That seemed to be the only adequate retort to make to anything that Jimphy said. "Yes, I can't stand 'em. Cecily let me in to-night ... on a chap's birthday, too. She might have chosen the Empire!" "You like music-halls then?" "They're all right. Better than theatres anyhow. I like to see girls dancing and ... and ... all that kind of thing!" A bell rang, warning them that the second act was about to begin. "I suppose we ought to go back," said Henry, putting his glass down. He had barely touched the whisky and soda. "No hurry," Lord Jasper replied. "No hurry. And you haven't drunk your whisky? Cecily's quite happy with that chap, Farlow.... I don't like him myself ... oh, I say, he's a pal of yours, isn't he? Well, it doesn't matter now. I don't like him, and he doesn't like me. I know he doesn't. I can always tell a chap doesn't like me because I generally don't like him. Have another, will you?" Henry shook his head. "I think we ought to be getting back," he said, "I hate disturbing people after the curtain's gone up!" "You don't want to see that rotten play, do you? Look here ... I've forgotten your name! Sorry!..." "Quinn. Henry Quinn!" "Oh, Quinn! You're not English, are you?" "I'm Irish." "Are you? That's damn funny! Well, anyhow, what I was going to say was this. You don't want to see this rotten play, do you?" "I do rather!..." "No, you don't, Quinn. No, you don't. And I don't want to see it, either. Very well, then, what's to prevent you and me going to the Empire together, eh? We can come back for Cecily!..." Henry stared at Lord Jasper. "But we can't do that," he protested. "Oh, yes we can. Cecily won't mind. She'll be glad. We'll go and tell her ... and look here, Quinn, I'll introduce you to a girl I know ... very nice girl ... perfect lady ... lives with her mother as a matter of fact ... Eh?" "I'd much rather see the play!" "Oh, all right," Lord Jasper said sulkily. "All right!" Henry moved towards the door of the bar, but Lord Jasper made no attempt to follow him. "Aren't you coming?" he said, pausing at the door. "No," Lord Jasper replied. "I don't want to see the damn play. I shall have another drink, and then I shall go to the Empire by myself. You better go back to Cecily and ... and that chap Farlow. She won't notice I'm not there!" "You'd better come and tell her yourself, hadn't you?" Henry said. Lord Jasper deliberated with himself for a few moments. "All right," he said. "I will. I'll come presently. You tell her, will you, that I'll come presently. P'raps you'll change your mind, Quinn, and come with me to the Empire after you've had another dose of this damn play. A chap doesn't want to see a play on a chap's birthday!..." It occurred to Henry that Lord Jasper Jayne was slightly drunk. He had swallowed the second whisky and soda rather more expeditiously than he had swallowed the first, and no doubt he had dined well. There was a bleary look in his eyes that signified a heated brain....