[_To CHARLOTTE._] It's all right; come along!
[_To AGATHA POSKET._] Oh, those oysters look so nice.
[_To himself._] Stop! In my trouble, I am forgetting even the commonest courtesies to these ladies. [_To AGATHA POSKET._] You have a long journey before you. I am sure your husband would not forgive me for letting you face such weather unprepared. Let me recommend an oyster or two and a thimbleful of champagne.
[_To AGATHA POSKET._] Say yes. I'm starving.
As you please. [_To himself._] I knew they'd refuse. I've done my duty.
[_To AGATHA POSKET._] I was in the train till seven o'clock. Wait till you're a _boná-fide_ traveller--accept.
Ahem! Colonel, the fact is my poor sister has been travelling all day and is a little exhausted.
[_Horrified._] You don't mean to say you're going to give me the inestimable pleasure. [_CHARLOTTE looks across at him, nodding and smiling._] I am delighted.
[_CHARLOTTE sits hungrily at table; LUKYN fetches a bottle of champagne from the sideboard._
[_To CHARLOTTE._] Charlotte, I am surprised.
[_To AGATHA POSKET._] Nonsense, the best people come here. Some of them have left their names on the mirrors.
[_Behind the curtain._] This is much too bad of Lukyn. What are they doing now? [_LUKYN draws the cork._] Confound it, they're having my supper!
[_There is a clatter of knives and forks heard from the other room, then a burst of laughter from CIS._
[_Starting._] Charley, hark! How strange!
[_CIS is heard singing the chorus of a comic song boisterously._
[_Munching._] The only voice I recognise is the voice of hunger.
[_LUKYN, with his head drooping, fetches the dish of oysters from the sideboard._
[_Behind the curtains._] He has taken the oysters. I've seen him do it.
[_LUKYN sinks into his chair at the table and leans his head upon his hand; the two women look at each other._
Oh--poor fellow. [_She gently lifts the corner of the dish, sniffs, then replaces cover._] No plates.
[_Behind curtains._] This silence is terrible.
No plates? No plates? It's my fault. Pardon me. Where are the plates?
[_VALE, still invisible, stretches out his hand through the curtain, takes up the plates and presents them to LUKYN, who recoils._
[_In a whisper._] Here are the plates. Look sharp, Lukyn.