s shy--far from it.

CARVE. It's very curious. I haven't felt a bit shy with you.

JANET. Nobody ever is shy with me.... (Ironically.) I must say I'd
give something to see you shy.

(Enter FATHER LOOE and HONORIA LOOE, announced by PAGE.)
LOOE. (Stopping near door, at a loss.) Pardon me--Mr. Shawn--Mr.
Albert Shawn?

CARVE. (Rising, perturbed.) Yes.

LOOE. This is your room?

CARVE. Yes.

LOOE. I'm afraid there's some mistake. I was given to understand that
you were the--er--valet of the late Mr. Ilam Carve.

HONORIA. Yes. Mr. Cyrus Carve told us----

JANET. (Coming to CARVE'S rescue as he remains speechless, very
calmly.) Now there's another trick of Mr. Cyrus Carve's! Valet indeed!
Mr. Shawn was Mr. Carve's secretary--and almost companion.

LOOE. Ten thousand apologies. Ten thousand apologies. I felt sure----

CARVE. Please sit down. (With special gallantry towards HONORIA.)

JANET. And will you sit down too, Mr. Shawn? (To the LOOES.) He's not
at all well. That's why he's wearing his dressing-gown.

CARVE. (Introducing.) My friend, Mrs. Janet Cannot.

LOOE. Now, Mr. Shawn, if you knew anything about me, if you have heard
me preach, if you have read any of my books, you are probably aware that
I am a man who goes straight to the point, hating subtleties. In
connection with your late employer's death a great responsibility is
laid upon me, and I have come to you for information--information which
I have failed to obtain either from Mr. Cyrus Carve, or the doctor, or
the nurse.... Was Mr. Carve a Catholic?

CARVE. A Catholic?

LOOE. He came of a Catholic family did he not?

CARVE. Yes--I believe so.

LOOE. The cousin, Mr. Cyrus Carve, I regret to say, denies the faith of
his childhood--denies it, I also regret to say, with a vivacity that
amounts almost to bad manners. In fact, he was extremely rude to me when
I tried to give him some idea of the tremendous revival of Catholicism
which is the outstanding feature of intellectual life in England to-day.

CARVE. Ilam Carve was not a Catholic.

LOOE. Mind, I do not ask if he died in the consolations of the faith. I
know that he did not. I have learnt that it occurred to neither you nor
the doctor nor the nurse to send for a priest. Strange omission. But not
the fault of the dying man.

CARVE. Ilam Carve was not a Catholic.

LOOE. Then what was he?

CARVE. Nothing in particular.

LOOE. Then I claim him. Then I claim him.... Honoria!

CA