LADY MERESTON, _in evening dress, rather magnificently attired, is reading the papers. She is a handsome woman of forty. She puts down the paper impatiently and rings the bell. A servant answers. He has a French accent._ LADY MERESTON. Did Mr. Paradine Fouldes come this evening? SERVANT. Yes, miladi. LADY MERESTON. Is he in the hotel now? SERVANT. Yes, miladi. LADY MERESTON. Will you send some one up to his room to say I'm waiting to see him? SERVANT. Pardon, miladi, but the gentleman say 'e was on no account to be disturbed. LADY MERESTON. Nonsense. Mr. Fouldes is my brother. You must go to him immediately. SERVANT. Mr. Fouldes his valet is in the 'all. Will your ladyship speak with him? LADY MERESTON. Mr. Fouldes is more difficult to see than a cabinet minister. Send his servant to me. SERVANT. Very good, miladi. [_Exit Servant, and presently_ THOMPSON, Mr. Fouldes' _man, comes in_. THOMPSON. Your ladyship wished to see me. LADY MERESTON. Good evening, Thompson. I hope you had a comfortable journey. THOMPSON. Yes, my lady. Mr. Fouldes always has a comfortable journey. LADY MERESTON. Was the sea calm when you crossed? THOMPSON. Yes, my lady. Mr. Fouldes would look upon it as a great liberty if the sea was not calm. LADY MERESTON. Will you tell Mr. Fouldes that I should like to see him at once? THOMPSON. [_Looking at his watch._] Excuse me, my lady, but Mr. Fouldes said no one was to disturb him till ten o'clock. It's more than my place is worth to go to him at five minutes to. LADY MERESTON. But what on earth's he doing? THOMPSON. I don't know at all, my lady. LADY MERESTON. How long have you been with Mr. Fouldes? THOMPSON. Twenty-five years, my lady. LADY MERESTON. I should have thought you knew how he spent every minute of his day. [PARADINE _comes in. He is a very well-dressed man of forty-odd. Self-possessed, worldly, urbane. He is never at a loss or put out of countenance. He overhears_ LADY MERESTON'S _last words_. FOULDES. When I engaged Thompson I told him the first thing he must learn was the very difficult feat of keeping his eyes open and shut at one and the same time. LADY MERESTON. My dear Paradine, I've been waiting to see you for the last two hours. How tiresome you are. FOULDES. You may give me a kiss, Maud, but don't be rough. LADY MERESTON. [_Kissing his cheek._] You ridiculous creature. You really might have come to see me at once. FOULDES. My dear, you cannot grudge me a little repose after a long and tedious journey. I had to repair the ravages to my person caused by twenty-seven hours in the train. LADY MERESTON. Don't be so absurd. I'm sure your person is never ravished. FOULDES. Ravaged, my dear, ravaged. I should look upon it as an affectation at my age if I were not a little upset by the journey from London to Monte Carlo. LADY MERESTON. I'll be bound you ate a very hearty dinner. FOULDES. Thompson, did I eat any dinner at all?