MABEL. [Bewildered] Ronny, I don't understand--suppose I'd been accused
of stealing pearls!

DANCY. [Wincing] I can't.

MABEL. But I might--just as easily. What would you think of me if I ran
away from it?

DANCY. I see. [A pause] All right! You shall have a run for your
money. I'll go and see old Twisden.

MABEL. Let me come! [DANCY shakes his head] Why not? I can't be happy
a moment unless I'm fighting this.

DANCY puts out his hand suddenly and grips hers.

DANCY. You are a little brick!

MABEL. [Pressing his hand to her breast and looking into his face]
Do you know what Margaret called you?

RONNY. No.

MABEL. A desperate character.

DANCY. Ha! I'm not a tame cat, any more than she.

The bell rings. MABEL goes out to the door and her voice is heard
saying coldly.

MABEL. Will you wait a minute, please? Returning. It's De Levis--to
see you. [In a low voice] Let me see him alone first. Just for a
minute! Do!

DANCY. [After a moment's silence] Go ahead! He goes out into the
bedroom.

MABEL. [Going to the door, Right] Come in.

DE LEVIS comes in, and stands embarrassed.

Yes?

DE LEVIS. [With a slight bow] Your husband, Mrs Dancy?

MABEL. He is in. Why do you want to see him?

DE LEVIS. He came round to my rooms just now, when I was out. He
threatened me yesterday. I don't choose him to suppose I'm afraid of
him.

MABEL. [With a great and manifest effort at self-control] Mr De Levis,
you are robbing my husband of his good name.

DE LEVIS. [Sincerely] I admire your trustfulness, Mrs Dancy.

MABEL. [Staring at him] How can you do it? What do you want? What's
your motive? You can't possibly believe that my husband is a thief!

DE LEVIS. Unfortunately.

MABEL. How dare you? How dare you? Don't you know that I was in our
bedroom all the time with the door open? Do you accuse me too?

DE LEVIS. No, Mrs Dancy.

MABEL. But you do. I must have seen, I must have heard.

DE LEVIS. A wife's memory is not very good when her husband is in
danger.

MABEL. In other words, I'm lying.

DE LEVIS. No. Your wish is mother to your thought, that's all.

MABEL. [After staring again with a sort of horror, turns to get control
of herself. Then turning back to him] Mr De Levis, I appeal to you as a
gentleman to behave to us as you would we should behave to you. Withdraw
this wicked charge, and write an apology that Ronald c