PRESCOTT.  I am very sorry.  I can’t do what you ask.

BISHOP.  If your plans go through, you would have a place for him?

PRESCOTT. [Impatiently.] Yes, yes.

BISHOP.  Then until they do—­for my sake, Stanley.  For old times’ sake.  Because we were classmates.

PRESCOTT.  But it’s damned unethical!  Do you realize ... [Telephone rings.] Hello!—­Oh, hello, dear ...  Yes, I am just leaving.  I’ll be there in a few minutes. [BISHOP takes out checkbook and writes.] I don’t like this.

BISHOP.  The ethical sin will be wholly mine.  You don’t know what it’ll mean to my boy to be associated with your firm; you don’t know what it’ll mean to the girl.  He’s been engaged to her for three years.

PRESCOTT.  I don’t like it.

BISHOP.  It means new life for two young people, life for them in our way of life.  This check, Stanley, is for twelve hundred dollars.  Pay Kenneth twenty-five dollars a week.  When your plans go through, pay him whatever he’s worth to you.

PRESCOTT.  It’s damned unethical.

BISHOP.  There is a greater righteousness than business ethics. [Protesting still, PRESCOTT takes the check.] Good-bye, Stanley—­God bless you. [BISHOP goes.]

[PRESCOTT stands regarding check a moment, then rings, LUCILLE enters.]

PRESCOTT.  Take a letter.  Mr. Kenneth Holden.  You have his address on file.  Dear Kenneth:  Sometime ago you came in to inquire if I could find a place for you.  I am glad to tell you that there is a vacancy here now, and if you are still looking for something the place is yours.  The work will be ... [Pause.] to develop the interesting plans you spoke to me about, pending possible use of them in the future.... [Pause.] The salary will be small to start with, twenty-five dollars a week.  Paragraph.  You can begin work at any time....

CURTAIN

ACT II

A few months later.  The hour is dusk.  A basement apartment lower than street level.  There are four doors, one leading in from the street, one leading to a back yard, one to a kitchen, another to a bedroom.  The room is large and serves as a combined living room and place of business for a dog specialist.  Some of the furniture of the old place is here.  There is a shelf displaying packages of dog biscuit, muzzles, etc.  The walls are decorated with pictures of dogs and glaring advertisements of dog goods, especially insecticides.  There is a large homemade sign: 

I CLIP, TRIM, PLUCK, WASH AND EXTERMINATE.

At one side is Martin’s sketching table, and on wall near it some of his drawings.

TIPPY is kneeling on the floor beside a wash-tub, bathing a terrier.  He talks to it gently, soothingly, all through following scene.

MARTIN, with a green eyeshade, is working on a sketch under a table lamp.