[_PRINGLE comes in through the door which JESSIE is holding open._
[_Rises and makes a step forward._] Mr. Pringle! You can go, Jessie.
[_JESSIE goes out with an air of baffled curiosity._
[_Shaking hands with MRS. FUTVOYE._] Pray excuse my coming in unannounced--but it's rather urgent.
How do you do, Mr. Pringle? [_Indicating the sofa below the window._] Do sit down.
I feel reassured already. I had a dreadful apprehension that I might come _too late_.
[_With a pathetic attempt to maintain appearances._] Half past twelve is surely _quite_ early enough. Not that I am anything but delighted to see _you_, at _any_ time.
You are very kind. [_He sits down._] But--to be quite frank--I called to see the Professor. Could I have a word or two with him at once?
[_Who has taken a chair near the sofa._] I'm _so_ sorry--but that's really impossible just now.
Indeed? I trust he is not unwell--after last night?
N--not _unwell_ exactly. But--not _quite_ his usual self.
[_More noise from study, and SYLVIA'S voice heard exclaiming:_ "Papa! Papa!"
[_Looking round._] He seems to be in his study,--and I thought I heard Miss Sylvia's voice.
Yes--yes--he--he's particularly busy this morning.
[_Puzzled._] So it appears. But--[_rising_]--I wouldn't interrupt him for long, and it really is _most_ important.
[_Rising in agitation._] I do assure you he can see _nobody_ at present.
[_She seats herself, persuading him to sit down also._
But, Mrs. Futvoye,--if you knew what I have discovered----!
About Ventimore. I want to put the Professor on his guard against receiving any--er--emissary from him.
[_Slightly relieved._] Oh, he's not likely to do _that_--he has _much_ more important matters to think about!
[_The noise is renewed; stamping, plunging, overturned chairs._
Just so. Then--if I might speak to Miss Sylvia?
[_Hastily._] _She_ is very busy too, helping my husband. [_Here the noise reaches its finale in a resounding crash and clatter of falling furniture and shivered glass; MRS. FUTVOYE proceeds without appearing to have noticed it._] He--he sometimes makes use of her as--as his amanuensis.
[_The sliding-doors are suddenly run back, and SYLVIA appears. She does not see PRINGLE, who has risen and moved to the right, from which position he can see into the study. MRS. FUTVOYE makes a movement towards her to check any disclosures._