MRS. BANKET.  O Tom, do be quiet!

MRS. WESTERN. [To the JUDGE.] You’re very unsympathetic. [Turning to
MARTIN again.] None of the other servants came in after we left?

MARTIN.  No, madam.

MRS. WESTERN.  You’re sure?

MARTIN.  Quite sure, madam.  They were all downstairs, having their supper.

MRS. WESTERN.  Most mysterious!  Incomprehensible!

JUDGE. [Looking at his watch.] Past nine!  We shall plunge into the play—­like body-snatchers, looking for the corpse of the plot—­and we shall never know what it was that the heroine did.

MRS. WESTERN. [Ignoring him, to MARTIN.] Smithers I’ll answer for.

MARTIN.  Oh yes, madam.  If I might make a suggestion—­

MRS. WESTERN.  Well?

MARTIN.  It couldn’t have fallen anywhere into your dress, madam?

MRS. WESTERN.  Nonsense, how could it? [She gets up and shakes herself.]
Absurd. [She sits again.

MARTIN.  Into your cloak?

MRS. WESTERN.  Silk!  No.  That’ll do, Martin.  You might help the others outside. [MARTIN goes.

JUDGE. [With a step forward.] Now, admirable sister—­

MRS. WESTERN.  Didn’t it strike you that Martin’s manner was rather strange?

HARVEY. [Fretfully.] Really you must not suspect the servants!

MRS. WESTERN. [Turning to him.] Must not—­must!  That’s scarcely the way to speak to me, Harvey.

HARVEY. [Deprecatingly.] My dear—­

MRS. WESTERN.  And I wasn’t suspecting—­I was merely asking a question of my brother.

JUDGE.  Come, Alice, let’s go.

MRS. WESTERN. [Shaking her head.] You three go.  You’ll excuse me.

JUDGE. [Cheerfully.] If you insist—­

MRS. BANKET. [Coming forward.] No, no. Do come, Alice!

MRS. WESTERN.  I can’t—­I’m so puzzled. [With a sudden idea.] Oh!

HARVEY. [Who is behind her to the left, between her and the JUDGE.]
What?  Have you found it?

MRS. WESTERN.  No, no—­of course not.  But ring, please, will you?

HARVEY.  Why?

MRS. WESTERN, I want you to ring. [He presses the bell by the fireplace.] I just remember Miss Farren came in while we were having coffee.

HARVEY. [Indignantly.] Alice!

MRS. WESTERN.  I asked her to write a card to Harrod’s—­she’ll have written it in here.

HARVEY. [Angrily.] I say—­really!

MRS. WESTERN. [Coldly.] No need to snub me again—­before our guests!  I need scarcely say I am not suspecting Miss Farren—­but in justice to her—­

MRS. BANKET.  But, Alice, she’ll have gone out—­you told her she might—­

MRS. WESTERN.  Only to her sister’s close by—­and she may not have gone yet.  Why don’t they answer the bell?  Ring again, Harvey.