ADELE—You are a hateful old man. [_Wrathfully._] You hate Oscar because
he is the heart and soul of the business, because he is young, and
clever, and has nice manners, and knows the business better than you do,
and because the customers like him better. You are jealous of him.
PHILIP—I consider Mr. Oscar a very ordinary young man.
ADELE—And I admire his type very much!
PHILIP—His kind must live, too, I suppose. [_JUHASZ and the ARISTOCRATIC
LADY enter through the archway._]
ARISTOCRATIC LADY—No, your Biarritz won’t do. I wonder you keep that
grade of material at all.
JUHASZ—Perhaps madame will be good enough to come in again next week. We
are expecting an entirely new lot from Vienna. We are certain to find
something you like.
ARISTOCRATIC LADY—[_Goes to the cashier’s desk._] Your patience is
endless, Mr. Juhasz.
JUHASZ—Patience is a merchant’s first duty.
ARISTOCRATIC LADY—You are an angel. A perfect angel! [_To ADELE._] I
hope you don’t mind my paying your husband compliments.
ADELE—Indeed, no.
ARISTOCRATIC LADY—I daresay you are used to it. Everybody adores Mr.
Juhasz.
ADELE—Oh, madame!
ARISTOCRATIC LADY—You are a very fortunate young woman to have such a
husband.
JUHASZ—It’s I who am fortunate, madame, to have such a devoted little
wife. The poor darling sits here every day from early morning till late
at night.
ARISTOCRATIC LADY—Has the count been here lately?
ADELE—Our benefactor?
ARISTOCRATIC LADY—The guardian angel of the establishment.
JUHASZ—He was here the day before yesterday.
ARISTOCRATIC LADY—How is he?
ADELE—In love with my husband.
ARISTOCRATIC LADY—You mustn’t joke about that, young lady. Everybody
loves your husband but his heart is for you alone. Good night, Mr.
Angel.... I shall look at that Biarritz again in the daylight and that
... what do you call it ... too.
PHILIP—[_Angry, but sweetly._] Agreable.
ARISTOCRATIC LADY—Agreable. Well, good night.
ADELE AND JUHASZ—[_Simultaneously._] Good night. [_The ARISTOCRATIC LADY
exits._]
JUHASZ—[_Closing the door._] Why didn’t you say good night, Philip?
PHILIP—[_Resentfully._] Good night, madame.
JUHASZ—Well, well. [_To ADELE._] What a handsome woman she is!
PHILIP—She’s been handsome a long time now. And she owes more than she’s
worth. You are the only merchant in town who gives her credit any more.
You just let her haul the stuff out of here as if it didn’t cost you
anything.
JUHASZ—What can she do, poor woman? She’s got to keep up her social
position.
PHILIP—But not with your money.
JUHASZ—Aristocratic poverty is the bitterest kind. I haven’t the heart to
refuse her.
ADELE—Philip is in a temper because he has missed the swan again.
JUHASZ—[_Looks at his watch._] Did you have a ticket for Lohengrin again?
PHILIP—Yes, and I’ve still got it.
JUHASZ—Why didn’t you tell me? You know I’d have let you off at
six-thirty. That really makes me angry. I told you long ago——