_Undershell._ You will hear a good deal about it, unless it is forthcoming at once. Just find out what's become of it--a new portmanteau, with a white star painted on it. [_The Boy retires, impressed. An interval._ _Boy_ (_reappearing_). I managed to get a few words with Thomas, our second footman, just as he was coming out o' the 'all, and _he_ sez the only porkmanteau with a white star was took up to the Verney Chamber, which Thomas unpacked it hisself. _Undershell._ Then tell Thomas, with my compliments, that he will trouble himself to pack it again immediately. _Boy._ But Thomas has to wait at table, and besides, he says as he laid out the dress things, and the gen'lman as is in the Verney Chamber is a wearin' of 'em now, sir. _Undershell_ (_indignant_). But they're _mine_! Confound his impudence! Here, I'll write him a line at once. (_He scribbles a note._) There, see that the gentleman of the Verney Chamber gets this at once, and bring me his answer. _Boy._ What! _me_ go into the dinin'-'all, with all the swells at table? I dursn't. I should get the sack from old Treddy. _Undershell._ I don't care who takes it so long as it _is_ taken. Tell Thomas it's _his_ mistake, and he must do what he can to put it right. Say I shall certainly complain if I don't get back my clothes and portmanteau. Get that note delivered somehow, and I'll give you half-a-crown. (_To himself, as the_ Boy _departs, much against his will._) If Lady Culverin doesn't consider me fit to appear at her dinner-table, I don't see why my evening clothes should be more privileged! _In the Dining-hall. The table is oval_; SPURRELL _is placed between_ Lady RHODA COKAYNE _and_ Mrs. BROOKE-CHATTERIS. _Mrs. Chatteris_ (_encouragingly, after they are seated_). Now, I shall expect you to be very brilliant and entertaining. _I_'ll do all the listening for once in a way--though, generally, I can talk about all manner of silly things with _anybody_! _Spurrell_ (_extremely ill at ease_). Oh--er--I should say you were quite equal to _that_. But I really can't think of anything to talk _about_. _Mrs. Chatteris._ That's a bad beginning. I always find the _menu_ cards such a good subject, when there's anything at all out of the common about them. If they're ornamented, you _can_ talk about them--though not for _very_ long at a time, don't you think? _Spurrell_ (_miserably_). I can't say how long I could go on about _ornamented_ ones--but these are plain. (_To himself._) I can hear this waistcoat going already--and we're only at the soup!