The Trysting Place: A Farce in One Act
Part 2
MRS. CURTIS (_after a moment, during which her inward struggle prevents her from replying_) Oh--oh, no! I’m so sorry to have disturbed you! (_Her voice threatens to break and she goes out hurriedly, at the left._)
JESSIE (_staring after her_)
Absolutely brazen! She came back after that idiot _boy_! Thought _he’d_ probably come back!
RUPERT
Darling--
JESSIE (_turning to him eagerly_)
Yes, darling--
RUPERT (_looking over her shoulder_)
Oh, my goodness! (_He speaks with intense anguish._)
JESSIE (_seizing his hand feverishly_)
What’s the matter, darling?
RUPERT (_rising_)
It’s your mother! (_He strides hastily backward out of sight from the left entrance._)
JESSIE
Oh, murder!
RUPERT
She didn’t see me, but she will if I try to go out there. (_He points to the right entrance._)
JESSIE
She’s coming!
RUPERT
This is awful! (_His despairing eye falls upon the huge Philippine chair in the left rear corner of the room; he rushes to it, turns it round, with its back toward the front, and sits in it, concealed from view. He speaks in a hoarse whisper._) Darling--
JESSIE
Hush! (_She has checked an impulse to rise and fly; and now, affecting carelessness, she brushes her left sleeve with her right hand, crosses her knees, swings her foot, whistles an operatic air and looks at the ceiling. Mrs. Briggs enters at the left, frowning. Jessie addresses her cheerfully._) Back again, Mamma? Where’s Lancelot?
MRS. BRIGGS (_in an annoyed tone_)
I don’t know. I thought you were going straight to your room.
JESSIE
Oh, I am.
MRS. BRIGGS
Have you just been sitting here alone?
JESSIE
Mrs. Curtis came back a minute ago looking for the child.
MRS. BRIGGS
Yes; I saw _her_. Wasn’t anyone else--
JESSIE (_carelessly_)
Oh, yes; that Mr. Ingoldsby was here, too.
MRS. BRIGGS
He was? (_She looks at her watch and then toward the corridor on the left._) You told me you were very tired and were going straight to your room.
JESSIE (_casually_)
Oh, well, I feel rested now.
MRS. BRIGGS
You should lie down before dressing for dinner.
JESSIE
Why don’t _you_ do that, Mamma? You know how it brightens you up.
MRS. BRIGGS (_frowning_)
Brightens me up? Really!
JESSIE
Oh, I don’t mean like a _terribly_ aged person; but a nap every day’s a good thing for everybody.
MRS. BRIGGS (_stiffly_)
I _took_ a nap after lunch. Really, it’s time you went.
JESSIE
Oh, I’ll just sit around a while longer. I rather like to just sit around and do nothing, like this.
MRS. BRIGGS
You _said_ you were going, and you ought to do things when you say you’re going to do them.
JESSIE
But _why_? Why can’t I just sit around here a little longer if I want to?
MRS. BRIGGS
Because you said you--
JESSIE
Oh, what if I did! Haven’t I got a right to change my mind?
MRS. BRIGGS
I insist on your lying down for half an hour before you dress for dinner. What makes you so obstinate about it? Have you any _reason_ for wishing not to do this simple thing? Is there anything you’re trying to conceal from me, Jessie?
JESSIE (_rising hastily_)
Certainly not!
MRS. BRIGGS (_severely_)
You haven’t any particular reason for staying here and not going to your room as you said you would?
JESSIE
No!
MRS. BRIGGS
Then--
JESSIE
Oh, I’ll go; but I don’t understand why you make such a point of it!
MRS. BRIGGS (_a little flustered_)
A point of it? I? I’m not making a point of it! I don’t at all, except--except for your health.
JESSIE (_going_)
My _health_! (_She halts._) What nonsense!
MRS. BRIGGS
Your health is the only thing to consider. You’ve started; why don’t you _go_?
JESSIE
But what’s the _hurry_?
MRS. BRIGGS
Hurry? Oh, none! I just meant, as you _are_ going, why shouldn’t you _go_ and get it over?
JESSIE
What makes you so queer?
MRS. BRIGGS (_with quiet severity_)
Queer? You call your mother queer? It seems to me you’re the one that’s behaving queerly. Jessie, is there anything you’re trying to--
JESSIE
No! Don’t get so upset. I’ll go!
