and and the pick o' the Company. Catani does the food and
drink. I don't believe I've forgotten a single thing. [_With a change
of tone, pointing to the arm-chair in the middle of the room._] Sit
down a minute. [_FARNCOMBE sits and ROPER edges nearer to him._] Are
you going to wait to see Lily this afternoon?

FARNCOMBE.

I-- I should like to.

ROPER.

Because if Jeyes should happen to drop in while you're here----

FARNCOMBE.

Captain Jeyes?

ROPER.

Nicko Jeyes-- or if you knock up against him to-night at the theatre--
mum about this.

FARNCOMBE.

About the supper?

ROPER.

[_Nodding._] Um. We don't want Nicko Jeyes; we simply don't want him.
And if he heard that you and some of the boys are coming, he might
wonder why _he_ isn't included.

FARNCOMBE.

He strikes me as being rather a surly, ill-conditioned person.

ROPER.

A regular loafer.

FARNCOMBE.

He appears to live at Catani's. I never go there without meeting him.

ROPER.

Exactly. Catani's and a top, back bedroom in Jermyn Street, and
hanging about the Pandora; that's Nicko Jeyes's life.

FARNCOMBE.

_He's_ an old friend of Mrs. Upjohn's and Miss Parradell's too, isn't
he?

ROPER.

[_Evasively._] Known 'em some time. That's _it_; Lily's so faithful to
her old friends.

FARNCOMBE.

[_Smiling._] _You_ oughtn't to complain of that.

ROPER.

Oh, but I'm a _real_ friend. I've always been a patron of the musical
drama-- it's my fad; and I've kept an eye on Lily from the moment she
sprang into prominence-- [_singing_] "Mind the paint! Mind the paint!"
--looked after her like a father. Uncle Lal she calls me.
[_Reassuringly._] I'm a married man, you know; [_FARNCOMBE nods_] but
the wife has plenty to occupy her with the kids and she leaves the
drama to me. She prefers Bexhill. [_Leaning forward and speaking with
great earnestness._] Farncombe, what a charming creature!

FARNCOMBE.

[_Innocently._] Mrs. Roper?

ROPER.

No, no, no; Lily. [_Hastily._] Oh, and so's my missus, for that
matter, when she chooses. But Lily Upjohn----!

FARNCOMBE.

[_In a low voice._] Beautiful; perfectly beautiful.

ROPER.

Yes, and as good as she's beautiful; you take it from me. [_With a
wave of the hand._] Well, if you see Jeyes, you won't----?

FARNCOMBE.

Not a word.

ROPER.

[_Rising and walking away to the left._] I've warned the others.
[_Returning to FARNCOMBE who has also risen._] By-the-bye, if Lily
should mention the