[d.i.c.k _comes in as she speaks._
d.i.c.k.
My dear lady, you"re as epigrammatic as a dramatist. Do you say such things from choice or necessity?
LADY KELSEY.
_d.i.c.k!_
BOULGER.
d.i.c.k!
MRS. CROWLEY.
Mr. Lomas!
CARBERY.
Ah!
[_The four exclamations are simultaneous._
d.i.c.k.
This enthusiasm at my appearance is no less gratifying than unexpected.
LADY KELSEY.
I"m so glad you"ve come at last. Now we shall get at the truth.
BOULGER.
[_Impatiently._] Well?
d.i.c.k.
My dear people, what _are_ you talking about?
BOULGER.
Oh, don"t be such an a.s.s!
MRS. CROWLEY.
Good heavens, didn"t you read the _Times_ this morning?
d.i.c.k.
I only came back from Paris to-night. Besides, I never read the papers except in August.
MRS. CROWLEY.
[_Raising her eyebrows._] When there"s nothing in them?
d.i.c.k.
Pardon me, I"m an eager student of the sea-serpent and the giant gooseberry.
LADY KELSEY.
My dear d.i.c.k, it"s too shocking. I wish I"d had the courage to write and ask Mr. Mackenzie not to come. But since you both came back from Africa a month ago he"s been here nearly every day. And he"s been so good and kind to us, I couldn"t treat him as though there was no doubt the story was true.
BOULGER.
There can"t be the least doubt about it. By George, I should like to kick him.
d.i.c.k.
[_Dryly._] My dear chap, Alec is a hardy Scot and bigger than you, so I shouldn"t advise you to try.
BOULGER.
I was engaged to dine with him to-night, but I wired to say I had a headache.
LADY KELSEY.
What will he think if he sees you here?
BOULGER.
He can think what he jolly well likes.
LADY KELSEY.
I hope he has the sense to stay away.
CARBERY.
I think you"re pretty safe now, Lady Kelsey. It"s growing late.
d.i.c.k.
Will some one kindly explain?
MRS. CROWLEY.
D"you mean to say you really don"t know--seriously? After all, you were with him.