[_This chorus repeats._]

[_The_ BISHOP _has appeared in the open doorway; they do not see
him and march and sing lustily_, BISHOP HOLDEN _stands and watches
them in growing consternation. They see him and stop suddenly. Only_
MARTIN'S _voice finishes the last line._]

LAURA. Bishop Holden!

BISHOP. What is this?

KEN. Hello, Dad.

TIPPY. Just a bit of fun. [_He tosses the broom with its flag into
a corner, but has forgotten to take off bandage. He steps up and
offers his hand to the Bishop._] How are you, sir?

BISHOP. [_Shaking hands._] What is the matter with your head?

TIPPY. Oh Jesus! [_Yanks off towel._]

BISHOP. Were you rehearsing for a theatrical?

TIPPY. Full dress. My wound was dressed with red ink.

BISHOP. And that song you were singing? I couldn't quite place it.

MARTIN. That's a Red Army song.

BISHOP. Red Army?

MARTIN. Soviet--Russian.

BISHOP. So you were all engaged in a little burlesque? Sorry to
have disturbed you.

MARTIN. Tippy was making it burlesque. He refuses to take anything
seriously.

BISHOP. And the--uh--occasion?

MARTIN. The occasion was that I had just brought home those
posters.

BISHOP. [_Looking at the posters._] Ah, I see.

MARTIN. How do you like them?

BISHOP. The lettering has some Greek characters. I take it that is
Russian?

KEN. Of course, dad. They're Soviet posters.--A rather distinctive
form of art.

BISHOP. Ah, it is the unique art and the martial music you find
entertaining--or were you burlesquing a Communist meeting?

KEN. It was just Tippy's idea of fun.

BISHOP. [_Not quite satisfied._] But you were all singing that song
as if you know it well.

LAURA. Martin's always singing it--till we've memorized it without
the least idea what it means.

BISHOP. [_Satisfied._] Ah yes, of course. I once learned a Japanese
song.

MARTIN. I'm studying Russian.

KEN. It's quite a language, dad. It would be easy for you with your
knowledge of Greek.

BISHOP. Are you studying Russian, too?

KEN. Martin's been teaching me a little. I wish I had your
linguistic preparation for it.

BISHOP. I learned Greek so I could read the Gospels in the original
tongue.

TIPPY. That's why they're learning Russian.

BISHOP. The Gospels in Russian?

TIPPY. Saint Marx, Saint Engels, Saint Lenin and Saint Stalin.

BISHOP. But--if you mean Karl Marx, he wrote in German.

TIPPY. Hitler had him translated into Russian so the Germans
couldn't read him.