DOUGLAS.  (Starts  upstairs  to  library  door.  Stops
at  the  door.)  Beg  pardon,  sir!

FINDLEY.  Apples  and  hot  water  are  "ruts,"
Douglas,  and  we're  not  to  have  ruts  here,  Douglas,
because  if  you  get  into  ruts  you're  dead,  but  if  you
get  out  of  ruts  and  have  plenty  of  excitement  and
tonic  emotions  and  buttercups  and  daisies  and  all
the  other  damn  things — why,  you  can  live  on  for
ever  !

DOUGLAS.     Yes,  sir.      (Exits.)

FINDLEY.  (Sarcastically,  looking  at  the  doctor,
who  is  puffing  huge  clouds  of  smoke)  Eminent
psychologist.  Marvelous  specialist.  Bah!  (Slams
card  on  table,  imitating  the  doctor's  voice)  "Ruts,
Teddy,  ruts — we're  all  dead  and  we  don't  know  it,
Teddy,  because  of  ruts" — (Pause.)  I  like  ruts,
and  by  God!  I  want  ruts,  and  the  next  time  any
body  tries  to  put  a  stop  to  my  ruts  I'll  give  him  a
kick  right  in  the  middle  of  his  sympathetic  system !
(Pause.)  I  don't  see  why  in  the  name  of  hell

DR.  GAUNT.    Teddy

(FINDLEY  looks  around  at  SIDNEY'S  writing-desk,
rises,  crosses  to  it — takes  coin  from  pocket  and
puts  it  into  glass  jar — is  about  to  go  back  to  his
ozvn  table — turns,  looks  at  glass  far,  then  at  the
doctor.  Empties  all  the  coins  into  his  own  hand
from  jar,  pla-ces  them  in  his  pocket,  crosses  back
c.  and  seats  himself  at  his  own  table.)


90  THREE  WISE  FOOLS

DR.  GAUNT.  (Coughs  self-consciously — trying  to
make  conversation)  I — I've  been  reading  my  articles
over.
