SCENE: _Outside of MRS. CLARENCE’S house in a fashionable London square. A front door is C. Large windows to R. of door. An area with practical steps descending below stage in front of windows. Area railing. The road is up in course of repairs, so that no vehicles can come quite near. A watchman’s hut L. An ash barrel near hut. Red lights hung about to show road is up. Snow thick upon the ground and steps and railings. Moonlight._ AT RISE: _HORACE discovered down area steps peeping along the pavement. Chuckles._ HORACE. I’ve given him the slip. I’ve fooled him! That’s one on Mars. (_Comes up steps cautiously, looking about him._) Deuce take his impudence! I wish he were in—— Well, Mars would be bad enough, from his description of it. If I could get a cab I’d ride round till morning. (_Enter a policeman R._) Good evening, Policeman. POLICEMAN. Good evening, sir. HORACE. Any cabs about? POLICEMAN. No, sir. Very few out, sir. It’s a bad night. HORACE. By Jove, you are right there. It is the worst night I have ever had. POLICEMAN. There’s a cab stand in the Bouverie Road. You might find one there, sir. HORACE. But you don’t think I will? POLICEMAN. It’s doubtful, sir. HORACE. Look here, I wish you would get me a taxi or four-wheeler, anything. I don’t care what it is. Here’s a half crown for you. If you bring it back in ten minutes I’ll double it with pleasure. POLICEMAN. (_Takes coin_) Thank you, sir. Will you wait here? HORACE. Here or hereabouts. Bring it as near as the road will let you. POLICEMAN. All right, sir. (_Exit POLICEMAN L._) HORACE. Splendid force, the police. I believe this is the best hiding place I can find. (_Descends area steps and disappears from view. Enter MESSENGER L._) MESSENGER. My foolish rabbit! Come from your hole. HORACE. (_Much discomfited—comes up again_) Rabbit! Beastly personal! Oh, there you are. MESSENGER. Trying to hide? HORACE. I’ve been looking for you everywhere—even down in that area. Where have you been? MESSENGER. The policeman will not find a cab. I have taken care of that. HORACE. (_Aside_) He must have been listening. MESSENGER. I have brought you here.... HORACE. You brought me? (_Dejected._) There is no escape. MESSENGER. None whatever. (_HORACE astounded to find his thought read by MESSENGER._) Look around. Do you know where you are? HORACE. (_The front of the house is a transparency and now lights up from within and shows a ballroom. Ladies and gentlemen strolling about between dances._) I declare, if it isn’t Mrs. Clarence’s! In full swing. MESSENGER. I have brought you here where you refused to come to-night to give you your first lesson in _Otherdom_. HORACE. What’s that? Otherdom, you say? (_Interior again dark._)