Graviter.  By George!  I feel bad about this.

Twisden.  Yes.  But professional honour comes first.  What time is that train? [He bends over the ABC].

Curtain.

SCENE II

The same room on the following morning at ten-twenty-five, by the
Grandfather clock.

The young Clerk is ushering in Dancy, whose face is perceptibly
harder than it was three months ago, like that of a man who has
lived under great restraint.

Dancy.  He wanted to see me before the Court sat.

Young Clerk.  Yes, sir.  Mr Twisden will see you in one minute.  He had to go out of town last night. [He prepares to open the waiting-room door].

Dancy.  Were you in the war?

Young Clerk.  Yes.

Dancy.  How can you stick this?

Young Clerk. [With a smile] My trouble was to stick that, sir.

Dancy.  But you get no excitement from year’s end to year’s end.  It’d drive me mad.

Young Clerk. [Shyly] A case like this is pretty exciting.  I’d give a lot to see us win it.

Dancy. [Staring at him] Why?  What is it to you?

Young Clerk.  I don’t know, sir.  It’s—­it’s like football—­you want your side to win. [He opens the waiting-room door.  Expanding] You see some rum starts, too, in a lawyer’s office in a quiet way.

     Dancy enters the waiting-room, and the young Clerk, shutting the
     door, meets Twisden as he comes in, Left Forward, and takes from him
     overcoat, top hat, and a small bag.

Young Clerk.  Captain Dancy’s waiting, sir. [He indicates the waiting-room].

Twisden. [Narrowing his lips] Very well.  Mr Graviter gone to the Courts?

Young Clerk.  Yes, sir.

Twisden.  Did he leave anything for me?

Young Clerk.  On the table, sir.

Twisden. [Taking up an envelope] Thank you.

     The Clerk goes.

Twisden. [Opening the envelope and reading] “All corroborates.”  H’m! [He puts it in his pocket and takes out of an envelope the two notes, lays them on the table, and covers them with a sheet of blotting-paper; stands a moment preparing himself, then goes to the door of the waiting-room, opens it, and says:] Now, Captain Dancy.  Sorry to have kept you waiting.

Dancy. [Entering] Winsor came to me yesterday about General Canynge’s evidence.  Is that what you wanted to speak to me about?

Twisden.  No.  It isn’t that.

Dancy. [Looking at his wrist watch] By me it’s just on the half-hour, sir.

Twisden.  Yes.  I don’t want you to go to the Court.