SOPHY.

Oh, don't make a fuss about nothing. You servants _are_ an old-fashioned lot. Bong swor!

THE VOICES.

[_Angrily._] Oh, good-night.

SOPHY.

Ha, ha, ha!

[_She closes the door and totters away from it, sobbing hysterically, as_ QUEX _comes to her._

QUEX.

[_Kindly._] Be off. Go to bed. Serve me how you please. Miss Fullgarney, upon my soul, I--I humbly beg your pardon.

SOPHY.

[_Pa.s.sing him._] Oh! oh! oh! [_Turning to him._] Oh, G.o.d bless you!

You--you--you're a gentleman! I'll do what I can for you!

[_She staggers to the pa.s.sage-door and disappears, closing the door behind her. Then he extinguishes the remaining light, and cautiously lets himself out at the other door._

END OF THE THIRD ACT.

THE FOURTH ACT

_The scene is the same, in every respect, as that of the First Act._

[_On the right_ MISS CLARIDGE _is manicuring a young gentleman. On the left_ MISS MOON _is putting her manicure-table in order, as if she has recently disposed of a customer._ MISS LIMBIRD _is again at her desk, busy over accounts. The door-gong sounds and, after a short interval,_ QUEX _and_ FRAYNE _enter, preceded by_ MISS HUDDLE. FRAYNE _appears particularly depressed and unwell._

QUEX.

[_Nodding to_ MISS LIMBIRD.] Good morning.

MISS LIMBIRD.

Morning.

QUEX.

[_To_ MISS HUDDLE.] Miss Fullgarney has not yet arrived, you say?

MISS HUDDLE.

Not yet.

QUEX.

[_Looking at his watch._] Twenty minutes to twelve.

MISS MOON.

Yes, we've never known Miss Fullgarney to be so late at her business. I do hope she hasn't been run over and injured.

MISS HUDDLE.

Or murdered by tramps.

QUEX.

My dear young lady!

MISS MOON.

Well, one does read _such_ things in the ha'penny papers.

MISS HUDDLE.

And she went down to Richmond yesterday afternoon, you know--to Fauncey Court.

QUEX.

Of course I know--and slept there.

MISS MOON.

Oh, did she?

QUEX.

And has come up to town this morning.

MISS HUDDLE.

Then she'll have gone home, I expect, to change.

MISS MOON.

That's what she's done. [_Slightly disappointed._] Well, I _should_ have been sorry if anything had happened to her.

QUEX.