JOHN.
Yessir?
PHILIP.
Tell the cook to keep the dinner back for a little while. Do you hear?
JOHN.
[_Astonished._] Keep dinner back, sir?
PHILIP.
Yes. And when Mr. Dunning calls--[_distinctly_] Dunning----
JOHN.
Yessir.
PHILIP.
I'll see him. Show him in.
JOHN.
Yessir.
PHILIP.
You may serve dinner as soon as he's gone. I'll ring.
[JOHN _and the waiter withdraw into the kitchen,
whereupon_ PHILIP, _after watching their departure,
deliberately closes the big doors._ ROOPE, _who has been
picking at his nails nervously, rises and steals away to
the left, and_ SIR RANDLE, _advancing a step or two,
exchanges questioning glances with_ LADY FILSON.
OTTOLINE.
[_Laughingly._] What a terrible shock! I was frightened that Philip had
sprung a strange guest upon us. [_As_ PHILIP _is shutting the doors._]
_Vous etes bien mysterieux, Phil?_ Why are we to starve until this Mr.
Dunning has come and gone?
PHILIP.
Because if I tried to eat without having first disposed of the reptile,
Otto, I should choke.
LADY FILSON.
[_Bewildered._] Reptile?
OTTOLINE.
Philip!
PHILIP.
[_At the chair beside the smoking-table--to_ LADY FILSON.] I apologize
very humbly for making you and Sir Randle, and dear Ottoline, parties
to such unpleasant proceedings, Lady Filson; but the necessity is
forced upon me. [_Coming forward._] Mr. Dunning is one of those
crawling creatures who conduct what are known as confidential
inquiries. In other words, he's a private detective--an odd sort of
person to present to you!----
LADY FILSON.
[_Under her breath._] Great heavens!
PHILIP.
And he has lightened your son's purse, presumably, and crammed his
willing ears with some ridiculous, fantastic tale concerning my
book--"The Big Drum." Mr. Dunning professes to have discovered that I
have conspired with a wicked publisher to deceive you all; that the
book's another of my miss-hits, and
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