y to South America by now. (Bitterly) Or
wherever you go to.

GERALD. Right-o! At least, I can't come on Monday, of course, but we'll
have a go at it on Thursday.

BOB. Why can't you come on Monday?

GERALD. Well, the Surrey match.

BOB (bitterly). I suppose as long as you beat Surrey, it doesn't matter
if I go to prison.

GERALD (annoyed). Oh, shut up about going to prison! There's not the
slightest chance of your going to prison. You know perfectly well, if
there were, that I'd walk on my hands and knees to London to-night to
try and stop it. As it is, I have promised to play for the county; it's
a particularly important match, and I don't think it's fair to let them
down. Anyway, if I did, the whole family would want to know why, and I
don't suppose you want to tell them that yet.

BOB (mumbling). You could say the Foreign Office had rung you up.

GERALD (earnestly). Really, Bob old boy, I'm sure you're making too much
of it. Dammit! you've done nothing wrong; what is there to worry about?
And if it's only a question of money, we'll manage it on our heads,
somehow. I'll come up directly the match is over. It may be Tuesday
night, with luck.

BOB (grumbling). If the weather's like this, it's bound to last three
days.

GERALD. Then at the worst, I'll come first train Thursday morning. That
I promise. Anyway, why don't you consult Wentworth? He's a good chap and
he knows all about the law. He could probably help you much more than I
could.

BOB. I suppose you think I _like_ talking about it to everybody.

GERALD (getting up and touching BOB gently on the shoulder as he goes
past him). Poor old Bob! But you're as right as anything. I'll come up
by the first train on Thursday and we'll--good Lord!

BOB. What's the matter now?

GERALD. I am a damned fool! Why, of course, we arranged--

BOB (sneeringly). And now you can't come on Thursday, I suppose.

GERALD. Why, you see, I arranged--

BOB. You _must_ keep your promise to the county, but you needn't keep
your promise to me.

GERALD. Yes, but the trouble is I promised Pamela--oh, well, that will
have to go; she'll understand. All right, Bob, that holds. Directly the
match is over I come. And for the Lord's sake, keep smiling till then.

BOB. It's all very well for _you_.... I wish you could have--well,
anyhow, I suppose Thursday's better than nothing. You'll see just how it
is then. (Getting up) You won't say anything about it to the others?

GERALD