ven
men of gentlemanlike appearance. VON RETTENMAYER makes for ENID
eagerly and is followed, at a more moderate pace, by HENEAGE,
GRIMWOOD, and DE CASTRO, and by FULKERSON bringing FARNCOMBE._

VON RETTENMAYER.

Miss Mongreiff! [_Kissing ENID'S hand with fervour._] Your dancing was
more zurprizing to-night than ever. [_To TAVISH and SHIRLEY._] Aha, my
friends!

ENID.

[_Shaking hands with HENEAGE, GRIMWOOD, and DE CASTRO._] Well, Stew!
How are you, Jerry! Sam!

FULKERSON.

I want to introdooce Lord Farncombe. Miss Moncreiff-- Lord Farncombe.

ROPER.

[_Hurrying across._] Hul-lo, here's Enid!

DE CASTRO.

[_Shaking hands with TAVISH and SHIRLEY._] Piethe went thplendidly
thith evenin', didn't it?

FULKERSON.

[_Shaking hands with TAVISH and SHIRLEY._] I want to introdooce Lord
Farncombe. Mr. Tavish-- Mr. Shirley-- Lord Farncombe.

ENID.

[_Coming forward to greet MRS. STIDULPH who advances to her._] Dolly
dear!

MRS. STIDULPH.

[_Embracing ENID._] Enid darling! Good gracious, you're becoming an
absolute skeleton!

ENID.

Indeed? Well, no one can say that of _you_.

MRS. STIDULPH.

It _is_ a pleasure, meeting all you girls to-night. Of course, one
can't help seeing _changes_.

ENID.

[_Icily._] Ah, it must be a pleasure, _that_.

MRS. STIDULPH.

I'm going to scold dear old Carlton by-and-by. He never gave _me_ a
birthday-party when I was with him.

ENID.

No; and you had so many birthdays here, hadn't you?

[_COOLING returns, entering from the landing, and, after looking at
the assembly, goes out at the right-hand door at the back. At the same
moment, FLO CONNIFY, SYBIL DERMOTT, OLGA COOK, and EVANGELINE
VENTRIS-- four statuesque beauties with impassive faces-- enter at the
door on the left. OLGA is in a dark gown and EVANGELINE is wearing a
rather elaborate head-dress. Instantly there is a movement in the
direction of the new arrivals on the part of ROPER, HENEAGE, and
GRIMWOOD. DE CASTRO and FULKERSON follow, FULKERSON still leading
FARNCOMBE about with him. MRS. STIDULPH turns from ENID disdainfully
and joins NITA and DAPHNE at the fireplace. TAVISH and SHIRLEY also
move to the left, where they come upon STIDULPH and shake hands with
him, while VON RETTENMAYER and ENID, the latter flushed with victory,
seat themselves upon the settee on the right._

ROPER.

[_Hastening to the beauties._] Hul-lo! Show your tickets, please! Room
inside for four