he?

JOHN BEAL

Yes, it’s a palace, it’s a wonderful place.  It’s bigger than the Mansion House, much.

ARCHIE BEAL

And you’re going to teach him to keep accounts.

JOHN BEAL