d over in the conservatory,
which is lighted._

_Matt._ [_Goes to the conservatory door, looks in; is startled._] Hillo!
hillo! What?!

LUCAS _enters from the upper conservatory door in riding-clothes of
first Act._

_Dolly._ [_Enraged._] Lucas! [_More enraged._] Lucas! How dare you?!

_Lucas._ It's all right--don't make a fuss!

_Dolly._ [_Furious._] Why aren't you on the way to Aldershot?

_Lucas._ I didn't like the look of the weather! I didn't like the look
of it at all! So I got them to give me a shake-down at the Red Lion----

_Dolly._ [_Indignantly._] Shake-down at the Red Lion!

_Lucas._ Yes, on their sofa! You needn't look so black! I asked you
first, to let me have a shake-down here--on that sofa----

_Dolly._ But why have you come back here?

_Lucas._ Well, I must have dropped those cigars uncle Matt gave me. I
put them carefully in my side pocket, and when I got down to the Red
Lion, lo and behold, they weren't there!

_Dolly._ You could have got a cigar at the Red Lion----

_Lucas._ [_Turns to_ MATT _for sympathy._] I could have got a cigar at
the Red Lion! [_To_ DOLLY.] No, thank you! So I thought I'd just stroll
up here in the hope----

_Dolly._ In the hope of seeing Mrs. Sturgess! But she's safely in bed
this time, and there's no possible chance of your seeing her.

_Lucas._ In the hope of getting Harry to give me a decent smoke. Well, I
came into the Hall and not wishing to rile you by my hated presence--I
slipped into the conservatory----

_Enter_ HARRY.

_Harry._ [_Surprised at the riding-clothes._] Hillo, Lu, going back to
Aldershot to-night?

_Lucas._ No, not unless the weather takes a turn. No, Dolly said that as
the spare room was occupied, would I mind getting a shake-down at the
Red Lion. So I did, and as I've got nothing to smoke, may I cadge a
cigar?

_Harry._ Yes, old fellow. [_Taking out cigar-case._

_Dolly._ [_Intercepting._] You said I should take charge of your cigars,
in case you should be tempted to smoke more than two a day----

_Harry._ By Jove, I forgot all about two per diem--I've been smoking all
day. Here, Lu! [_About to throw cigar-case to_ LUCAS.] You'd better take
the lot and keep me out of temptation!

_Dolly._ No! I'll take charge of that, please.

[_Takes the cigar-case, looks angrily at_ LUCAS, _goes to
writing-desk, puts it in._

PETERS _appears at door._

_Peters._ I beg pardon, ma'am, Mrs. Sturgess--