M. Mavosky, I’ve heard if you wait at Port Said you’ll sooner or later meet everyone you know. Here, at Mrs. Frowde’s, one only meets those one wishes, _n’est-ce pas_? MAVOSKY (_Gallantly_) You American women! THE BROWN ONE I’ll bring my husband to see your portraits. May I? MAVOSKY (_Bowing_) _You_ speak for his taste. THE BROWN ONE (_Pleased_) He actually threatens to have one of me, and wishes the very best that can possibly be painted. (_They exchange pleasantries, and as_ MAVOSKY _passes out he glances towards_ PATRICIA, _who has been watching him, while_ SILVERTON _has engaged_ THE BLUE ONE, _who by now has joined_ THE GREEN ONE _and_ THE BROWN ONE _and_ MRS. FROWDE _at the table. They laugh as_ SILVERTON _and_ PATRICIA _find a chance to snatch a few words unheard_.) SILVERTON (_Referring to_ THE BLUE ONE) Who is she that I must pay for my tea by playing for her Thursday? PATRICIA (_Flippantly_) Her name begins with T. Her husband owns _The Star_. It’s been good to me. I call her The Blue One; I no longer remember names. People are color to me. See the stout one--like an overfed question mark? She seems brown all through. Have you heard her talk? With her (_imitating and shrugging shoulders_) “je-ne-sais-quois”? No one who is fat should speak French. And The Green One--ugh!--with the jade life-belt! SILVERTON (_Seriously_) Pat, why do you still come to these stupid affairs? PATRICIA There are still things _I_ may want, too. SILVERTON Mavosky? PATRICIA A portrait by him in my new rôle. Yes. Mrs. Frowde knew him. _Voilà._ SILVERTON I see: that’s how you still get things. PATRICIA Mrs. Frowde is the greatest “lion-hunter” in captivity. She is happy to-day; she’s caught three of us: a star, a painter, and a promising musician. That’s why you’re here, isn’t it? (_He nods._) You’ve finally decided to follow the advice I gave you when we first came East---- SILVERTON Yes: how different it was then---- PATRICIA (_Reminiscently_) Yes--how different! MRS. FROWDE (_Gently restraining_ THE BROWN ONE, _who has started towards_ PATRICIA _and_ SILVERTON) I’ve heard they had quite a romance once. THE BROWN ONE How romantic! I wish my husband played a piano. (_They talk._) PATRICIA (_Quietly to_ SILVERTON) Funny, George, while you were playing I was thinking of when I hadn’t a job and you were copying for a living. Your music actually made me want to throw off all my insincerities here just for once and see what would happen. SILVERTON They’d be shocked---- PATRICIA And I’d be chilly. SILVERTON But _I_ couldn’t be of any use to you--_then_. PATRICIA