At first I should, but not for long. Seeing my family crest on the door-panels, instead of your monogram, 'ud help me to forget you'd had anything to do with it. [_Gloomily._] Of course, it 'ud only be an experiment. It might cheer me up, or it mightn't.

[_The music ceases. A waiter carrying a tray enters at the door on the left, goes behind the counter, and mixes some drinks._

DE CASTRO.

[_After a pause, loosening his collar-- in a low voice._] Here! We'd better dithcuth thith experiment. [_Glancing over his shoulder at the waiter._] Let'th come and thit in the pit.

GABRIELLE.

[_Rising._] I can't argue; my head's too bad for that.

DE CASTRO.

[_Leading her to the double-door._] I don't want to argue; I thimply want to arrive at an underthtandin'. Thuppothin' I buy you a car, am I to be made an arth of at the nexth danthe we happen to meet at-- yeth or no?----

[_They go out on to the landing and disappear as FULKERSON hurries in at the right-hand door at the back. His eyes are rather gla.s.sy and his utterance is a little thick._

FULKERSON.

[_To the waiter, joining him behind the counter._] Hi! Wake up, there!

Gla'sodawa'erf'misspirch'nth'stage. [_Distinctly._] Misspirch-- on th'stage-- gla'-- sodawa'er. I'll have a whiskey. Wh'sthwhiskey?

Which-- is-- the-- whiskey? Than'g. [_Pouring some whiskey into a tumbler._] You take sodaw'er t' Misspirch; I'll mix m'own whiskey.

Loo' sharp, sodaw'er Misspirch. [_The waiter goes out with the drinks and FULKERSON, gla.s.s in hand, comes to the nearer side of the counter.

He swallows his drink greedily, singing to himself between the gulps._] "Oh, the gals! Oh, the gals! I am awfully fond of the gals!

[_Putting his empty gla.s.s upon the counter and making for the door on the left._] Be they ebon or blond, Of the gals I am fond; I am _dreadfully_ fond of the gals!"

[_He vanishes as FARNCOMBE and LILY enter at the right-hand door at the back. There is an air of constraint and uneasiness about the girl.

She comes to the nearer settee in the centre and again picks up her bouquet. FARNCOMBE follows her. They talk in subdued voices and with frequent pauses._

FARNCOMBE.

Another ice?

LILY.

[_Rearranging a rose, almost inaudibly._] No, thanks.

FARNCOMBE.

[_After a pause._] I-- I wish I had given you a bouquet instead of a big, ugly basket.

LILY.

Why?

FARNCOMBE.

You-- you might have brought it to the theatre, as you have that one, and carried it about with you.

LILY.

[_Coldly._] I didn't bring this to the theatre.

FARNCOMBE.

No?

LILY.

I found it with a lot of other flowers at the stage-door. It's from the gallery boys-- [_looking at him for a moment steadily_]-- and I attach some value to it.

[_The bearded waiter enters at the right-hand door at the back, takes a box of cigars from the counter, and goes out at the door on the left. LILY walks away from FARNCOMBE and seats herself upon the further settee in the centre._

FARNCOMBE.

[_After the waiter has withdrawn, producing his programme._] Number Nine. "_Two Step. Mind the Paint._" [_To LILY._] Of course, you-- you are engaged for this?

LILY.

And you, surely?

FARNCOMBE.

No, I-- I kept it open, in case-- in case----

LILY.

[_Decidedly._] I dance it with Morrie.

FARNCOMBE.

Mr. Cooling?

LILY.

Morrie Cooling.

FARNCOMBE.

[_After another pause, sitting, behind her, upon the nearer settee._]

Miss Parradell.

LILY.

Well?

FARNCOMBE.