{ We want to know. EVERY ONE. { Look here, Uncle Daniel.... { We want an explanation, Uncle Daniel. DANIEL. You all appear to be perturbed about something. BOBBIE. We are. SYLVIA. Shut up, Bobbie, I'm spokesman. DANIEL (_weakly_). Couldn't it be some one else? Sylvia's so firm with me. SYLVIA. I think, uncle, that you occasionally need firmness. (_Coming down_ R. _by Chesterfield._) DANIEL. We all do, it's a weakness of the human race--lack of stamina--I have it at the moment. Please may I sit down? OLIVER. Yes. DANIEL (_sinking into arm-chair_). Thank you so much. (_Weakly._) I begin to feel sleepy. May I have perhaps--a small glass of water? BOBBIE. All right--I'll get it. (_He goes to sideboard._) DANIEL. With perhaps the teeniest, weeniest little drop of whisky? SYLVIA. This is all useless prevarication, you know--we have some very important questions to ask you. DANIEL (_rising_). Perhaps I'd better stand up then, it's more imposing. (_He takes water from Bobbie._) Thank you a thousand times. Cheerio!! (_They all make a movement of annoyance._) SYLVIA. Now then, uncle, we've discovered that you have been deceiving us.... DANIEL (_amazed_). I--deceive you? I'm pained! I'm hurt! You've wounded me to the quick. BOBBIE. I don't believe you've got a quick. SYLVIA. Shut up, Bobbie! (FAITH _is by window_ L.) SYLVIA. Yes, through the agency of Miss Crombie here. DANIEL. Ah, Miss Crombie, I've just been chatting to your mother. (_Goes to table and puts glass on it._) SYLVIA (_ignoring his interruption._) Your dastardly trick has been exposed, is it or is it not true that you took each of us aside in turn a year and a half ago and filled us up with confidential lies about your will? DANIEL (_bravely_). It's absolutely true. (_Move from all._) SYLVIA. Why did you do it? DANIEL (_laughing with forced roguishness_). Ah!... SYLVIA (_firmly--with emphasis on each word_). Why did you do it? DANIEL. Do you really want to know? EVANGELINE (_below form_). Of course we do. DANIEL. Very well, then I'll tell you. The reason was this. You were a set of idle young bounders. (_A move from all._) You'd never done a stroke of work in your lives--neither have I, but I didn't see why you shouldn't. There was your poor mother left comparatively hard up--you would have to have left this house which would have made her perfectly miserable, so I determined to spur you on to do something (_breaking into a smile._) I say, you must admit I've succeeded! SYLVIA. Never mind, that--go on. DANIEL (_still smiling_). Well, not having a penny in the world with which to help you myself---- EVERYONE. What!!!!! DANIEL. I repeat--not having a penny---- OLIVER (_below table_). Do you mean to say you haven't any money at all?