MANSON.  You rang.

AUNTIE.  Yes, come in, Manson.  I want to have a little confidential talk with you—­confidential, you understand.

MANSON [eying her].  If you please.  I expected this.

[He has the air of a judge.  She hurries on, unheeding.]

AUNTIE.  Manson, you saw everything.  You were here when that dreadful creature arrived.

MANSON.  Which?

AUNTIE.  Why, my husband’s brother, Robert.  Didn’t you tell me,
William, that Manson heard everything he said?

VICAR.  Yes.

AUNTIE.  Then you will know the wretched plight we are in.  Manson, it’s terrible.  I want your help.  By-the-way, you have not spoken about it to the other servants?

MANSON.  I am always most discreet.

AUNTIE [touched].  Thank you, Manson, thank you:  I felt that I could trust you.  It’s to prove my trust that I’ve sent for you now.  Perhaps I’d better begin by explaining everything quite clearly, so that you . . .

MANSON.  There is no need.  I know everything already.

AUNTIE, Everything!  How? . . .

MANSON.  A certain gift of divination—­mine by birth.  And, besides, you forget that I had a long conversation with your brother-in-law after master left the room.

AUNTIE.  What!  Whilst my brother was here?

MANSON.  Yes:  we all three had breakfast together.

AUNTIE.  Breakfast together!  Then James has heard all!

MANSON.  Not quite all.  You may have observed that your brother is a little deaf.

AUNTIE.  But surely—­ What did he think?

MANSON.  He mistook him for your husband.

AUNTIE.  My husband!

MANSON.  Your brother is also a little blind, remember.

AUNTIE [delighted].  Then James never found out? . . .

MANSON.  Oh yes:  I took care to undeceive him on the point.

AUNTIE.  Good gracious!  How did he take it?

MANSON.  At first, a little angrily; but, after a while, some few poor words of my own chanced to move him to more—­profitable meditation.

AUNTIE.  Manson, you’re perfectly wonderful!  I respect you very, very much!

MANSON.  It is not enough.  I shall require more.

AUNTIE [embarrassed].  Oh, of course, I shall be glad to do anything that . . .

Why, what do you mean? . . .

MANSON.  I mean that service such as mine demands a greater recompense!

AUNTIE.  You may be sure that anything in reason . . .

MANSON.  It must go beyond that!

AUNTIE.  Well, what do you ask?

MANSON.  The uttermost obedience, loyalty, and love!

AUNTIE.  Manson, how dare you!  By what right . . .

MANSON.  By my own right!

AUNTIE.  This is insolence!  What right do you mean?

MANSON.  The right of understanding, the right of purpose, and the right of will!