POLLITT.

Dearest, let me advise you—­

SOPHY.

[Her hand upon his lips.] Ah, don’t lecture! [BASTLING saunters forward to attract SOPHY’S attention.] Oh—! [To POLLITT, hurriedly.] Go now.  Pop in again by-and-by. [Caressingly.] Um-m-m! my love!

[POLLITT goes out by the window.

SOPHY.

[Joining BASTLING—­formally.] Good day, Captain Bastling.

BASTLING.

Good afternoon, Miss Fullgarney.

SOPHY.

[Dropping her voice.] She’ll be here in a minute.

BASTLING.

[In low tones—­making a show of examining the articles on the circular table.] Yes, I had a note from her this morning. [Glancing at QUEX.] Confounded nuisance—!

SOPHY.

[Pretending to display the articles.] It’s all right; he’s got to take Lady Owbridge and Mrs. Jack Eden to look at Moses in the Bulrushes—­a picture—­

BASTLING.

Sophy—­I’ve bad news.

SOPHY.

No! what?

BASTLING.

My regiment is ordered to Hong-Kong.

SOPHY.

Great heavens! when are you off?

BASTLING.

In a fortnight.

SOPHY.

Oh, my poor darling!

BASTLING.

I must see her again to-morrow.  I’ve something serious to propose to her.

SOPHY.

[Half in eagerness, half in fright.] Have you?

BASTLING.

But to-morrow it must be alone, Sophy; I can’t say what I have to say in a few hasty whispers, with all your girls flitting about—­and perhaps a customer or two here.  Alone!

SOPHY.

Without me?

BASTLING.

Surely you can trust us.  To-morrow at twelve.  You’ll manage it?

SOPHY.

How can I—­alone?

BASTLING.

You’re our only friend.  Think!

SOPHY.

[Glancing suddenly towards the left.] Valma’s rooms!

[FRAYNE has wandered to the back of the circular table, and, through his eyeglass, is again observing SOPHY.  QUEX now joins him.

BASTLING.

[Perceiving them—­to SOPHY.] Look out!

SOPHY.

[Taking a bottle from his hand—­raising her voice.] You’ll receive the perfume in the course of the afternoon. [Replacing the bottle upon the table.] Shall I do your nails?

BASTLING.

Thanks.

[They move away.  He takes his place in the screen-chair; she sits facing him.  During the process of manicuring they talk together earnestly.

FRAYNE.

[Eyeing SOPHY.] Slim, but shapely.  Slim, but shapely.

MISS MOON enters, with a bowl of water.  Having adjusted the bowl upon the arm of the screen-chair, she retires.