Yes, sir--how?
REMBRANDT TEMPENNY.
How do I know?
MRS. SYLVESTER and MRS. TEMPENNY.
What is all this? Oh, good gracious, the men have been fighting!
ROSALINE (_aside_).
_I_ know what it is--it"s spoof.
MRS. SYLVESTER.
(_Rushing to_ CHARLES SYLVESTER). Charles--Charles, compose yourself!
MRS. TEMPENNY.
(_Rushing to_ REMBRANDT TEMPENNY). Rembrandt, be calm.
CHARLES SYLVESTER.
Don"t interfere, Adelaide.
REMBRANDT TEMPENNY.
Eugenia, this concerns us alone. Mr. Sylvester accuses me--
CHARLES SYLVESTER.
Yes, sir, I accuse you--
REMBRANDT TEMPENNY.
(_Throwing himself upon him_). Ah!
(CHARLES SYLVESTER _throws him off_).
REMBRANDT TEMPENNY.
The best of wives--
CHARLES SYLVESTER.
Don"t you dare to mention Mrs. Sylvester"s name, sir!
REMBRANDT TEMPENNY.
I am talking about Mrs. Tempenny. I say you would lead the best of wives to suppose that I--I--introduced this creature into your room.
(_Weeps_.)
CHARLES SYLVESTER.
And through you I may be falsely suspected by Adelaide. (_Weeps_.)
(ROSALINE _whispers to_ REMBRANDT TEMPENNY _aside_.)
REMBRANDT TEMPENNY.
(_Aside to_ ROSALINE.) Great Jupiter!
MRS. SYLVESTER.
All this is very fine--but who _is_ the man who brought her here if you didn"t? Answer that.
MRS. TEMPENNY.
Yes, if neither of _you_ did it, who did? Where _is_ the man?
REMBRANDT TEMPENNY.
(_Throwing open cupboard triumphantly and disclosing_ SCHERCL _covered with paint_.) There!
_Curtain_.
ACT III.
SCENE:--_Drawing-room at Tempenny"s house._
TIME:--_Next day_.
(SUSAN _discovered dusting. As Curtain goes up bell is heard off_.)
SUSAN.
Was that the bell again? It is not the sort of place I am used to, this--where the master"s afraid to see half the people who calls for him. I only hopes my wages is right. They was precious particular about _my_ references when they took me. Was I sober, honest and industrious, and the Lord knows what? Wish I"d been equal particular about theirs.
The master ain"t remarkably industrious, that I do know, for he often don"t paint nothing for a week at a time; and he frequently ain"t sober. Whether or not he is honest I shall find out at the end of my month. (_Bell rings again_.) It _was_ the bell--I"d better go and see who it is.
(_Exit L_.)
HENRICH SCHERCL (_heard off_).
Mr. Tempenny in? Nonsense. Then I"ll wait till he is.