(_She goes out at the left. Mrs. Briggs stares after her for a moment; looks in the opposite direction; then seats herself upon the settee, and from the midst of a handkerchief which she has crumpled in her hand produces a small gold vanity box. She opens it, gazes in the tiny mirror, touches her hair, glances right and left, and uses a diminutive powder puff quickly; then she closes the box, conceals it in her handkerchief again, and hums a song to herself. Mr. Ingoldsby enters at the left. He has an air slightly embarrassed._)
MRS. BRIGGS (_as if surprised_)
Oh!
INGOLDSBY
Ah--I was here a while ago. It was a little earlier than our--our appointment; if I may call it so. (_He laughs nervously._)
MRS. BRIGGS (_smiling_)
Well, I suppose it _could_ be called an appointment--in a way.
INGOLDSBY
I--I thought--that is, I’ve noticed this was about the only place in the hotel where there aren’t usually a lot of people. I suggested it because--because I had something to say--ah--I mean that I thought it would be as well to say it in private--as it were. That is, if we were alone together, I--ah--that is to say, it’s something I couldn’t very well say in--in public, so to speak. I mean it would be difficult with other people present.
MRS. BRIGGS (_smiling nervously_)
Is it something very mysterious, Mr. Ingoldsby?
INGOLDSBY
I wish you wouldn’t call me that.
MRS. BRIGGS (_seriously_)
You want me to call you Henry?
INGOLDSBY
You did once.
MRS. BRIGGS (_rising in some agitation_)
Yes, but that was pretty long ago.
INGOLDSBY (_sharply_)
I called you Fannie then.
MRS. BRIGGS (_more agitated_)
I don’t think we should ever refer to it. When an episode is as long buried as--
INGOLDSBY (_his own agitation increasing_)
Episode? See here, Fannie; you know why I stayed a bachelor. You do know.
MRS. BRIGGS (_protesting quickly_)
No, no! I have no responsibility for that!
INGOLDSBY
Haven’t you? When you broke your engagement to me--
MRS. BRIGGS (_crying out, though she suppresses the loudness of her voice_)
It was a misunderstanding, Henry.
INGOLDSBY
It was not. I’ve held my peace in silence all these years because of my principles. I wouldn’t refer to such things with you when you had become a married woman. But I can speak now. You deliberately broke off with me--
MRS. BRIGGS (_choking_)
I didn’t!
INGOLDSBY (_with a suppressed passion_)
You did! (_He paces the floor as he goes on._) You decided Lance Briggs was the better man, and you sent me my ring and letters without a single word explaining why you did it.
MRS. BRIGGS
Oh!
INGOLDSBY
You did!
MRS. BRIGGS
Is it fair to attack me with that now?
INGOLDSBY
Fair? How _dare_ you speak of _fairness_ to _me_?
MRS. BRIGGS
But you _knew_ why I did it.
INGOLDSBY (_bitterly_)
I did indeed! It was simply because you were of a fickle nature. Of course you didn’t have the courage to explain _that_.
MRS. BRIGGS (_with great emotion_)
But you don’t know the pressure, the awful pressure my mother brought to bear on me. She simply _made_ me marry him, Henry. It was night and day, day and night, week in, week out--
INGOLDSBY
And you never for one moment had the simple bravery, the simple _loyalty_ to the man you’d given your word to--
MRS. BRIGGS
I was worn out. I was--
INGOLDSBY
You didn’t care enough for me to--
MRS. BRIGGS
I _did_!
INGOLDSBY
No! No! No!
MRS. BRIGGS (_piteously_)
Henry, you _must_ listen to me! (_She puts her hand on his arm._)
INGOLDSBY (_moving away from her_)
Why didn’t you say that _then_? Why didn’t--
MRS. BRIGGS
I loved you--I did, Henry! I simply let my mother break my will and wreck our two lives.
INGOLDSBY
What folly! You were perfectly happy with Briggs. I don’t know _how_ many people told me you were.
MRS. BRIGGS
I did my duty, and I tried to do it cheerfully; but the scar was always there, Henry.
INGOLDSBY (_harshly_)
I don’t believe it!
MRS. BRIGGS (_plaintively_)
It was, Henry. (_She sinks into the chair Jessie has occupied._)
INGOLDSBY (_swallowing_)
What?
