[VALENTINE enters very plainly dressed.]

SIR JULIAN TWOMBLEY.

Mr. White! [Bowing stiffly.] How do you do?

BROOKE TWOMBLEY.

Why, Val! What?

LADY TWOMBLEY.

We met the poor boy outside the tourists' ticket office in Piccadilly.
He's off again to-morrow.

BROOKE TWOMBLEY.

Off! Where to?

VALENTINE WHITE.

Egypt.

LADY TWOMBLEY.

We shan't see him again for another ten years, I suppose.

IMOGEN.

Oh, mamma!

LADY TWOMBLEY.

The odd creature has heard of a congenial tribe who reside in
excavations cut in a rock. It'll end in my having a nephew who's a
mummy.

IMOGEN.

[Tearfully.] Oh, don't!

SIR JULIAN TWOMBLEY.

Katherine, this child is not well.

IMOGEN.

Yes, I am, papa--but I don't like--the idea--of parting--with anybody or
anything--even a k-k-kitten.

LADY TWOMBLEY.

[Soothingly.] Imogen, my dear!

IMOGEN.

Be quiet, mamma!

[The DOWAGER, LADY EUPHEMIA, EGIDIA, and ANGELE with the baby go out.
IMOGEN runs after them. SIR JULIAN resumes the study of his speech. LADY
TWOMBLEY opens some letters which are lying on the table.]

BROOKE TWOMBLEY.

[To VALENTINE.] I never knew such a queer chap! Come upstairs and tell
us all about it--what!

[BROOKE, VALENTINE, and DRUMDURRIS go out.]

LADY TWOMBLEY.

Oh!

SIR JULIAN TWOMBLEY.

Katherine?

LADY TWOMBLEY.

It's all right, pa--it's nothing. [To herself.] Gaylustre! [Reading a
letter.] "I will accompany you and dear Sir Julian to the interesting
ceremony of this morning. Pray keep me a seat in your carriage."
[Crushing the letter in her hand.] The demon! The relentless demon!

SIR JULIAN TWOMBLEY.

"I can conceive no position more agreeable to a Minister of the
Crown----"

LADY TWOMBLEY.

Pa, dear, Mrs. Gaylustre will go with us to the opening of the new
street.

SIR JULIAN TWOMBLEY.

H'm! Katherine, are you sure that Mrs. Gaylustre is _quite_----

LADY TWOMBLEY.

Oh, quite.

SIR JULIAN TWOMBLEY.

If I were you I should really think twice----

LADY TWOMBLEY.

Oh, I can't.

SIR JULIAN TWOMBLEY.

Can't think twice?

LADY TWOMBLEY.

I can't risk offending such a--dear friend.

SIR JULIAN TWOMBLEY.

But, Katherine----

LADY TWOMBLEY.

Understand me, pa--she will sit in our carriage.

SIR JULIAN TWOMBLEY.

Then understand _me_, Katherine, I will not have my knees cramped by a
lady whose social status is equivocal.

LADY TWOMBLEY.

Ah! Julian! Don't attempt to come between me an