HUBERT (_flustered_): What in God's name are you getting at? DAN _smiles and shrugs his shoulders regretfully at him, and goes out through the front door._ OLIVIA _sits at the table._ MRS. TERENCE (_to_ HUBERT, _perplexed_): Are you sure you didn't do it, sir? HUBERT: I'm going out for a breath of air. _He takes his hat and stick as he goes through the hall, and goes out through the front door._ MRS. TERENCE (_to_ OLIVIA): You don't still think-- OLIVIA: I won't say any more. I know how silly it sounds. DORA _runs into the kitchen, snivelling._ MRS. TERENCE (_to_ OLIVIA): The way you worked us all up! Doesn't it all go to show-- _She hears_ DAN _return, and looks round apprehensively. He goes to the table slowly and looks at the two suitcases._ DAN (_smiling, to_ MRS. TERENCE): Would you mind please givin' me a hand with the tidyin' up?... (_Taking up the suitcases_) And carryin' the other one?... (_Going into the kitchen, followed by_ MRS. TERENCE _carrying the hat-box_) Looks as if we're goin' on our holidays, doesn't it?... OLIVIA _is alone for a moment. She stares before her, perplexed._ DAN _returns. She looks away. He looks at her, his eyes narrowed. A pause. Studying her, he takes from a pocket of his jacket a formidable-looking clasp-knife, unclasps it, and tests the blade casually with his fingers. He glances at the mantelpiece, crosses to it, takes down a stick, and begins to sharpen the end of it._ OLIVIA _watches him. A pause._ OLIVIA: _Did_ you do it? _He whittles at the stick._ DAN: You wouldn't be bad-lookin' without them glasses. OLIVIA: It doesn't interest me very much what I look like. DAN: Don't you believe it.... (_Surveying the shavings in the hearth_) Tch!... Clumsy.... (_Looking round, and seeing a newspaper lying on the table_) Ah.... _He crosses to the table. (Smiling, with the suspicion of a mock-bow_) Excuse me.... (_He unfolds the newspaper on the table and begins to whittle the stick over it_.) OLIVIA: You're very conceited, aren't you? DAN (_reassuringly_): Yes.... OLIVIA: And you _are_ acting all the time, aren't you? DAN (_staring at her, as if astonished_): Actin'? Actin' what? (_Leaning over the table, on both arms_) Look at the way I can look you in the eyes. I'll stare you out.... OLIVIA (_staring into his eyes_): I have a theory it's the criminals who _can_ look you in the eyes, and the honest people who blush and look away. DAN (_smiling_): Oh.... OLIVIA (_after a pause, challenging_): It's a very blank look, though, isn't it? DAN (_smiling_): Is it? OLIVIA: You are acting, aren't you? DAN (_after a pause, in a whisper, almost joyfully_): Yes! OLIVIA (_fascinated_): And what are you like when you stop acting? DAN: I dunno, it's so long since I stopped. OLIVIA: But when you're alone? DAN: Then I act more than ever I do. OLIVIA: Why?