MRS. BRIGGS (_feebly_)
It was, Henry--the scar was always there. (_Her head droops._)
(_He walks across the room, then returns to her and looks down upon her._)
INGOLDSBY (_swallowing_)
Do you know what my life has been?
MRS. BRIGGS (_tremulously, not looking up_)
I--I heard you became very--very prosperous in--in real estate.
INGOLDSBY
Yes. What’s that to fill a man’s life? Look at the difference! You have children to be a comfort to you in your--your--as you approach middle age. I have nothing.
MRS. BRIGGS (_pathetically, still looking down_)
Oh, I’m sure you have something.
INGOLDSBY
I tell you I have nothing--nothing in the world to make life worth living, not a thing on earth! (_He glances about, then sits beside her and speaks in a very low voice._) Fannie--Fannie--
(_The settee approaches a little nearer._)
MRS. BRIGGS (_also in a very low voice_)
Well?
INGOLDSBY
Fannie--I--I--Fannie--I-- (_His emotion is difficult to control and his voice fades out into a murmur of several slight incoherent sounds, whereupon the settee again moves slightly closer._)
MRS. BRIGGS
Yes, Henry?
INGOLDSBY
You said your life was wrecked, though you bore it dutifully and--and cheerfully. Mine--_my_ life--it was withered!
MRS. BRIGGS (_murmuring_)
Oh--Henry!
INGOLDSBY
But, after all, our lives aren’t over.
MRS. BRIGGS (_shaking her down-bent head and protesting in a weak voice_)
Oh, no, no! Don’t begin to talk that way.
INGOLDSBY
Fannie, I never got over it. As time went on, I took up my work and tried to do my part in the world, but--but I never got over it, Fannie. I’m not over it now.
MRS. BRIGGS (_turning to him mournfully_)
Oh, yes, you are!
INGOLDSBY (_shaking his head_)
I’m not. I still--I still--I still--I still--
(_The settee again moves a little nearer_.)
MRS. BRIGGS
No, no.
INGOLDSBY
I do. I still--I still--
MRS. BRIGGS (_in a faint and tearful protest_)
No, you don’t, Henry. You only think you do.
INGOLDSBY
No, I really do. I--I--I care for you yet, Fannie.
MRS. BRIGGS (_recovering herself enough to smile faintly as she shakes her head_)
Oh, my, no!
INGOLDSBY
Fannie, let’s--let’s save these years that we still have before us. Let’s try to make up for that old mistake.
MRS. BRIGGS (_becoming a little brisker_)
Why, how--how--why, we--why, I couldn’t think of such a thing!
INGOLDSBY (_solemnly_)
Fannie, I ask you to marry me.
(_She stares at him; the settee moves an inch nearer._)
MRS. BRIGGS
What?
INGOLDSBY
I ask you to marry me.
MRS. BRIGGS
Why, good gracious! I wouldn’t have my children know that anybody had said such a thing to me for all the kingdoms on earth!
INGOLDSBY (_earnestly_)
They needn’t know it till afterwards.
MRS. BRIGGS (_breathlessly_)
Afterwards? After--after--
INGOLDSBY
You’re not going to wreck us both _again_, are you, Fannie?
MRS. BRIGGS (_as in amazement_)
Why, if I’d dreamed you were going to say anything like _this_ to me when you asked me to meet you here this afternoon--
INGOLDSBY (_solemnly_)
Fannie, I want you to give me your answer, and to do it now. What do you say?
MRS. BRIGGS (_feebly, with her hand to her breast_)
Oh, my!
INGOLDSBY
Yes; you must.
MRS. BRIGGS
But I haven’t had time to _think_! Why, I wouldn’t have anybody know about this for--
INGOLDSBY
I want my answer, Fannie--Fannie _dear_!
MRS. BRIGGS (_blankly_)
_Oh_, dear!
INGOLDSBY
Fannie, _dearest_! (_He takes her hand._)
MRS. BRIGGS
Oh, I wouldn’t have anybody know this--
INGOLDSBY
Dearest, dearest Fannie!
MRS. BRIGGS
Why, I wouldn’t have anybody know that we--
(_They are interrupted by a voice from a mysterious and invisible source. It is a male and adult voice, loudly and emphatically affecting to clear the throat of its origin in the manner of a person wishing to attract the attention of some other person._)
THE MYSTERIOUS VOICE
A-hem! A-a-a-_hem_!
MRS. BRIGGS (_leaping in her chair_)
Good heavens!
