ection she has taken._] No, no! Duchess--!
[_A gong sounds in the distance, he pauses, looking at his watch,
angrily._] Ptshah! [_He turns up the stage and discovers_ SOPHY, _who is
now standing behind the hedge._] Hallo! [SOPHY _advances, laughing
rather foolishly._] What are you doing here?

SOPHY.

Looking for my rings. I took them off before I began manicuring you.

QUEX.

[_Pointing to the hedge._] You didn't drop them there, did you?

SOPHY.

No, I left them on the table.

QUEX.

[_Looking towards the table._] _There's_ the table.

SOPHY.

[_Coming to the table and putting on her rings_.] Yes, I know.

QUEX.

[_After a short pause._] How long have you been here?

SOPHY.

I? Oh, I'd just come as you spoke to me.

QUEX.

[_Half-satisfied._] Oh--?

[_He goes up the steps, gives her a parting look, and, disappears. It is
now twilight._ MRS. EDEN, FRAYNE, _and_ MURIEL--_all dressed for
dinner--appear on the other side of the low hedge._

MRS. EDEN.

[_To_ FRAYNE, _walking with him above the hedge._] Delightful, isn't it?
It was planted by the late Lord Owbridge's father a hundred years ago.

FRAYNE.

[_Seeing_ SOPHY.] Why, isn't that the young manicure lady?

MRS. EDEN.

Yes. All these pieces of sculpture are genuine old Italian. This quaint
little fountain came from the Villa Marchotti--

FRAYNE.

[_Edging towards_ SOPHY.] Alluring.

MRS. EDEN.

This is the fountain.

FRAYNE.

[_Returning to her_.] Quaint old fountain.

SOPHY.

[_To_ MURIEL, _across the hedge in a whisper._] Darling!

MRS. EDEN.

[_Looking into the distance._] I think I see the dear Duchess.

FRAYNE.

[_Alertly._] Where?

MRS. EDEN.

There.

FRAYNE.

I have the honour of knowing her Grace slightly.

MRS. EDEN.

[_Moving away._] What a sweet woman!

FRAYNE.

[_Following her._] Alluring!

[_They disappear through the trees as_ MURIEL, _coming from below the
hedge, joins_ SOPHY.

SOPHY.

Darling!

MURIEL.

What is it, Sophy?

SOPHY.

Lord Quex and this--this Duchess--they know each other very well, of
course?

MURIEL.

They are old acquaintances, I understand.

SOPHY.

Ah!

MURIEL.

Why do you ask?

SOPHY.

I've just seen them together, talking.

MURIEL.

Talking? why not?

SOPHY.

Yes, but how?

MURIEL.

How?

SOPHY.

I'll tell you. After you went indoors to dress, I took off my rings and
put them on that table. [_Looking away rather guiltily._] Rin