Larry.  Nora’s gone home.

Broadbent [with conviction].  You were right this morning, Larry.  I must feed up Nora.  She’s weak; and it makes her fanciful.  Oh, by the way, did I tell you that we’re engaged?

Larry.  She told me herself.

Broadbent [complacently].  She’s rather full of it, as you may imagine.  Poor Nora!  Well, Mr Keegan, as I said, I begin to see my way here.  I begin to see my way.

Keegan [with a courteous inclination].  The conquering Englishman, sir.  Within 24 hours of your arrival you have carried off our only heiress, and practically secured the parliamentary seat.  And you have promised me that when I come here in the evenings to meditate on my madness; to watch the shadow of the Round Tower lengthening in the sunset; to break my heart uselessly in the curtained gloaming over the dead heart and blinded soul of the island of the saints, you will comfort me with the bustle of a great hotel, and the sight of the little children carrying the golf clubs of your tourists as a preparation for the life to come.

Broadbent [quite touched, mutely offering him a cigar to console him, at which he smiles and shakes his head].  Yes, Mr Keegan:  you’re quite right.  There’s poetry in everything, even [looking absently into the cigar case] in the most modern prosaic things, if you know how to extract it [he extracts a cigar for himself and offers one to Larry, who takes it].  If I was to be shot for it I couldn’t extract it myself; but that’s where you come in, you see [roguishly, waking up from his reverie and bustling Keegan goodhumoredly].  And then I shall wake you up a bit.  That’s where I come in:  eh? d’ye see?  Eh? eh? [He pats him very pleasantly on the shoulder, half admiringly, half pityingly].  Just so, just so. [Coming back to business] By the way, I believe I can do better than a light railway here.  There seems to be no question now that the motor boat has come to stay.  Well, look at your magnificent river there, going to waste.

Keegan [closing his eyes].  “Silent, O Moyle, be the roar of thy waters.”

Broadbent.  You know, the roar of a motor boat is quite pretty.

Keegan.  Provided it does not drown the Angelus.

Broadbent [reassuringly].  Oh no:  it won’t do that:  not the least danger.  You know, a church bell can make a devil of a noise when it likes.

Keegan.  You have an answer for everything, sir.  But your plans leave one question still unanswered:  how to get butter out of a dog’s throat.

Broadbent.  Eh?

Keegan.  You cannot build your golf links and hotels in the air.  For that you must own our land.  And how will you drag our acres from the ferret’s grip of Matthew Haffigan?  How will you persuade Cornelius Doyle to forego the pride of being a small landowner?  How will Barney Doran’s millrace agree with your motor boats?  Will Doolan help you to get a license for your hotel?