INGOLDSBY (_jumping up_)
What was that?
MRS. BRIGGS (_rising_)
Why, it was a man’s voice.
INGOLDSBY
It was right here in the room with us.
MRS. BRIGGS (_sinking into her chair_)
Oh, murder!
INGOLDSBY (_staring about the room, notices the Philippine chair with its back turned to the front_)
There’s somebody sitting in that chair! (_He starts toward it angrily, but is checked by a suppressed scream from Mrs. Briggs._)
MRS. BRIGGS
_Don’t!_ I’d _much_ rather never know who it is. (_Rising._) Let’s get away! (_She totters._)
INGOLDSBY (_undecided, but very angry_)
We ought to know who’s spying on us like this.
MRS. BRIGGS (_clutching at him_)
Oh!
THE MYSTERIOUS VOICE (_indignantly_)
I’m not spying! This is a public room in a public hotel--
MRS. BRIGGS (_moaning_)
Oh!
THE MYSTERIOUS VOICE (_continuing_)
Any guest of this hotel has a right to sit here in peace, and if you _will_ go on talking about your private affairs in a public room--
MRS. BRIGGS (_leaning on Ingoldsby’s arm_)
Oh, my!
THE MYSTERIOUS VOICE (_continuing heatedly_)
Why, it’s your own fault, not mine. I was only warning you not to go any further. I’ve heard enough of other people’s private affairs for one afternoon, anyhow.
MRS. BRIGGS (_almost hysterically_)
Oh, let’s go! (_She swings the reluctant and angry Ingoldsby toward the left entrance._) Let’s _go_!
INGOLDSBY (_turning to call back angrily_)
I don’t know who you are, sir; but when I’ve seen this lady to a--a place of safety--I _intend_ to know. I’ll be _back_ here, sir.
THE MYSTERIOUS VOICE
Fine!
MRS. BRIGGS
Oh, mercy! (_She moves hastily away from Ingoldsby as Jessie suddenly comes in, from the left, confronting them._)
JESSIE (_halting sharply_)
What in the world’s the matter?
MRS. BRIGGS (_in a shaking voice_)
Nothing! Nothing at all, Jessie. Why should you think anything’s the matter?
JESSIE
Why, you’re all upset!
MRS. BRIGGS (_trying hard to seem lightly amused, and failing_)
Not at all--not at all! I was just sitting here a moment with Mr. Ingoldsby, chatting over old times and--and then we decided to leave. We decided to leave--that’s all. I--I’m--(_Suddenly she starts, and with an incoherent exclamation looks behind her. Then she faces Jessie and, with a painful effort to smile, completes her sentence._) I’m all right.
JESSIE
Yes, you seem so. Mr. Ingoldsby, will you kindly tell me what you’ve been saying to my mother to upset her so?
MRS. BRIGGS
But I’m not--
INGOLDSBY (_checking her sharply_)
Miss Briggs, I should not be likely to say anything disrespectful to my old and dear friend, your mother. (_Looking around angrily._) The truth is, there’s an eavesdropping scoundrel concealed in this room, and I--
JESSIE (_alarmed_)
What! Oh, I’m _sure_ there isn’t.
INGOLDSBY
There is! An eavesdropping--
THE MYSTERIOUS VOICE (_angrily_)
This is a public room, I told you. How can I help it if you--
INGOLDSBY
I can’t stand this. He’s behind that chair.
(_He breaks away from Mrs. Briggs and Jessie, who both clutch at him._)
JESSIE (_crying out_)
Don’t! _Please_ don’t!
MRS. BRIGGS (_simultaneously_)
Henry! Don’t!
(_But Ingoldsby has already reached the Philippine chair that has its back turned toward the front of the stage; he seizes Rupert by the collar and drags him forth. Rupert is horrified._)
INGOLDSBY
Come out of there, you scoundrel. Come out to the light of day.
RUPERT (_hastily_)
I didn’t do it. It wasn’t _me_.
MRS. BRIGGS
Rupert Smith!
JESSIE (_dolefully_)
Oh, goodness!
INGOLDSBY (_hotly_)
What do you mean by terrorizing a lady?
RUPERT
I didn’t! I didn’t say a _word_! I _was_ behind there, but I couldn’t help it. It wasn’t _my_ voice talking to you.
INGOLDSBY
Then who was it?
