know I am
presuming a lot, but I-- I can't leave you-- I can't leave you till
I-- till I have asked you-- till I have asked you the most important
question a man can put to a woman."

JIMMIE.

Oh, but that's ideal! [_GABRIELLE reappears._] Dash these girls! [_To
GABRIELLE, whose complexion is much improved._] Lord Farncombe is
writing me out a remedy for freckles. Isn't it sweet of him?

GABRIELLE.

[_Mournfully._] Freckles! If you want to see a martyr to freckles,
knock at _my_ door.

[_ENID returns, with lips that are a little too red, as VON
RETTENMAYER and DE CASTRO re-enter at the door on the left. They leave
the door open. VON RETTENMAYER is carrying a syphon of soda-water and
DE CASTRO two tumblers. The men put the syphon and tumblers on the
centre table and VON RETTENMAYER fills the glasses and he and DE
CASTRO hand them to ENID and GABRIELLE._

VON RETTENMAYER.

[_To ENID and GABRIELLE._] I hobe we haf nod kepd you waiding.

DE CASTRO.

Bertie'th been makin' himthelf a reg'lar nuithanthe downthairth.

ENID.

Poor Bertie! Pity he has this little failing.

GABRIELLE.

[_With mild enthusiasm._] Yes, there's not a nicer boy in London than
Bertie, bar that.

DE CASTRO.

Flieth to hith head tho!

[_The four continue talking. JIMMIE has gone back to FARNCOMBE, who is
still writing, and is watching him impatiently._

JIMMIE.

[_To FARNCOMBE, under her breath._] Do be quick!

[_Hastily he blots his note and folds it. BLAND, FULKERSON, and ROPER
appear on the landing, issuing from the staircase, and there they are
joined by LILY, who comes down the stairs._

FULKERSON.

[_On the landing, to LILY, indignantly._] Lirry-- Misspa'dell----

JIMMIE.

[_To FARNCOMBE._] Here she is!

ROPER.

[_To FULKERSON._] Now, then; have it out with Lily!

LILY.

What's wrong?

[_FARNCOMBE rises and slips his note into JIMMIE'S hand._

FULKERSON.

[_To LILY._] Mosht unjusht'fiable treatmen' 'n th' part 'f these
gen'lemen!

VON RETTENMAYER.

[_Listening, with the others at the centre table, to what is going on
upon the landing._] Ha, ha, ha, ha!

JIMMIE.

[_To FARNCOMBE, over her shoulder._] Good luck!

BLAND.

[_To LILY._] The youth is irate with us for cutting off supplies.

[_LILY enters with FULKERSON; ROPER and BLAND following. BLAND strolls
over to the piano, laughing._

FULKERSON.

[_To LILY._] M' argumen' is this. When a gen'leman'sh invited b' th'