SCENE XIII.--_The Amber Boudoir._ Sir RUPERT _has just entered.

_Sir Rupert._ Ha, MAISIE, my dear, glad to see you. Well, ROHESIA, how are you, eh? You're _looking_ uncommonly well! No idea you were here!

_Spurrell (to himself)._ Sir RUPERT! He'll have me out of this pretty soon, I expect!

_Lady Cantire (aggrieved)._ We have been in the house for the best part of an hour, RUPERT--as you might have discovered by inquiring--but no doubt you preferred your comfort to welcoming a guest who was merely your sister!

_Sir Rup. (to himself)._ Beginning already! (_Aloud._) Very sorry--got rather wet riding--had to change everything. And I knew ALBINIA was here.

_Lady Cant. (magnanimously)._ Well, we won't begin to quarrel the moment we meet; and you are forgetting your other guest. (_In an undertone._) Mr. SPURRELL--the Poet--wrote _Andromeda_. (_Aloud._) Mr. SPURRELL, come and let me present you to my brother.

_Sir Rup._ Ah, how d'ye do? (_To himself, as he shakes hands._) What the deuce am I to say to this fellow? (_Aloud._) Glad to see you here, Mr. SPURRELL--heard all about you--_Andromeda_, eh? Hope you'll manage to amuse yourself while you're with us; afraid there's not much you can do _now_ though.

_Spurr. (to himself)._ Horse in a bad way; time they let me see it. (_Aloud._) Well, we must see, Sir; I'll do all _I_ can.

_Sir Rup._ You see, the shooting's _done_ now.

_Spurr. (to himself, professionally piqued)._ They might have waited till I'd seen the horse before they shot him! After calling me in like this! (_Aloud._) Oh, I'm sorry to hear that, Sir RUPERT. I wish I could have got here earlier, I'm sure.

_Sir Rup._ Wish we'd asked you a month ago, if you're fond of shooting. Thought you might look down on Sport, perhaps.

_Spurr. (to himself)._ Sport? Why, he's talking of _birds_--not the horse! (_Aloud._) Me, Sir RUPERT? Not _much_! I'm as keen on a day's gunning as any man, though I don't often get the chance now.

_Sir Rup. (to himself, pleased)._ Come, he don't seem strong against the Game Laws! (_Aloud._) Thought you didn't look as if you sat over your desk all day! There's hunting still, of course. Don't know whether you ride?

_Spurr._ Rather so, Sir! Why, I was born and bred in a sporting county, and as long as my old uncle was alive, I could go down to his farm and get a run with the hounds now and again.

_Sir Rup. (delighted)._ Capital! Well, our next meet is on Tuesday--best part of the country; nearly all grass, and nice clean post and rails. You must stay over for it. Got a mare that will carry your weight perfectly, and I think I can promise you a run--eh, what do you say?

_Spurr. (to himself, in surprise)._ He _is_ a chummy old cock! I'll wire old SPAVIN that I'm detained on biz; and I'll tell 'em to send my riding-breeches down! (_Aloud._) It's uncommonly kind of you, Sir, and I think I can manage to stop on a bit.

_Lady Culverin (to herself)._ RUPERT must be out of his senses! It's bad enough to have him here till Monday! (_Aloud._) We mustn't forget, RUPERT, how valuable Mr. SPURRELL'S time is; it would be too selfish of us to detain him here a day longer than----

_Lady Cant._ My dear, Mr. SPURRELL has already said he can _manage_ it; so we may all enjoy his society with a clear conscience. (Lady CULVERIN _conceals her sentiments with difficulty._) And now, ALBINIA, if you'll excuse me, I think I'll go to my room and rest a little, as I'm rather fatigued, and you have all these tiresome people coming to dinner to-night.

[_She rises, and leaves the room; the other ladies follow her example._

_Lady Culv._ RUPERT, I'm going up now with ROHESIA. You know where we've put Mr. SPURRELL, don't you? The Verney Chamber.

[_She goes out._

_Sir Rup._ Take you up now, if you like, Mr. SPURRELL--it's only just seven, though. Suppose you don't take an hour to dress, eh?

_Spurr._ Oh dear no, Sir, nothing like it! (_To himself._) Won't take me two minutes as I am now! I'd better tell him--I can say my bag hasn't come. I don't believe it _has_, and, any way, it's a good excuse. (_Aloud._) The--the fact is, Sir RUPERT, I'm afraid that my luggage has been unfortunately left behind.

_Sir Rup._ No luggage, eh? Well, well, it's of no consequence. But I'll ask about it--I daresay it's all right.

[_He goes out._

_Captain Thicknesse_ (_to_ SPURRELL). Sure to have turned up, you know--man will have seen to that. Shouldn't altogether object to a glass of sherry and bitters before dinner. Don't know how _you_ feel--suppose you've a soul _above_ sherry and bitters, though?

_Spurr._ Not at this moment. But I'd soon _put_ my soul above a sherry and bitters if I got a chance!

_Capt. Thick. (after reflection)._ I say, you know, that's rather smart, eh? (_To himself._) Aw'fly clever sort of chap, this, but not stuck up--not half a bad sort, if he _is_ a bit of a bounder. (_Aloud._) Anythin' in the evenin' paper? Don't get 'em down here.

_Spurr._ Nothing much. I see there's an objection to _Monkey-tricks_ for the Grand National.

_Capt. Thick. (interested)._ No, by Jove! Hope they won't carry it--meant to have something on him.

_Spurr._ I wouldn't back him myself. I know something that's safe to win, bar accidents--a dead cert, Sir! Got the tip straight from the stables. You just take my advice, and pile all you can on _Jumping Joan_.

_Capt. Thick. (later, to himself, after a long and highly interesting conversation)._ Thunderin' clever chap--never knew poets _were_ such clever chaps. Might be a "bookie," by Gad! No wonder MAISIE thinks such a lot of him!

[_He sighs._

_Sir Rup. (returning)._ Now, Mr. SPURRELL, if you'll come upstairs with me, I'll show you your quarters. By the way, I've made inquiries about your luggage, and I think you'll find it's all right. (_As he leads the way up the staircase._) Rather awkward for you if you'd had to come down to dinner just as you are, eh?

_Spurr. (to himself)._ Oh, lor, my beastly bag _has_ come after all! Now they'll _know_ I didn't bring a dress suit. What an owl I was to tell him! (_Aloud, feebly._) Oh--er--very awkward indeed, Sir RUPERT!

_Sir Rup. (stopping at a bedroom door)._ Verney Chamber--here you are. Ah, my wife forgot to have your name put up on the door--better do it now, eh? (_He writes it on the card in the door-plate._) There--well, hope you'll find it all comfortable--we dine at eight, you know. You've plenty of time for all you've got to do!

_Spurr. (to himself)._ If I only knew _what_ to do! I shall never have the cheek to come down as I am!

[_He enters the Verney Chamber dejectedly._