Raise Cain, don"t you know.
ROSE.
But he never said a word.
GERALD.
He was simply ripping over it.
LADY FREDERICK.
[_Putting her hands to her ears._] Oh, oh, oh. For heaven"s sake be calm and coherent.
GERALD.
My dear, you don"t know what a relief it is.
ROSE.
I saw Gerald was dreadfully worried, and I wormed it out of him.
GERALD.
I"m so glad to be out of the clutches of that brute.
ROSE.
Now we"re going to live happily ever afterwards.
[_All the while the_ ADMIRAL _has been trying to get a word in, but each time he is about to start one of the others has broken in._
ADMIRAL.
Silence. [_He puffs and blows._] I never saw such a pair in my life.
LADY FREDERICK.
Now do explain it all, Admiral. I can"t make head or tail out of these foolish creatures.
ADMIRAL.
Well, they came and told me that Montgomerie had an I.O.U. of Gerald"s for nine hundred pounds and was using it to blackmail you.
FOULDES.
Is that a fact?
LADY FREDERICK.
Yes.
ADMIRAL.
I never liked the man"s face. And when they said his terms were that you were to marry him or Gerald would have to send in his papers, I said ...
FOULDES.
d.a.m.n his impudence.
ADMIRAL.
How did you know?
FOULDES.
Because I"d have said it myself.
GERALD.
And the Admiral stumped up like a man. He gave me a cheque for the money, and I"ve just this moment sent it on to Montgomerie.
LADY FREDERICK.
[_Taking both his hands._] It"s awfully good of you, and I"m sure you"ll never regret that you gave Gerald a chance.
ADMIRAL.
May I have a few words" private conversation with you?
LADY FREDERICK.
Of course. [_To the others._] Make yourselves scarce.
FOULDES.
We"ll go on the balcony, shall we?
ADMIRAL.
I"m sorry to trouble you, but it"ll only take three minutes.
[GERALD _and_ ROSE _and_ FOULDES _go on to the balcony_.
LADY FREDERICK.
[_When they"ve gone._] There.
ADMIRAL.