LUKYN.
[_Looking up suddenly._] Eh?
AGATHA POSKET.
There are no plates.
LUKYN.
No plates? No plates? It"s my fault. Pardon me. Where are the plates?
[_VALE, still invisible, stretches out his hand through the curtain, takes up the plates and presents them to LUKYN, who recoils._
VALE.
[_In a whisper._] Here are the plates. Look sharp, Lukyn.
LUKYN.
Vale! safe and sound! [_He takes the plates, then grasps VALE"S extended hand._] Bless you, old fellow. I"m myself again. [_Going gaily to the table with the plates._] My dear ladies, I blush--I positively blush--I am the worst host in the world.
VALE.
[_To himself._] By Jove, that"s true.
AGATHA POSKET.
Not at all--not at all.
LUKYN.
[_Helping the ladies._] I"ll make amends, by George! You may have noticed I"ve been confoundedly out of sorts. That"s my temperament-- now up, now down. I"ve just taken a turn, ha, ha! Oysters.
[_Handing plate to AGATHA POSKET._
AGATHA POSKET.
Thank you.
LUKYN.
Ah! I"ve pa.s.sed many a happy hour in this room. The present is not the least happy.
CHARLOTTE.
[_Trying to attract his attention._] Ahem! Ahem!
LUKYN.
[_Gazing up at the ceiling._] My first visit to the Hotel des Princes was in the year--the year--let me think.
CHARLOTTE.
[_Whispering to AGATHA POSKET._] Isn"t he going to help me?
LUKYN.
Was it in "55?
AGATHA POSKET.
[_Quickly pa.s.sing her plate over to CHARLOTTE._] I"m not hungry.
CHARLOTTE.
You"re a dear.
LUKYN.
[_Emphatically._] It _was_ in "55. I"m forgetful again--pardon me.
[_He hands plate of oysters to CHARLOTTE, and is surprised to find her eating vigorously._] Why, I thought I---- [_To AGATHA POSKET._] My dear madam, a thousand apologies. [_He helps her and then himself._]
Pah! they"re cold--icy--you could skate on "em. There"s a dish of something else over there.
[_He goes to the sideboard; VALE"S hand is again stretched forth with the other covered dish._
VALE.
I say, Lukyn.
LUKYN.
[_Taking the dish._] Thanks, old fellow. [_He returns to the table and lifts the cover._] Soles--they look tempting. If there are only some lemons! Surely they are not so brutal as to have forgotten the lemons.
Where are they? [_He returns to the sideboard._] Where are they? [_In an undertone to VALE._] Have you seen any lemons?
AGATHA POSKET.
Pray, think less of us, Colonel Lukyn. Let me take care of you.
LUKYN.
You"re very kind. I wish you would let me ring for some lemons.
[_VALE"S hand comes as before from behind the curtain to the sideboard, finds the dish of lemons, and holds it out at arm"s length._
VALE.
[_In a whisper._] Lemons.