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?

Margaret.  Do you remember St Offert—­cards?  No, you wouldn’t—­you were in high frocks.  Well, St Offert got damages, but he also got the hoof, underneath.  He lives in Ireland.  There isn’t the slightest connection, so far as I can see, Mabel, between innocence and reputation.  Look at me!

Mabel.  We’ll fight it tooth and nail!

Margaret.  Mabel, you’re pure wool, right through; everybody’s sorry for you.

Mabel.  It’s for him they ought—­

Margaret. [Again handing the cigarette case] Do smoke, old thing.

     Mabel takes a cigarette this time, but does not light it.

It isn’t altogether simple.  General Canynge was there last night.  You don’t mind my being beastly frank, do you?

Mabel.  No.  I want it.

Margaret.  Well, he’s all for esprit de corps and that.  But he was awfully silent.

Mabel.  I hate half-hearted friends.  Loyalty comes before everything.

Margaret.  Ye-es; but loyalties cut up against each other sometimes, you know.

Mabel.  I must see Ronny.  D’you mind if I go and try to get him on the telephone?

Margaret.  Rather not.