f course. I mean to _say_----!

ROOPE.

[_Waving_ BERTRAM _down._] Dear excellent friend----!

DUNNING.

[_Taking up his hat, which he has laid upon the smoking-table--to_
ROOPE, _with a satisfied air._] Mr. Sillitoe's got that in hand, sir.
What I _have_ ascertained is that a young feller strolls in
occasionally and smokes a cigarette----

BERTRAM.

And pokes about in the cellar----

DUNNING.

_Calls_ himself Hopwood. But the name written on the lining of his
hat--[_to_ BERTRAM, _carelessly_] oh, I forgot to mention this to you,
Mr. Filson. [_Producing his memorandum-book again._] Old mother Sweasy
was examining the young man's outdoor apparel the other day. [_Turning
the pages with his wet thumb._] The name on the lining of his hat
is--[_finding the entry_] is "Westrip." "Leonard Westrip."

BERTRAM.

Westrip?

SIR RANDLE.

Leonard--Westrip?

LADY FILSON.

Mr. Westrip!

SIR RANDLE.

[_To_ DUNNING, _blinking._] Mr. Westrip is my secretary.

BERTRAM.

[_To_ DUNNING, _agape._] He's my father's secretary.

DUNNING.

[_To_ SIR RANDLE.] Your seckert'ry?

PHILIP.

[_Coming to the nearer end of the settee on the left._] The--the--the
fair boy I've seen in Ennismore Gardens!

ROOPE.

[_Rising and joining_ SIR RANDLE _and_ LADY FILSON_--expressing his
amazement by flourishing his arms._] Oh, my dear excellent friends----!

LADY FILSON.

[_To_ SIR RANDLE.] Randle--what--what next----!

SIR RANDLE.

[_Closing his eyes._] Astounding! Astounding!

DUNNING.

[_Looking about him, rather aggressively._] Well, I seem to have
accidentally dropped a bombshell among you! Will any lady or gentleman
kindly oblige with some particulars----? [_To_ OTTOLINE, _who checks
him with an imperious gesture--changing his tone._] I beg your pardon,
madarme----

[OTTOLINE _has left her chair and come to the
writing-table, where, with a drawn face and downcast
eyes, she is now standing erect._

OTT