at all. The thing looks bad.

MABEL. [Dropping her hands] If I can't believe in you, who can?
[Going to him, throwing her arms round him, and looking up into his face]
Ronny! If all the world--I'd believe in you. You know I would.

DANCY. That's all right, Mabs! That's all right! [His face, above her
head, is contorted for a moment, then hardens into a mask] Well, what
shall we do? Let's go to that lawyer--let's go--

MABEL. Oh! at once!

DANCY. All right. Get your hat on.

MABEL passes him, and goes into the bedroom, Left. DANCY, left
alone, stands quite still, staring before him. With a sudden shrug
of his shoulders he moves quickly to his hat and takes it up just as
MABEL returns, ready to go out. He opens the door; and crossing
him, she stops in the doorway, looking up with a clear and trustful
gaze as

The CURTAIN falls.

ACT III

SCENE I

Three months later. Old MR JACOB TWISDEN's Room, at the offices of
Twisden & Graviter, in Lincoln's Inn Fields, is spacious, with two
large windows at back, a fine old fireplace, Right, a door below it,
and two doors, Left. Between the windows is a large table sideways
to the window wall, with a chair in the middle on the right-hand
side, a chair against the wall, and a client's chair on the
left-hand side.

GRAVITER, TWISDEN'S much younger partner, is standing in front of
the right-hand window looking out on to the Fields, where the lamps
are being lighted, and a taxi's engine is running down below. He
turns his sanguine, shrewd face from the window towards a
grandfather dock, between the doors, Left, which is striking "four."
The door, Left Forward, is opened.

YOUNG CLERK. [Entering] A Mr Gilman, sir, to see Mr Twisden.

GRAVITER. By appointment?

YOUNG CLERK. No, sir. But important, he says.

GRAVITER. I'll see him.

The CLERK goes. GRAVITER sits right of table. The CLERK returns,
ushering in an oldish MAN, who looks what he is, the proprietor of a
large modern grocery store. He wears a dark overcoat and carries a
pot hat. His gingery-grey moustache and mutton-chop whiskers give
him the expression of a cat.

GRAVITER. [Sizing up his social standing] Mr Gilman? Yes.

GILMAN. [Doubtfully] Mr Jacob Twisden?

GRAVITER. [Smiling] His partner. Graviter my name is.

GIL