THE MYSTERIOUS VOICE
If you’re anxious for more witnesses, I suggest that you look under the settee.
MRS. BRIGGS (_changing her mind as she is in the act of sinking down upon the settee_)
What!
JESSIE
Look at it!
(_Mrs. Briggs screams faintly, as the settee moves rapidly to the left entrance, evidently meaning to leave the room._)
INGOLDSBY (_to Rupert_)
Stop that thing! Catch it!
(_They seize the settee just as it is disappearing into the corridor. They drag it back into the room._)
RUPERT (_trying to lift the settee_)
Come out from under there!
INGOLDSBY
Come out, now!
THE SETTEE
I won’t! You lea’ me alone!
INGOLDSBY
Both together now--heave!
(_They heave, and the settee yields, disclosing Lancelot with his previously smooth hair disheveled and his clothes well rumpled._)
MRS. BRIGGS (_astonished_)
Lancelot! Oh, gracious me!
INGOLDSBY (_to Lancelot_)
Shame on you!
RUPERT
Yes, shame on you!
LANCELOT (_resentfully_)
Well, you _would_ get me; but I’ll make you sorry you did it, both of you! (_He rises, brushing himself and adjusting his attire._)
INGOLDSBY (_irritably_)
Don’t you know better than to frighten ladies and eavesdrop and--
LANCELOT (_warmly_)
I was abs’lootly honorable, because I couldn’t help it, and you none of you ever gave me a single chance to get away. _My_ conduct is the only one here that hasn’t got a stain on it or anything. (_He turns hotly upon Mrs. Briggs and Jessie._) I got nothing to reproach myself with, but I’d just like to know what either of you got to say for yourselves _now_ about the way you been talkin’ about Mrs. Curtis! If you either of you ever just _dare_ to soil your lips with even her _name_ again, why, I know more _things_--
MRS. BRIGGS
Be quiet, Lancelot.
LANCELOT
Quiet? _Me?_ (_He laughs shortly with an irony he could not express in words._) In the first place, don’t call me Lancelot any more. You know how I hate that name, and I been tryin’ to break you of it long enough--and now I will! I don’t care what you call me, but don’t call me _that_!
JESSIE (_pointing to the settee_)
How long were you under there?
LANCELOT (_sternly_)
Long enough to get mighty tired of hearin’ people callin’ each other “Darling”! Good gracious! You don’t think I _enjoyed_ it, do you? Why, what I heard while I was under there--well, I got a pretty strong constitution, but--
MRS. BRIGGS
Hush! Oh, me!
INGOLDSBY
The voice that spoke didn’t sound like Lancelot’s voice--
LANCELOT (_turning upon him ominously_)
Did you hear me say not to call me Lancelot? I mean you, too.
INGOLDSBY (_with hasty meekness_)
I’ll call you anything you like; but I want to know who it was that _spoke_. You say it wasn’t you--
LANCELOT (_very emphatically_)
No, it wasn’t. I wouldn’t ’a’ told you to look under the settee, would I?
INGOLDSBY (_with a gesture toward Rupert_)
And this gentleman says it wasn’t he.
RUPERT
Why, it spoke again after I came out.
INGOLDSBY (_quite bewildered_)
So it did. Then who--
LANCELOT
I don’t care who it was; what I want to point out, right here and now, before we go any further, why, I’m in a position to say that I got some plans for my future life and I don’t expect to have any intaference with ’em from my family, or from anybody that wants to _join_ my family either. All up to now, I’ve spent my life in a dependent position, so to speak, but after what’s happened here lately, and knowin’ all the _things_ I _do_ know--
(_His voice has risen during this oration, and Jessie, after a glance to the left entrance, attempts to moderate him._)
JESSIE
Hush! There’s somebody--
LANCELOT
I don’t care _who’s_ comin’, I’m goin’ to say my say. I expect to settle my own future in my own way, and any lady that I may decide to make _another_ member of this family--
JESSIE
_Hush!_
(_The eyes of Lancelot follow hers to the left entrance and his stern manner is instantly softened._)
LANCELOT
It’s her.
(_Mrs. Curtis comes in, but stops uncertainly near the entrance._)
MRS. CURTIS
Oh! I’m afraid I-- (_She turns to go._)
LANCELOT
Wait. I was just talkin’ to ’em about you.
MRS. CURTIS
You were, Mr. Briggs?
