t, and it was wet.

COLFORD. Well! What proof's that? No, by George! An old
school-fellow, a brother officer, and a pal.

WINSOR. If he did do it--

COLFORD. He didn't. But if he did, I'd stick to him, and see him
through it, if I could.

WINSOR walks over to the fire, stares into it, turns round and
stares at COLFORD, who is standing motionless.

COLFORD. Yes, by God!

CURTAIN.

SCENE II
[NOTE.--This should be a small set capable of being set quickly
within that of the previous scene.]

Morning of the following day. The DANCYS' flat. In the
sitting-room of this small abode MABEL DANCY and MARGARET ORME
are sitting full face to the audience, on a couch in the centre
of the room, in front of the imaginary window. There is a
fireplace, Left, with fire burning; a door below it, Left; and a
door on the Right, facing the audience, leads to a corridor and
the outer door of the flat, which is visible. Their voices are
heard in rapid exchange; then as the curtain rises, so does
MABEL.

MABEL. But it's monstrous!

MARGARET. Of course! [She lights a cigarette and hands the case to
MABEL, who, however, sees nothing but her own thoughts] De Levis might
just as well have pitched on me, except that I can't jump more than six
inches in these skirts.

MABEL. It's wicked! Yesterday afternoon at the Club, did you say?
Ronny hasn't said a word to me. Why?

MARGARET. [With a long puff of smoke] Doesn't want you bothered.

MABEL. But----Good heavens!----Me!

MARGARET. Haven't you found out, Mabel, that he isn't exactly
communicative? No desperate character is.

MABEL. Ronny?

MARGARET. Gracious! Wives are at a disadvantage, especially early on.
You've never hunted with him, my dear. I have. He takes more sudden
decisions than any man I ever knew. He's taking one now, I'll bet.

MABEL. That beast, De Levis! I was in our room next door all the time.

MARGARET. Was the door into Ronny's dressing-room open?

MABEL. I don't know; I--I think it was.

MARGARET. Well, you can say so in Court any way. Not that it matters.
Wives are liars by law.

MABEL. [Staring down at her] What do you mean--Court?

MARGARET. My dear, he'll have to bring an action for defamation of
character, or whatever they call it.

MABEL. Were they talking of this last night at the WINSOR's?

MARGARET. Wel