Winsor.  If he did do it—­

Colford.  He didn’t.  But if he did, I’d stick to him, and see him through it, if I could.

     Winsor walks over to the fire, stares into it, turns round and
     stares at Colford, who is standing motionless.

Colford.  Yes, by God!

Curtain.

Scene II
     [note.—­This should be a small set capable of being set quickly
     within that of the previous scene.]

Morning of the following day.  The Dancys’ flat.  In the sitting-room of this small abode Mabel Dancy and Margaret Orme are sitting full face to the audience, on a couch in the centre of the room, in front of the imaginary window.  There is a fireplace, Left, with fire burning; a door below it, Left; and a door on the Right, facing the audience, leads to a corridor and the outer door of the flat, which is visible.  Their voices are heard in rapid exchange; then as the curtain rises, so does Mabel.

Mabel.  But it’s monstrous!

Margaret.  Of course! [She lights a cigarette and hands the case to Mabel, who, however, sees nothing but her own thoughts] De Levis might just as well have pitched on me, except that I can’t jump more than six inches in these skirts.

Mabel.  It’s wicked!  Yesterday afternoon at the Club, did you say?  Ronny hasn’t said a word to me.  Why?

Margaret. [With a long puff of smoke] Doesn’t want you bothered.

Mabel.  But——­Good heavens!——­Me!

Margaret.  Haven’t you found out, Mabel, that he isn’t exactly communicative?  No desperate character is.

Mabel.  Ronny?

Margaret.  Gracious!  Wives are at a disadvantage, especially early on.  You’ve never hunted with him, my dear.  I have.  He takes more sudden decisions than any man I ever knew.  He’s taking one now, I’ll bet.

Mabel.  That beast, De Levis!  I was in our room next door all the time.

Margaret.  Was the door into Ronny’s dressing-room open?

Mabel.  I don’t know; I—­I think it was.

Margaret.  Well, you can say so in Court any way.  Not that it matters. 
Wives are liars by law.

Mabel. [Staring down at her] What do you mean—­Court?

Margaret.  My dear, he’ll have to bring an action for defamation of character, or whatever they call it.

Mabel.  Were they talking of this last night at the WINSOR’s?

Margaret.  Well, you know a dinner-table, Mabel—­Scandal is heaven-sent at this time of year.

Mabel.  It’s terrible, such a thing—­terrible!

Margaret. [Gloomily] If only Ronny weren’t known to be so broke.

Mabel. [With her hands to her forehead] I can’t realise—­I simply can’t. 
If there’s a case would it be all right afterwards?