I only ask you to perform such of the duties of a wife as are required by Society. They are few enough in all conscience. I should wish you to entertain largely and receive my guests, be polite to me, at least in public, and go with me to the various places people go to. Otherwise I leave you entire freedom. You will find me generous and heedful to all your wishes. LADY FREDERICK. Captain Montgomerie, I don't know how much of all that you have said is meant seriously. But, surely you're not choosing the right time to make such a proposal when my brother owes you so much money that if you care to be hard you can ruin him. CAPTAIN MONTGOMERIE. Why not? LADY FREDERICK. D'you mean to say ...? CAPTAIN MONTGOMERIE. I will be quite frank with you. I should never have allowed Gerald to lose so much money which there was no likelihood of his being able to pay, if I had not thought it earned me some claim upon your gratitude. LADY FREDERICK. [_Shortly._] Gerald will pay every penny he owes you to-morrow. CAPTAIN MONTGOMERIE. [_Blandly._] Where d'you suppose he'll get it? LADY FREDERICK. I have no doubt I shall be able to manage something. CAPTAIN MONTGOMERIE. Have you not tried this morning, entirely without success? LADY FREDERICK. [_Startled._] What? CAPTAIN MONTGOMERIE. You do not forget that you have sundry moneys of your own which are payable to-morrow? LADY FREDERICK. How d'you know that? CAPTAIN MONTGOMERIE. I told you that when I took a thing in hand I carried it through. You went to Dick Cohen, and he told you he'd parted with the bills. Didn't you guess that only one man could have the least interest in taking them over? LADY FREDERICK. You? CAPTAIN MONTGOMERIE. Yes. LADY FREDERICK. Oh, God. CAPTAIN MONTGOMERIE. Come, come, don't be worried over it. There's nothing to be alarmed about. I'm a very decent chap--if you'd accepted me right away you would never have known that those bills were in my possession. Think it over once more. I'm sure we should get on well together. I can give you what you most need, money and the liberty to fling it away as recklessly as you choose; you can give me the assured and fixed position on which--my father's heart was set. LADY FREDERICK. And if I don't accept, you'll make me a bankrupt and you'll ruin Gerald? CAPTAIN MONTGOMERIE. I refuse to consider that very unpleasant alternative. LADY FREDERICK. Oh! I can't, I can't. CAPTAIN MONTGOMERIE. [_Laughing._] But you must, you must. When shall I come for your answer? To-morrow? I'll come with the bills and Gerald's I.O.U. in my pocket, and you shall burn them yourself. Good-bye. [_He kisses her hand and goes out._ LADY FREDERICK _remains staring in front of her_. MERESTON _enters, followed by_ LADY MERESTON _and_ PARADINE. MERESTON. [_Going to her eagerly._] Hulloa! I wondered what on earth had become of you. LADY FREDERICK.