[_Turning to the fire,_ PHILIP _talks rapidly and energetically to_ ROOPE _in undertones._
BERTRAM.
[_Into the telephone._] Filson.... Mr. Filson.... I"m speaking from Gray"s Inn.... Gray"s Inn--Mr. Mackworth"s chambers--2, Friars Court.... You"re wanted, Dunning.... Now--immediately.... Yes, jump into a taxicab and come up, will you?...
ROOPE.
[_To_ PHILIP, _aloud, opening his eyes widely._] My dear Phil----!
PHILIP.
[_With a big laugh._] Ha, ha, ha, ha----!
BERTRAM.
[_To_ PHILIP, _angrily._] Quiet! I can"t hear. [_Into the telephone._]
I can"t hear; there"s such a beastly noise going on--what?... Dash it, you can get something to eat at _any_ time! I mean to _say_--!...
Eh?... [_Irritably._] Oh, of course you may have a wash and brush up!... Yes, he _is_.... You"re coming, then?... Right! Goo"bye.
ROOPE.
[_To_ PHILIP, _who has resumed his communication to_ ROOPE_--incredulously._] Dear excellent friend----!
[_The door-bell rings again._
PHILIP.
Ah--! [_Pausing on his way to the vestibule door--to_ BERTRAM.] Mr.
Dunning will favour us with his distinguished company?
BERTRAM.
[_Behind the table on the left, loweringly._] In a few minutes. He"s washing.
PHILIP.
Washing? Some of his customers" dirty linen? [_As he opens the vestibule door,_ JOHN _admits_ SIR RANDLE FILSON _at the outer door._]
Ah, Sir Randle!
SIR RANDLE.
[_Heartily._] Well, Philip, my boy! [_While_ JOHN _is taking his hat, overcoat, etc._] Are my dear wife and daughter here yet?
PHILIP.
Not yet.
SIR RANDLE.
I looked in at Brooks"s on my way to you. I hadn"t been there for months. [_To_ JOHN.] My m.u.f.fler in the right-hand pocket. Thank you.
[_Entering and shaking hands with_ PHILIP.] Ha! They gave me quite a warm welcome. Very gratifying. [ROOPE _advances._] Mr. Roope! [_Shaking hands with_ ROOPE _as_ PHILIP _shuts the vestibule door._] An unexpected pleasure!
ROOPE.
[_Uneasily._] Er--I am rather an interloper, I"m afraid, my dear Sir Randle----
SIR RANDLE.
[_Retaining his hand._] No. [_Emphatically._] _No._ This is one of Philip"s many happy inspirations. If my memory is accurate, it was at your charming flat in South Audley Street that he and my darling child--[_discovering_ BERTRAM, _who is now by the settee on the left._]
Bertie! [_Going to him._] I haven"t seen you all day, Bertie dear.
[_Kissing him on the forehead._] Busy, eh?
BERTRAM.
[_Stiffly._] Yes, father.
PHILIP.
[_At the chair on the left of the smoking-table, dryly._] Bertram has been telling me how busy he has been, Sir Randle----
SIR RANDLE.
[_Not perceiving the general air of restraint._] That reminds me--[_moving, full of importance, to the settee on the right--feeling in his breast-pocket_] the announcement of the engagement, Philip--[_seating himself and producing a pocket-book_] Lady Filson and I drew it up this morning. [_Hunting among some letters and papers._] I _believe_ it is in the conventional form; but we so thoroughly sympathize with you and Ottoline in your dislike for anything that savours of pomp and flourish that we hesitate, without your sanction, to--[_selecting a paper and handing it to_ PHILIP] ah! [_To_ ROOPE, _who has returned to the fireplace--over his shoulder._] I am treating you as one of ourselves, Mr. Roope----
ROOPE.
[_In a murmur._] Dear excellent friend----!
SIR RANDLE.
[_To_ PHILIP.] We propose to insert it only in the three or four princ.i.p.al journals----
PHILIP.
[_Frowning at the paper._] Sir Randle----
SIR RANDLE.
[_Blandly._] Eh?
PHILIP.
Haven"t you given me the wrong paper?
SIR RANDLE.
[_With a look of alarm, hurriedly putting on his pince-nez and searching in his pocket-book again._] The wrong----?
PHILIP.