Twisden.  You must allow me to judge where my duty lay, in a very hard case.

Colford.  I thought a man was safe with his solicitor.

Canynge.  Colford, you don’t understand professional etiquette.

Colford.  No, thank God!

Twisden.  When you have been as long in your profession as I have been in mine, Major Colford, you will know that duty to your calling outweighs duty to friend or client.

Colford.  But I serve the Country.

Twisden.  And I serve the Law, sir.

Canynge.  Graviter, give me a sheet of paper.  I’ll write a letter for him.

Margaret. [Going up to Twisden] Dear Mr Jacob—­pay De Levis.  You know my pearls—­put them up the spout again.  Don’t let Ronny be—­

Twisden.  Money isn’t the point, Margaret.

Margaret.  It’s ghastly!  It really is.

Colford.  I’m going in to shake hands with him. [He starts to cross the room].

Twisden.  Wait!  We want him to go straight off to Morocco.  Don’t upset him. [To Colford and Margaret] I think you had better go.  If, a little later, Margaret, you could go round to Mrs Dancy—­

Colford.  Poor little Mabel Dancy!  It’s perfect hell for her.

     They have not seen that Dancy has opened the door behind them.

Dancy.  It is!

     They all turn round in consternation.

Colford. [With a convulsive movement] Old boy!

Dancy.  No good, Colford. [Gazing round at them] Oh! clear out—­I can’t stand commiseration; and let me have some air.

     Twisden motions to Colford and Margaret to go; and as he turns to
     Dancy, they go out.  Graviter also moves towards the door.  The
     general sits motionless.  Graviter goes Out.

Twisden.  Well?

Dancy.  I’m going home, to clear up things with my wife.  General Canynge, I don’t quite know why I did the damned thing.  But I did, and there’s an end of it.

Canynge.  Dancy, for the honour of the Army, avoid further scandal if you can.  I’ve written a letter to a friend of mine in the Spanish War Office.  It will get you a job in their war. [Canynge closes the envelope].

Dancy.  Very good of you.  I don’t know if I can make use of it.

     Canynge stretches out the letter, which Twisden hands to Dancy, who
     takes it.  Graviter re-opens the door.

Twisden.  What is it?

Graviter.  De Levis is here.

Twisden.  De Levis?  Can’t see him.

Dancy.  Let him in!