CHARLES SYLVESTER.

What?  Are you his model?  This is really too bad.  Where is he?

ROSALINE (pointing R.).

He has gone in there.

CHARLES SYLVESTER.

What for? (Calling.) Tempenny!  I say, Tempenny, I want you!

(Enter REMBRANDT TEMPENNY very nervously.)

REMBRANDT TEMPENNY.

Ah—­er—­good morning, dear boy.  What weather, eh?  What weather we’re having to be sure. (Aside to ROSALINE.) You malicious, base-hearted—­(Shakes his fist at her.) Oh!

CHARLES SYLVESTER.

Look here, you know, Tempenny, this won’t do.  You have no right to bring the girl here.  I don’t think it was at all friendly of you.  I—­I consider it a damned liberty of you in fact.

REMBRANDT TEMPENNY (shrinking).

I was afraid you would be vexed, but don’t be cross, dear old man; don’t be “put out” about it. (Trying to laugh.) There are worse troubles at sea, as they say—­worse troubles at sea!

CHARLES SYLVESTER.

(With rising indignation.) But I am put out.  Damn the sea—­what’s that got to do with it.  Mrs. Sylvester has been in and seen her, I understand?  You have served me a very shabby trick, Tempenny—­I am very sorry about it!

REMBRANDT TEMPENNY.

(Still trying to laugh it off.) All comes out in the wash, old chap—­all comes out in the wash, I assure you! (Slaps him on the shoulder.)

CHARLES SYLVESTER.

Don’t do that—­I don’t like it!

REMBRANDT TEMPENNY (nervously).

Ha, ha, ha! (Does it again.)

CHARLES SYLVESTER (shouting).

Don’t!

REMBRANDT TEMPENNY (collapsing).

All right, I won’t.

ROSALINE (advancing).

Charlie!

CHARLES SYLVESTER.

Don’t call me “Charlie”—­I don’t like it.

ROSALINE.

Once—­

CHARLES SYLVESTER.

Well, then, I don’t like it twice—­do you hear!  This is all your fault, Tempenny.  You have got me into a pretty mess upon my word.  My wife won’t believe me, and I shall never hear the end of it.

REMBRANDT TEMPENNY.

And what about mine?

CHARLES SYLVESTER.

Yours?

ROSALINE.

Yes, she has gone to tell her.

CHARLES SYLVESTER (roaring with laughter).

Ha, ha, ha!

REMBRANDT TEMPENNY (miserably).

Remarkably funny, isn’t it?

CHARLES SYLVESTER.

Ha, ha, ha!

ROSALINE.

Ha, ha, ha!

REMBRANDT TEMPENNY.

(To CHARLES SYLVESTER; pointing to ROSALINE.) That girl is a perfect devil.  She smacked my face just now when I was posing as a mandarin.

CHARLES SYLVESTER (staring).