MISS FLYN
Your commands shall be obeyed implicitly.

MARIAN
You are good (agitated).

MISS FLYN
Moderate your apprehensions, my sweet friend.  I too have known my
sorrows—­(smiling).—­You have heard of the ridiculous affair.

MARIAN
Between Mr. Pendulous and you?  Davenport informed me of it, and we both
took the liberty of blaming the over-niceness of your scruples.

MISS FLYN You mistake.  The refinement is entirely on the part of my lover.  He thinks me not nice enough.  I am obliged to feign a little reluctance, that he may not take quite a distaste to me.  Will you believe it, that he turns my very constancy into a reproach, and declares, that a woman must be devoid of all delicacy, that, after a thing of that sort, could endure the sight of her husband in——­

MARIAN
In what?

MISS FLYN
The sight of a man at all in——­

MARIAN
I comprehend you not.

MISS FLYN
In—­in a—­(whispers)—­night cap, my dear; and now the mischief is out.

MARIAN
Is there no way to cure him?

MISS FLYN None, unless I were to try the experiment, by placing myself in the hands of justice for a little while, how far an equality in misfortune might breed a sympathy in sentiment.  Our reputations would be both upon a level, then, you know.  What think you of a little innocent shop-lifting, in sport?

MARIAN
And by that contrivance to be taken before a magistrate? the project
sounds oddly.

MISS FLYN
And yet I am more than half persuaded it is feasible.

Enter Betty.

BETTY
Mr. Davenport is below, ma’am, and desires to speak with you.

MARIAN
You will excuse me—­(going—­turning back.)—­You will remember the
casket? [Exit.]

MISS FLYN
Depend on me.

BETTY
And a strange man desires to see you, ma’am.  I do not half like his
looks.

MISS FLYN
Shew him in.

(Exit Betty, and returns—­with a Police Officer.  Betty goes out.)

OFFICER
Your servant, ma’am.  Your name is——­

MISS FLYN
Flyn, sir.  Your business with me?

OFFICER
(Alternately surveying the lady and his paper of instructions.) Marian
Flint.

MISS FLYN
Maria Flyn.

OFFICER
Aye, aye, Flyn or Flint.  ’Tis all one.  Some write plain Mary, and some
put ann after it.  I come about a casket.

MISS FLYN
I guess the whole business.  He takes me for my friend.  Something may
come out of this.  I will humour him.

OFFICER (Aside)—­Answers the description to a tittle.  “Soft, grey eyes, pale complexion,”——­

MISS FLYN
Yet I have been told by flatterers that my eyes were blue—­(takes out
a pocket-glass)—­I hope I look pretty tolerably to-day.