MRS. WESTERN. You're sure? MARTIN. Quite sure, madam. They were all downstairs, having their supper. MRS. WESTERN. Most mysterious! Incomprehensible! JUDGE. [_Looking at his watch._] Past nine! We shall plunge into the play--like body-snatchers, looking for the corpse of the plot--and we shall never know what it was that the heroine did. MRS. WESTERN. [_Ignoring him, to_ MARTIN.] Smithers I'll answer for. MARTIN. Oh yes, madam. If I _might_ make a suggestion-- MRS. WESTERN. Well? MARTIN. It couldn't have fallen anywhere into your dress, madam? MRS. WESTERN. Nonsense, how could it? [_She gets up and shakes herself._] Absurd. [_She sits again._ MARTIN. Into your cloak? MRS. WESTERN. Silk! No. That'll do, Martin. You might help the others outside. [MARTIN _goes._ JUDGE. [_With a step forward._] Now, admirable sister-- MRS. WESTERN. Didn't it strike you that Martin's manner was rather strange? HARVEY. [_Fretfully._] Really you _must_ not suspect the servants! MRS. WESTERN. [_Turning to him._] _Must_ not--must! That's scarcely the way to speak to me, Harvey. HARVEY. [_Deprecatingly._] My dear-- MRS. WESTERN. And I wasn't suspecting--I was merely asking a question of my brother. JUDGE. Come, Alice, let's go. MRS. WESTERN. [_Shaking her head._] You three go. You'll excuse me. JUDGE. [_Cheerfully._] If you insist-- MRS. BANKET. [_Coming forward._] No, no. _Do_ come, Alice! MRS. WESTERN. I can't--I'm so puzzled. [_With a sudden idea._] Oh! HARVEY. [_Who is behind her to the left, between her and the_ JUDGE.] What? Have you found it? MRS. WESTERN. No, no--of course not. But ring, please, will you? HARVEY. Why? MRS. WESTERN, I want you to ring. [_He presses the bell by the fireplace._] I just remember Miss Farren came in while we were having coffee. HARVEY. [_Indignantly._] Alice! MRS. WESTERN. I asked her to write a card to Harrod's--she'll have written it in here. HARVEY. [_Angrily._] I say--really! MRS. WESTERN. [_Coldly._] No need to snub me again--before our guests! I need scarcely say I am not _suspecting_ Miss Farren--but in justice to her-- MRS. BANKET. But, Alice, she'll have gone out--you told her she might-- MRS. WESTERN. Only to her sister's close by--and she may not have gone yet. Why don't they answer the bell? Ring again, Harvey. JUDGE. The poor things are still searching. HARVEY. [_Firmly._] Alice, I protest, I do indeed-- MRS. WESTERN. Don't be so foolishly sentimental--it's ridiculous at your age. The young woman is in my employ, as governess to my children. [MARTIN _comes in._] Has Miss Farren gone out yet? MARTIN. No, madam. I believe she's in her room, dressing. MRS. WESTERN. Ask her to come. MARTIN. Yes, madam. [_He goes._ JUDGE. [_Shaking his head._] No sense of proportion, that's the truth--they've no sense of proportion. MRS. BANKET. Tom!