y-- Miss Connify-- where's Miss Connify? Ah, here
you are, my dear-- [_moving to MISS CONNIFY'S chair and putting a card
upon her serviette_] next to old Arthur.

[_The four waiters, obeying a direction in dumb-show from LUIGI, go
out at the door on the left._

LUIGI.

[_A little, dark, active man-- viewing the tables with satisfaction._]
Tables look nice, Mr. Cooling?

COOLING.

[_Absorbed._] Not bad-- not bad-- not bad. [_LUIGI follows the
waiters._] Miss Kato? [_Moving to another table and laying a card upon
a serviette._] Gabrielle.

[_ROPER bustles in through the double-door, in high feather._

ROPER.

Hul-lo! [_Cutting a caper._] Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and
how are you to-morrow!

COOLING.

[_Deep in his plan of the tables._] Hullo, Lal!

ROPER.

[_Surveying the tables._] Splendid! [_Going from one table to
another._] Seating 'em, hey?

COOLING.

Mr. Palk-- Mr. Palk-- Mr. Palk? [_Placing another card._] Albert.

ROPER.

Which d'ye make your principal table?

COOLING.

There it is; you're at it.

ROPER.

Ah, yes. [_Examining the cards._] "Miss Lily Parradell--"! [_His jaw
falling._] Why, you've gone and put the Baron on her right!

COOLING.

[_Unconsciously._] Well, what's the objection?

ROPER.

Where's Farncombe? Where's Lord Farncombe?

COOLING.

On the other side, with Dolly Stidulph and Enid.

ROPER.

Rats!

COOLING.

What do you mean by Rats? [_Advancing to the principal table--
nettled._] Look heah, Lal----!

ROPER.

My dear fellow, Miss Parradell is the heroine o' the party; the seat
next to her is the seat of honour.

COOLING.

That's why I've put the Baron there. With things as they are between
England and Germany----

ROPER.

If Germany doesn't like it, she must lump it. Lord Farncombe's the
eldest son of an Earl; you can't get over that.

COOLING.

[_Picking up FARNCOMBE'S card._] Oh, have it your own way.

ROPER.

[_Picking up VON RETTENMAYER'S card._] Besides, the Baron's sweet on
Enid just now; I'm sure he'd prefer-- [_They exchange the cards and
rearrange them._] thanks, ol' man. Sorry I was shirty.

COOLING.

[_Laying down his plan and cards and producing a letter from his
breast-pocket._] By-the-bye, the fair Lily-- the heroine of the party,
as you call her-- is in a pretty tantrum over the whole business.

ROPER.

Tantrum?

COOLING.

[_Unfolding the letter._] Had this from her ten minutes ago. Listen to
_