, who seems quite surprised.]

'Ere! 'Av' you ever 'eard of 'ell?

BISHOP. Of what?

ROBERT. 'Ell. [Spelling.] H, E, double L, 'ell.

BISHOP. Well, my dear sir, I think I ought to!

ROBERT. Then, go there! Aymen . . .

Now I'll go an' 'av' a look at our Bill's drains, damn 'is eyes!

[He goes out through the main door, repentant.]

BISHOP. The scoundrel! Did you hear what he said? I shall
certainly report him to his bishop!

MANSON. I don't think I should. _His_ bishop doesn't mind a
little plain speech now and again.

BISHOP. A little plain speech! Do you think it's right for a
clergyman to--to direct me to perdition?

MANSON. I think you are making a mistake: the man who gave you
your--direction is not a clergyman. He's a scavenger.

BISHOP. A scavenger!

MANSON. Yes--looks after drains.

BISHOP. Do you mean to tell me that I've been sitting down to
breakfast with a common working-man?

MANSON. Yes; have you never done that before?

BISHOP. My dear sir, whatever do you take me for?

MANSON. A bishop of God's church.

BISHOP. Precisely! Is it _your_ custom to breakfast with
working-men?

MANSON. Every morning. You see, I'm prejudiced: I was one myself,
once.

BISHOP. You? . . .

MANSON. Yes--a long time ago, though: people have forgotten.

BISHOP. But, my dear brother, I am perfectly sure you never told
people to go to . . .

MANSON. Oh yes, quite frequently: it would shock you to learn the
language I really did use. Perhaps, under the circumstances, it
might be advisable to drop the subject at this point.

BISHOP [emphatically]. I most certainly agree with you there!
After all, it is a digression from the purpose for which we are
here! . . . Let me see, then: where were we? . . . Oh yes, I
remember-- Although, by the way, it was very ill-advised of you to
speak your mind so openly in that man's presence! However . . .

To resume our--how shall I call it ?--our--little understanding, eh?

MANSON. That describes it most accurately.

BISHOP. Now, you said, _Let's give as little, and grab as much as
we can_. Of course, that is a playful way of putting it; but
between ourselves, it expresses my sentiments exactly.

MANSON. I knew that when I said it.

BISHOP [delighted]. My dear brother, your comprehension makes my
heart warm. I trust our relations may always remain as warm.

MANSON. Oh, warmer, warmer!

BISHOP. Very well then, to business