LANCELOT (_to the others, reprovingly_)
_She_ never calls me Lancelot. Missuz--Missuz Curtis, I didn’t have to tell ’em; they’d already found out you were a widow. We don’t need to bother about that anyway.
MRS. CURTIS
_We_ don’t?
LANCELOT
I’ve found out a good _many_ things since I saw you, and I’m goin’ to tell you the whole biznuss.
MRS. BRIGGS
Shame!
JESSIE (_with a despairing laugh_)
What would it matter? There’s somebody _else_ here that knows “the whole biznuss”!
MRS. CURTIS (_struck by this_)
What did you say, Miss Briggs?
INGOLDSBY (_warmly_)
She made a sensible remark, madam. There is a person concealed in this room--
MRS. CURTIS (_impulsively_)
Oh, dear! How did you know?
ALL THE OTHERS
What?
MRS. CURTIS
Nothing.
INGOLDSBY
All right! (_To Rupert._) I think I know now where he is, and I’m going to have him out.
MRS. CURTIS (_gasping, then imploringly_)
_Please_ stop!
INGOLDSBY (_halting_)
Why?
MRS. CURTIS (_weakly_)
It’s a friend of mine.
LANCELOT (_apprehensively_)
A friend of yours?
MRS. CURTIS
I--I’ll answer for him. He’ll never mention--ah--anything. He really wouldn’t be interested. He doesn’t know any of you.
THE MYSTERIOUS VOICE
No; and doesn’t care to!
INGOLDSBY (_angrily_)
Now, I _will_--
MRS. CURTIS
_Please_ don’t!
INGOLDSBY
I mean to know who he is.
MRS. CURTIS (_pleading_)
Please! If you found him, you’d only see a total stranger to you. But he _wouldn’t_ be a stranger to quite a lot of people in this hotel that _I_ know.
INGOLDSBY (_now shaking his head_)
I’m afraid I don’t see it.
MRS. CURTIS (_in a faltering voice_)
He’s just here for one day and we--we didn’t want anyone to know it. I had so many engagements I could only take a short walk in the country with him this morning and--and promise to meet him here at five this afternoon.
LANCELOT (_who has been staring at her painfully_) But--but--see here!
MRS. CURTIS
Yes, I tried to get you to run away and dance with some nice young thing.
LANCELOT (_pathetically_)
So you could be here with--him?
MRS. CURTIS
I--I believe so.
LANCELOT (_dismally_)
Oh, my!
INGOLDSBY
Madam, what you say doesn’t excuse this person’s eavesdropping.
THE MYSTERIOUS VOICE (_belligerently_)
Why doesn’t it? A lady’s got a right to keep her engagement a secret as long as she wants to, hasn’t she? There are people in this hotel that would know all about it if they saw her with me. (_With some bitterness._) That’s why she said to meet her here, because it’s so quiet!
INGOLDSBY
That doesn’t excuse--
THE MYSTERIOUS VOICE
It’s more your fault than anybody else’s. I was awake all last night on a noisy train, and I was quietly _asleep_ here--till you woke me up.
INGOLDSBY
Till _who_ woke you up?
THE MYSTERIOUS VOICE
Till _you_ did. I never knew a man that made so much noise about proposing a second marriage.
JESSIE (_amazed_)
Oh, Mamma!
MRS. BRIGGS (_with severe dignity_)
I’ll speak to you and Mr. Rupert Smith after dinner. Henry, I don’t see the propriety of continuing an argument with this interloper, whoever he may be. (_She takes Ingoldsby’s arm._)
JESSIE
No. Let’s _do_ get away from here! (_She moves toward the left entrance with Rupert._)
INGOLDSBY (_looking back, as he follows with Mrs. Briggs; speaks reprovingly_)
I hope you have some shame for your conduct, sir.
THE MYSTERIOUS VOICE
Bless you, my children!
INGOLDSBY (_infuriated_)
Now, I’ll-- (_He turns to go back._)
MRS. BRIGGS (_restraining him_)
Henry!
(_They go on the left entrance. Jessie and Rupert have passed out into the corridor._)
LANCELOT
Did he say “a lady’s got a right to keep her--her _engagement_--a secret”?
MRS. CURTIS
Yes.
LANCELOT
To--to--to you?
MRS. CURTIS
Yes, dear.
LANCELOT (_piteously_)
Oh--oh, pshaw!