QUEX.

[Coming down gloomily.] Is it all right?

DUCHESS.

Quite. [Advancing to him with outstretched hands.] Welcome, Harry! oh, welcome!

QUEX.

[Retreating a few steps—­firmly.] One moment.  I have something to ask of you, Sidonia. [Looking round.] You are sure—?

DUCHESS.

Yes, yes.  Only don’t raise your voice; [glancing towards the door] my maid sleeps in a room at the end of that passage. [Gracefully seating herself upon the settee and motioning him to sit beside her.] Sit down.  Oh, the woe of this final meeting! the pathos of it!

QUEX.

[Bitterly, withdrawing the chair a little further from the table.] Yes, I agree with you—­there is an element of wofulness in this meeting; it is not altogether without pathos.

DUCHESS.

Not altogether!

QUEX.

[Sitting, facing her.] But, for yourself, my dear Sidonia—­well, I have the consolation of believing that directly you turn your back upon Fauncey Court much of the wofulness of your position will evaporate.

DUCHESS.

Harry!

QUEX.

Forgive me—­you admit that you delight in colouring even the most ordinary events of life rather highly.  If I may put it more roughly, you are disposed, my dear Sidonia—­at times, perhaps, a little inopportunely—­to burn a good deal of red fire. [Leaning forward.] At any rate, I beg an especial favour of you to-night.

DUCHESS.

What—?

QUEX.

[Distinctly.] No red fire.

DUCHESS.

[Chilled.] Is this the something you had to ask of me? [He bows in assent.] I cannot remember ever having seen you in this mood.

QUEX.

This is our first actual tete-a-tete since my engagement to Miss Eden.

DUCHESS.

Oh, I understand.

QUEX.

And now shall I tell you where the wofulness and the pathos most conspicuously display themselves on this occasion?

DUCHESS.

If you wish to.

QUEX.

In the confounded treachery of my being here at all.

DUCHESS.

Treachery?

QUEX.

You know I am under a bond of good behaviour to my old aunt and to the
Edens.

DUCHESS.

[With a slight shrug of the shoulders.] Really?

QUEX.

Yes. [Clenching his teeth.] And this is how I observe it.  After all my resolutions, this—­this is how I observe it.

[He rises and paces up and down the room.

DUCHESS.

[Fretfully.] I am bound to remark that your present behaviour appears quite unimpeachable.

QUEX.

Unimpeachable! here—­alone—­in your company!

DUCHESS.

[Covering her eyes with her hand.] Oh, cruel, cruel!