already been told where Miss Eden is, and anybody who knows me knows
that if I say a thing--

FRAYNE.

But when your young ladies declare--

SOPHY.

I'm really not responsible for the sayings and doings of a parcel of
stupid girls. If they didn't see Miss Eden go out they were asleep, and
if they weren't asleep they're blind; and as I've explained till I'm
hoarse, I'm very busy this morning, and I should be extremely obliged to
you two gentlemen if you'd kindly go away and call again a little later.

QUEX.

Chick.

FRAYNE.

Eh?

QUEX.

I want you.

[FRAYNE _comes to_ QUEX, _who hands him the jeweller's case and the slip
of paper._

SOPHY.

[_Fussing over her books, oblivious of what is transpiring._] As if the
difficulty of conducting a business of this kind isn't sufficient
without extra bothers and worries being brought down on one's head! What
with one's enormous rent, and rotten debts, it's heartbreaking! Here's a
woman here, on my books, who runs an account for fifteen months, with
the face of an angel, and no more intends to pay me than to jump over
St. Paul's--

QUEX.

[_Who again has possession of the jeweller's case and the paper._] Miss
Fullgarney--

SOPHY.

What now, my lord? Upon my word, it is _too_ bad--!

QUEX.

Please come here.

SOPHY.

[_Coming forward--now on the verge of tears._] After such a night as
I've had, too. I never could do without my full eight hours--

QUEX.

Be silent!

SOPHY.

What!

QUEX.

Miss Eden and Captain Bastling--

SOPHY.

Eh?

QUEX.

They are acquaintances--friends. [_With a stamp of the foot._] They are
on terms of--

SOPHY.

[_Faintly._] Oh!

QUEX.

[_Pointing to the window._] She is with him at this moment--there.

SOPHY.

[_Unsteadily._] Whatever are you saying, my lord? [_Discovering that he
has the jeweller's case and the paper._] Ah--!

QUEX.

Yes, I found these upon the table. [_She advances, to take them from
him._] Miss Eden left them here--forgot them!

SOPHY.

[_In a murmur._] Yes.

[_He gives them to her. She puts them into her pocket and sits._

QUEX.

Come! tell me.

SOPHY.

You--you are not the only one in the field, my lord.

QUEX.

So I conclude.

SOPHY.

Have pity on her!

QUEX.

[_Sternly._] How dare you!

SOPHY.

It's more my fault than hers.

QUEX.

Continue.

SOPHY.

She has wanted to stop it, hating herself for being deceitful, but
I--I've encouraged her, egg