to Cleeve.

AMOS. [Walking up and down.] It is proposed that this meeting should
take place--when?

ST. OLPHERTS. I have brought Sir Sandford and Mrs. Cleeve with me.
[Pointing towards the outer door.] They are--

AMOS. If I decline?

ST. OLPHERTS. It's known you leave for Milan at a quarter to nine in
the morning; there might be some sort of foolish, inconvenient scene at
the station.

AMOS. Surely your Grace--?

ST. OLPHERTS. Oh, no, I shall be in bed at that hour. I mean, between
the women, perhaps--and Mr. Cleeve. Come, come, sir, you can't abduct
Mrs. Ebbsmith--nor can we. Nor must you gag her. [AMOS appears angry
and perplexed.] Pray be reasonable. Let her speak out for herself--
here, finally--and settle the business. Come, sir, come!

AMOS. [Going to GERTRUDE and speaking in a low voice.] Ask her.
[GERTRUDE goes out.] Cleeve! Where is he while this poor creature's
body and soul are being played for? You have told him she is with us?

ST. OLPHERTS. No, I haven't.

AMOS. He must suspect it.

ST. OLPHERTS. Well, candidly, Mr. Winterfield, Mr. Cleeve is just now
employed in looking for Mrs. Ebbsmith elsewhere.

AMOS. Elsewhere?

ST. OLPHERTS. Sir Sandford recognised that, in his brother's present
mood, the young man's presence might be prejudicial to the success of
these delicate negotiations.

AMOS. So some lie has been told him, to keep him out of the way?

ST. OLPHERTS. Now, Mr. Winterfield--!

AMOS. Good heavens! Duke--forgive me for my roughness--you appear to
be fouling your hands, all of you, with some relish!

ST. OLPHERTS. I must trouble you to address remarks of that nature to
Sir Sandford Cleeve. I am no longer a prime mover in the affair. I am
simply standing by.

AMOS. But how can you "stand by"?

ST. OLPHERTS. Confound it, sir, if you will trouble yourself to rescue
people, there is a man to be rescued here as well as a woman; a man, by
the way, who is a--a sort of relative of mine.

AMOS. The woman first!

ST. OLPHERTS. Not always. You can rescue this woman in a few weeks'
time; it can make no difference.

AMOS. [Indignantly.] Ah--!

ST. OLPHERTS. Oh, you are angry!

AMOS. I beg your pardon. One word. I assure your Grace that I truly
believe this wretched woman is at a fatal crisis in her life. I believe
that if I lose her now there is every chance of her slipping back into
a misery and despair out of which it will be impossible to drag her.
Oh, I'll be perfectly open w