(_Exeunt l., Bamford and Smithson. Walter before fireplace, Lucy c, above table, Stephen r. of table._)
Now, Mr. Montgomery, my lad, what sort of a trick do you call this to play on your future father-in-law? You've a queer idea of tact, you have.
Walter. It wasn't my intention to be tactful, sir.
Ste. You're not improving your chances of marrying my daughter, you know.
Walter. How do you know I want to marry her?
Ste. Why, you told me so yourself, the other night.
Walter. Since then, you see, I've made discoveries. If a man is known by the company he keeps, the same applies to a woman. The woman I'm going to marry doesn't, help to form a robbery syndicate along with Messieurs Alcorn, Smithson and Bamford. So if you thought to buy my silence by giving me your daughter, you made a bad mistake. No. Bamford's the man for her. Partners in scoundrelism, partners in life.
Bam. (_apologetically, crossing r._). All right. I only want my pipe. Left it in my overcoat.
Walter. Mr. Bamford, I congratulate you. (_Holding out hand._)
Walter, On being my successful rival for the hand of Miss Verity.
Bam. What's this? Was _he_ the other you spoke of? (_To Stephen._)
Bam. (_to Walter_). Who told you about me?
Walter. Oh, news soon gets round. (_Lightly._)
Bam. (_r. c._). Does it? Well, there's two sorts of news. Correct news and incorrect news. Both sorts gets round, but incorrect news gets round most. See what I mean?
Bam. (_to Stephen_). You will. (_To Walter._) Look here, have you given her up?
Walter. You wouldn't have me stand in your way, would you?
Bam. Had you now? I'd like to hear those reasons.
Walter. That's not quite fair to the lady, I think.
Bam. Is he? I take no man's leavings without I know why he left 'em.
Walter. It's all square, man. She's yours now.
Lucy (_rises to go_). The goods needn't be on exhibition while the sale proceeds.
(_Stephen points her angrily to chair l. She sits._)
Ste. Here, sit down. Now, Sam, what's it all about?
Bam. I'd as lief tell you when you're by yourself.
Ste. You can speak now. We're all concerned in this.
Walter. I beg your pardon. I've ceased to----
Ste. (_his back to the right door_). Now, Sam?
Walter (_sitting below fire_). Oh, very well.
Bam. (_r. c., awkwardly_). Well, I've been thinking things over. The married state and--well----
