Lord Darlington Have something to drink, you fellows. Cecil, you’ll have a whisky and soda?

Cecil Graham Thanks. (Goes to table with Lord Darlington) Mrs Erlynne looked very handsome tonight, didn’t she?

Lord Darlington I am not one of her admirers.

Cecil Graham I usen’t to be, but I am now. Why! she actually made me introduce her to poor dear Aunt Caroline. I believe she is going to lunch there.

Lord Darlington (in surprise) No?

Cecil Graham She is, really.

Lord Darlington Excuse me, you fellows. I’m going away tomorrow. And I have to write a few letters.

Goes to writing table and sits down

Dumby Clever woman, Mrs Erlynne.

Cecil Graham Hallo, Dumby! I thought you were asleep.

Dumby I am, I usually am!

Lord Augustus A very clever woman. Knows perfectly well what a demmed fool I am—knows it as well as I do myself.

Cecil Graham comes towards him laughing

Ah, you may laugh, my boy, but it is a great thing to come across a woman who thoroughly understands one.

Dumby It is an awfully dangerous thing. They always end by marrying one.

Cecil Graham But I thought, Tuppy, you were never going to see her again! Yes! you told me so yesterday evening at the club. You said you’d heard—(Whispering to him)

Lord Augustus Oh, she’s explained that.

Cecil Graham And the Wiesbaden° affair?

Lord Augustus She’s explained that too.

Dumby And her income, Tuppy? Has she explained that?

Lord Augustus (in a very serious voice) She’s going to explain that tomorrow.

Cecil Graham goes back to C. table

Dumby Awfully commercial, women nowadays. Our grandmothers threw their caps over the mills, of course, but, by Jove, their granddaughters only throw their caps over mills that can raise the wind for them.°

Lord Augustus You want to make her out a wicked woman. She is not!

Cecil Graham Oh! Wicked women bother one. Good women bore one. That is the only difference between them.