BETTY. [Moving swiftly to WALTER.] Well, now’s your time.  One thing or the other.

WALTER. [Savagely.] You fiend!

BETTY.  I’ll go and see her to-morrow—­see her constantly—­

WALTER.  Why are you doing this?

BETTY.  You’ve ruined my life and his.  At least, you shan’t be happy.

WALTER.  And you imagine I’ll come back to you—­that we’ll go on, you and
I?

BETTY. [Scornfully.] No—­don’t be afraid!  You’ve shown yourself to me to-day.  That’s all done with—­finished. His friend now—­with the load off you—­but never her husband.  Never!

     [HECTOR comes bustling back, with the bottle of Hock, and a
     wine-glass that he gives to BETTY—­she holds it, and he fills
     it from the bottle.

HECTOR.  Here you are, my girl—­and now, where’s my whiskey? [He trots round to the side table, finds his glass, and WALTER’S—­hands one to WALTER.] Here, Wallie—­yours must be the one that’s begun—­I didn’t have time to touch mine!  Here. [WALTER takes it.] And forgive me, old man, for thinking, even one minute—­[He wrings him by the hand.] Here’s to you, old friend.  And Betty, to you!  Oh, Lord, I just want this drink!

BETTY. [In cold, clear tones, as she holds up her glass.] To Walter, the Bachelor!

     [She drains her glass; WALTER has his moment’s hesitation; he
     drinks, and with tremendous effort succeeds in composing his
     face.

HECTOR. [Gaily.] To Walter, the Bachelor! [He drinks his glass to the dregs and puts it down.] And now—­for a game.

WALTER.  I think I—­

HECTOR. [Coaxingly.] Sit down, laddie—­just one rubber.  It’s quite early.  Do.  There’s a good chap. [They all sit: HECTOR at back, BETTY to the left of him, WALTER to the right—­he spreads out the cards—­they draw for partners.] As we are—­you and Betty—­I’ve got the dummy. [He shuffles the cards—­BETTY cuts—­he begins to deal.] That’s how I like it—­one on each side of me.  Also I like having dummy.  Now, Betty, play up.  Oh, Lord, how good it is, how good!  A nightmare, I tell you—­terrible!  And really you must forgive me for being such an ass.  But the way you played up, both of you!  My little Betty—­a Duse, that’s what she is—­a real Duse! [He gathers up his cards.] And the gods are kind to me—­I’ve got a hand, I tell you!  I call NO TRUMPS!

     [He beams at them—­they are placidly sorting their cards.  He
     puts his hand down and proceeds to look at his dummy, as the
     curtain falls.

CURTAIN

A MARRIAGE HAS BEEN ARRANGED....

THE PERSONS OF THE PLAY

MR. HARRISON CROCKSTEAD LADY ALINE DE VAUX