DINAH (_coming in from up_ L.). We"ve seen the pigs, and now she"s discussing the Art of Landseer with Brian. (_Crossing in front of writing-table to_ OLIVIA.) I just came to ask--
OLIVIA. Dinah, dear, bring Aunt Julia here. And Brian too. We have things we want to talk about with you all.
DINAH. Right-o! (_Moves back up_ L.)
GEORGE (_outraged_). Olivia!
DINAH (_turning on terrace_). What fun!
(OLIVIA _goes to table_ L.C. _and picks up her work-box. Exit_ DINAH L.)
GEORGE. Olivia, you don"t seriously suggest that we should discuss these things with a child like Dinah and a young man like Strange, a mere acquaintance.
OLIVIA. Dinah will have to know. I"m very fond of her, George. You can"t send me away without telling Dinah. And Brian is my friend. (_Moving to cabinet, puts curtains and work-box on top of cabinet_.) You have your solicitor and your aunt and your conscience to consult--mayn"t I even have Brian?
GEORGE (_forgetting_). I should have thought that your _husband_--
OLIVIA (_coming down to_ L. _back end of settee_ L.). Yes, but we don"t know where Jacko is.
GEORGE. I was not referring to--er--Telworthy.
OLIVIA. Well then?
GEORGE. Oh, of course--You--naturally I--Oh, this is horrible! (_Sits with his face in his hands at writing-table_.)
(OLIVIA _is about to speak to him as_ LADY MARDEN _enters from up_ L.
LADY MARDEN _looks at_ GEORGE, _then moves down to centre._ DINAH _follows and comes to_ L. _back end of settee._ BRIAN _follows_ DINAH _and comes to back of table_ L.C. OLIVIA _moves round to_ L. _end of settee_ L.)
OLIVIA (_after a pause_). George and I have had some rather bad news, Aunt Julia. We wanted your advice. Where will you sit?
LADY MARDEN. Thank you, Olivia. I can sit down by myself.
(_She does so, on lower end of settee_ R., _moving cushion away_.)
OLIVIA (_to_ DINAH). You sit there, my darling.
(DINAH _sits in arm-chair down_ L. _and_ OLIVIA _on settee_ L. _There is a good pause_. ALL _are looking very uncomfortable_.)
LADY MARDEN. Well, what is it?
(_Another pause_. ALL _are still looking very uncomfortable_.)
Money, I suppose; n.o.body"s safe nowadays.
(_There is another good pause_. GEORGE _looks up hopelessly at_ LADY MARDEN. BRIAN _moves up inquisitively towards_ GEORGE, _who turns and gradually raising his head catches sight of_ BRIAN _and gives him a severe look and_ BRIAN _retreats quickly to back of_ L.C. _table_.)
GEORGE (_signalling for help_). Olivia----
OLIVIA (_after a pause_). We"ve just heard that my first husband is still alive.
DINAH. Telworthy!
BRIAN. Good Lord!
LADY MARDEN. George!
DINAH (_excitedly_). And only this morning I was saying that nothing ever happened in this house! (_Rising from arm-chair and sitting to_ L. _of_ OLIVIA _and remorsefully to her_.) Darling, I don"t mean that. Darling one!
LADY MARDEN. What does this mean, George? I leave you for ten minutes-- barely ten minutes--to go and look at the pigs, and when I come back you tell me that Olivia is a bigamist.
(DINAH _jumps up and moves to_ L. _of settee_ L.)
BRIAN (_indignantly advancing towards_ LADY MARDEN). I say----
OLIVIA (_restraining him_). H"sh!
BRIAN (_to_ OLIVIA _and taking her hand across table_ L.C.). If this is a row, I"m on your side.
LADY MARDEN. Well, George?
GEORGE (_rising and coming down to_ LADY MARDEN). I"m afraid it"s true, Aunt Julia. (_Taking stool from_ L.C. _to_ C., _sits on it_. DINAH _sits in arm-chair down_ L.) We heard the news just before lunch--just before you came. We"ve only this moment had an opportunity of talking about it, of wondering what to do.
LADY MARDEN. What was his name----Tel--something----
OLIVIA. Jacob Telworthy.
LADY MARDEN (_in amazement_). So he"s alive still?
GEORGE. Apparently. There seems to be no doubt about it.
LADY MARDEN (_to_ OLIVIA). Didn"t you _see_ him die? I should always want to _see_ my husband die before I married again. Not that I approve of second marriages, anyhow. I told you so at the time, George.
OLIVIA. _And_ me, Aunt Julia.
LADY MARDEN. Did I? Well, I generally say what I think.
GEORGE. I ought to tell you, Aunt Julia, that no blame attaches to Olivia over this. Of that I am perfectly satisfied. It"s n.o.body"s fault, except----
LADY MARDEN. Except Telworthy"s. _He_ seems to have been rather careless.
Well, what are you going to do about it?
GEORGE. That"s just it. It"s a terrible situation (_With a gesture of despair_.) There"s bound to be so much publicity. Not only all this, but-- but Telworthy"s past.
LADY MARDEN. I should have said that it was Telworthy"s present which, was the trouble. Had he a past as well?
OLIVIA. He was a fraudulent company promoter. He went to prison a good deal.
(_General consternation_. BRIAN _gives a long whistle and goes up_.)