(He goes off happily.  A curious family the MARDENS.  Perhaps somebody else would have committed bigamy if he had not remembered in time that it was Ernest. . . .  Ernest. . . .  Yes. . . .  Now he can go back with an easy conscience to the Trevors.)

THE CAMBERLEY TRIANGLE

A COMEDY IN ONE ACT

CHARACTERS

KATE CAMBERLEY. 
CYRIL NORWOOD (her lover). 
DENNIS CAMBERLEY (her husband).

* * * * *

This play was first produced by Mr. Godfrey Tearle at the Coliseum on September 8, 1919, with the following cast: 

Dennis Camberley—­GODFREY TEARLE. 
Kate Camberley—­MARY MALONE. 
Cyril Norwood—­EWAN BROOK.

THE CAMBERLEY TRIANGLE

(It is an evening of 1919 in KATE’S drawing-room.  She is expecting him, and the Curtain goes up as he is announced.)

MAID.  Mr. Cyril Norwood.

(He comes in.)

NORWOOD (for the MAID’S benefit, but you may be sure she knows).  Ah, good evening, Mrs. Camberley!

KATE.  Good evening!

(They shake hands.  NORWOOD is sleek and prosperous, in a morning coat with a white slip to his waistcoat.  He is good-looking in rather an obvious way with rather an obvious moustache.  Most women like him—­at least, so he will tell you.)

NORWOOD (as soon as they are alone).  My darling!

KATE.  Cyril!

(He takes her hands and kisses them.  He would kiss her face, but she is not quite ready for this.)

NORWOOD.  You let me yesterday.  Why mayn’t I kiss you to-day?

KATE.  Not just yet, dear.  I want to talk to you.  Come and sit down.

(They sit on the sofa together.)

NORWOOD.  You aren’t sorry for what you said yesterday?

KATE (looking at him thoughtfully, and then shaking her head).  No.

NORWOOD.  Then what’s happened?

KATE.  I’ve just had a letter from Dennis.

NORWOOD (anxiously).  Dennis—­your husband?

KATE.  Yes.

NORWOOD.  Where does he write from?

KATE.  India.

NORWOOD.  Oh, well!

KATE.  He says I may expect him home almost as soon as I get the letter.

NORWOOD.  Good Heavens!

KATE.  Yes. . . .

NORWOOD (always hopeful).  Perhaps he didn’t catch the boat that he expected to.  Wouldn’t he have cabled from somewhere on the way?

KATE.  You can’t depend on cables nowadays. I don’t know—­What are we to do, Cyril?

NORWOOD.  You know what I always wanted you to do. (He takes her hands)
Come away with me.

KATE (doubtfully).  And let Dennis come home and find—­an empty house?

NORWOOD (eagerly).  You are nothing to him, and he is nothing to you.  A war-wedding!—­after you’d been engaged to each other for a week!  And forty-eight hours afterwards he is sent out to India—­and you haven’t seen him since.