and
CYRUS on his left. Servant closes door from without.)

ALCAR. Now we're all safely here, and I fancy there will be enough
easy-chairs to go round. Mr. Texel, you already know Mr. Cyrus Carve,
and you will be pleased to meet the talented artist who painted the
pictures which you have been buying from Mr. Ebag. He has most kindly
consented to be called Mr. X for the moment. This is Mrs. X, Mr. Texel.

(They bow--CYRUS shakes hands with TEXEL.)

EBAG. (To CYRUS.) How d'you do?

CYRUS. How d'you do?

CARVE. How d'you do?

ALCAR. (Observing that these three are already acquainted.) Good!
Excellent! Now, Mrs.--er--X, will you have this chair near the fire?
(Fixes chair for her.)

TEXEL. (Indicating JANET, aside to EBAG.) Good looking?

EBAG. (Aside to TEXEL.) Very agreeable little thing!

TEXEL. Excellent! Excellent!

ALCAR. (Interrupting a gesture from CARVE.) You have all done me a
signal favour by coming here. In thanking you, I wonder if I may ask
another favour. May I?

TEXEL. Certainly. Among kindred spirits.

EBAG. Assuredly, my lord.

ALCAR. I would merely request you to control so far as possible any
expression of your astonishment at meeting one another here. That is to
say, any violent expression.

CARVE. (Gaily and carelessly.) Oh, very well! Very well!

(LORD LEONARD ALCAR waves the rest of the company into chairs,
tactfully separating CYRUS and CARVE as much as possible. He remains
standing himself.)

JANET. I suppose what you really want is to stop this funny trial from
coming on.

ALCAR. (Slightly taken aback.) Mrs. X, I congratulate myself on your
presence here. Yes, my ambition is to be peacemaker. Of course a
peacemaker always runs the risk of a broken head, but I shall entrust my
head to your good nature. As a proof that I really mean business, I need
only point out that I haven't invited a single lawyer.

EBAG. (After slight pause.) This is exceedingly good of your lordship.

TEXEL. For myself I'm rather looking forward to next week. I've spared
no expense to get up a first-class show. Half the papers in New York and
Chicago are sending over special correspondents. I've even secured your
champion humorous judge; and altogether I reckon this trial will be
about the greatest judicial proposition the British public's seen in
years. Still, I'm always ready to oblige--and I'll shake hands right
now, on terms--my terms.

ALCAR. We are making progress.

TEXEL. But what