_Juggins, the footman, comes in with a card on a salver. He is a rather low-spirited man of thirty-five or more, of good appearance and address, and iron self-command._ JUGGINS. [presenting the salver to Mr Gilbey] Lady wishes to see Mr Bobby's parents, sir. GILBEY. [pointing to Mrs Gilbey] Theres Mr Bobby's parent. I disown him. JUGGINS. Yes, sir. [He presents the salver to Mrs Gilbey]. MRS GILBEY. You mustnt mind what your master says, Juggins: he doesnt mean it. [She takes the card and reads it]. Well, I never! GILBEY. Whats up now? MRS GILBEY. [reading] "Miss D. Delaney. Darling Dora." Just like that--in brackets. What sort of person, Juggins? GILBEY. Whats her address? MRS GILBEY. The West Circular Road. Is that a respectable address, Juggins? JUGGINS. A great many most respectable people live in the West Circular Road, madam; but the address is not a guarantee of respectability. GILBEY. So it's come to that with him, has it? MRS GILBEY. Dont jump to conclusions, Rob. How do you know? [To Juggins] Is she a lady, Juggins? You know what I mean. JUGGINS. In the sense in which you are using the word, no, madam. MRS GILBEY. I'd better try what I can get out of her. [To Juggins] Shew her up. You dont mind, do you, Rob? GILBEY. So long as you dont flounce out and leave me alone with her. [He rises and plants himself on the hearth-rug]. _Juggins goes out._ MRS GILBEY. I wonder what she wants, Rob? GILBEY. If she wants money, she shant have it. Not a farthing. A nice thing, everybody seeing her on our doorstep! If it wasnt that she may tell us something about the lad, I'd have Juggins put the hussy into the street. JUGGINS. [returning and announcing] Miss Delaney. [He waits for express orders before placing a chair for this visitor]. _Miss Delaney comes in. She is a young lady of hilarious disposition, very tolerable good looks, and killing clothes. She is so affable and confidential that it is very difficult to keep her at a distance by any process short of flinging her out of the house._ DORA. [plunging at once into privileged intimacy and into the middle of the room] How d'ye do, both. I'm a friend of Bobby's. He told me all about you once, in a moment of confidence. Of course he never let on who he was at the police court. GILBEY. Police court! MRS GILBEY. [looking apprehensively at Juggins] Tch--! Juggins: a chair. DORA. Oh, Ive let it out, have I! [Contemplating Juggins approvingly as he places a chair for her between the table and the sideboard] But hes the right sort: I can see that. [Buttonholing him] You wont let on downstairs, old man, will you? JUGGINS. The family can rely on my absolute discretion. [He withdraws]. DORA. [sitting down genteelly] I dont know what youll say to me: you know I really have no right to come here; but then what was I to do? You know Holy Joe, Bobby's tutor, dont you? But of course you do.