as lose it. By gossip, sir, and perfumed soap. The art of perfuming
dogs has a great future. It's an undeveloped field. I'm just
beginning to explore it.

BISHOP. You are a marvelous young man, Timothy.

TIPPY. It's the Irish in me--also the Scotch.

BISHOP. I wish--I wish my son were more like you.--Have you seen
him, Timothy?

TIPPY. [_Evasively._] Why, yes sir--earlier this evening.

BISHOP. I called at his apartment and was told to come here.

TIPPY. Well, yes--he was here. So was Laura. [BISHOP _sighs
heavily._]

BISHOP. You have a nice place here.--And your business?

TIPPY. I don't complain. Only the customers do, as you heard, sir.

BISHOP. I could see that woman was a fool.

TIPPY. I would not dispute you.

BISHOP. But surely not all people who own dogs are fools.

TIPPY. There are exceptions.

BISHOP. At least you are busy. You are occupied and happy. You have
found congenial work. Why cannot all young men do as you have done?

TIPPY. Not enough dogs, sir.

BISHOP. It need not have been dogs. It might have been--other
things.

TIPPY. True, sir. I considered the hanging of clothes lines for
women whose husbands are mechanical morons.

BISHOP. That's an ingenious idea.

TIPPY. But I found there weren't enough morons. Automobiles, sir,
have taught even the gentry to use screw drivers.

BISHOP. I like your humor. You have enterprise and perspective. You
renew my faith in youth. I wish my son had such morale. I wish ...
Where is he, Timothy? Where is Kenneth? And Laura? Do you know
where they went?

TIPPY. I'm afraid not.

BISHOP. I must find them. [_Rises to go._]

TIPPY. The best chance is they'll be back here.

BISHOP. [_Sitting again, speaks slowly._] I am guilty of a great
wrong against my son.

TIPPY. I'm sure it wasn't a wilful wrong.

BISHOP. No. I love my son. I meant to help him. Sometimes it is
hard to know what is right and what is wrong. Timothy, I arranged
for my son to have a job. [_Pause._] I conspired to let him think
he had secured the job in the usual manner. I fear I made a great
mistake.

TIPPY. I understand the spirit that prompted you.

BISHOP. Thank you. [_Pause._] He called me up on the telephone and
said I had ruined his life with my meddling. He said I was an
unworthy example of a man of God. He said I had betrayed him ...
[_He is too moved to go on_,] He said harsh things--very harsh
things.

TIPPY. I am very sorry, sir. [_He feels helpless to com