(_Flutingly._) Bill.... Bill.... (_She perceives the shadowy figure of BALDWIN and makes a quick movement with outstretched arms towards it._) Ah, my dear! BALDWIN. Beg pardon, m’lady? LADY PATRICIA. Oh!... Baldwin! How amusing!... I was looking for—Mr. Cosway. Has he been here? BALDWIN. Yes’m. LADY PATRICIA. Oh, when? BALDWIN. ’E took corfee ’ere with your ladyship, mum, and ’is Very Reverence, and the young lady and Mrs. O’Farrel and Mr. O’Farrel. LADY PATRICIA. Sometimes, Baldwin, I wonder whether your amazing futility may not be a conscious pose. BALDWIN. Beg pardon, mum? LADY PATRICIA. Oh, never mind.... (_She goes out on the left, humming sweetly. BALDWIN retires to the background and resumes his lantern watch. CLARE enters by the central ladder quickly in breathless condition and drops into the deck-chair. BALDWIN, unperceived, glances at her, then looks up at the lanterns again._) CLARE. Safe! (_With a sigh of relief she lights a cigarette._) (_Suddenly MICHAEL’S voice is heard beneath calling softly._) MICHAEL. Clare—Clare.... CLARE. Damn! (_She springs to her feet, crosses quickly to the left, and descends as MICHAEL’S head emerges up the central ladder._) MICHAEL. Clare.... (_Looks around and perceives the vague form of BALDWIN._) Clare, my—— Oh! I was looking for Lady Patricia. Have you seen her, Baldwin? BALDWIN. Yessir. MICHAEL. Oh.... Has she been here? BALDWIN. Yessir. MICHAEL. When? BALDWIN. Beg pardon, sir? MICHAEL. (_Impatiently._) When was Lady Patricia here? BALDWIN. Well, sir, it may ’a been two minutes ago, sir, or it may ’a been—— MICHAEL. Thank you. (_He goes out on the left, while BALDWIN continues_:) BALDWIN. Or it may ’a been three. ’Er ladyship were looking for you, sir. She arst me, sir—— (_Perceiving the vanity of continuing his reminiscences he looks up and a lantern goes out._) Ho! (_Lowers the lantern._) Whoa!... (_Enter ELLIS up the central ladder, carrying a tray with whisky-and-soda._) ELLIS. Good evening, Mr. Baldwin. BALDWIN. Them candles do burn oncommon quick.... You was sayin’, Mr. Ellis? ELLIS. I said good evening. BALDWIN. Whoa!... (_Fixes the string._) Good evening to you. ELLIS. (_Clearing coffee-cups, &c., and setting the whisky-and-soda._) It beats me what the company are up to to-night. After dinner they all went for a stroll down to the pond. ’Er ladyship wanted to see—(_imitates PATRICIA_)—“the great moon-flower’s reflection among the lilies.” Then they seem to ’ave separated. The old people are behaving themselves quite rational—playing bézique in the drawing-room. The others are playing the tomfool or ’ide-and-seek or something o’ the sort. BALDWIN.