Bedlam Page #2

And you bother me

about some sniveling Quaker.

He's been waiting so long, sir.

- Waiting?

- Three hours, sir.

I waited four hours

before milord Mortimer...

would give me a dog's word.

Let him wait some more.

But he will not wait, sir.

He's a good workman.

And cheap, I'm told.

Cheap?

Let him in.

You may leave us, Podge.

My man tells me

you'll do the work cheaply.

With cut stone one foot thick...

and the best mortar,

I can do the work for 15 guineas.

What if I were to give you 18 guineas?

It would be too much.

Eighteen guineas and you are

to return to me two.

Then you'll have a better price,

and I'll have some reason to employ you.

My friend, I have forgotten

what thee has said.

If thee do not repeat it,

then I can believe no evil of thee.

What kind of cant is this?

I've asked you for a bribe, man.

Have you never been asked before?

This is simple business between us two.

My friend, about the stonemasonry...

I had not looked forward to the pleasure...

of seeing you again so soon,

Mistress Bowen.

I have a curiosity to see

the loonies in their cages.

And so you shall.

So you shall.

Your riding crop, Mistress Bowen.

You must hang it here.

It's a law of the institute. No weapons.

In heaven's name, why?

In one of his plays, Dekker...

a second-rate dramatist

of the last century...

wrote of those in there:

"Fierce as wild bulls, untamable as flies

"And these have oft from strangers' sides

snatched rapiers suddenly

"and done much harm"

Strangely, here, one forgets

you are a man of letters, Master Sims.

Our hospital is ancient and well known.

Much written of.

I dare say, no man or woman

comes to London from the country...

who does not pay his tuppence.

Are they not witty, Mistress Bowen?

And look at the frolic

this one treats himself to.

All day long weaving nets

to catch peacocks for the royal dinner.

They're all so lonely.

They're all in themselves

and by themselves.

- They pay no heed to us.

- You noticed that.

They have their world and we have ours.

Like separate dreams.

Ours is a human world.

Theirs is a bestial world.

Without reason. Without soul.

They're animals.

Some are dogs.

These I beat.

Some are pigs.

Those I let wallow in their own filth.

Some are tigers.

These I cage.

And some, like this one...

are doves.

- I've seen enough.

- But you haven't seen the other cages.

I've seen enough!

But you have no idea

how merry they can be.

How much amusement they afford.

Amusement?

From that mad girl with her staring eyes?

If I have offended you, Mistress Bowen...

Thank you, sir.

My valet can plait a tress

or twirl a furbelow...

quicker than a handywoman...

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