My dear girl, you know I didn't mean to wound you. LADY MERESTON. After all, it was largely your fault. He was deeply religious, and as the president of the Broad Church Union he couldn't countenance your mode of life. FOULDES. [_With great unction._] Thank God in my day I've been a miserable sinner! LADY MERESTON. [_Laughing._] You're quite incurable, Paradine. But you will help me now. Since his father's death, the boy and I have lived a very retired life, and now we're quite helpless. It would break my heart if Charlie married that woman. FOULDES. I'll do my best. I think I can promise you that nothing will come of it. [_The door is flung open, and_ LADY FREDERICK _enters, followed by_ MERESTON, _a young boyish man of twenty-two; by her brother_, SIR GERALD O'MARA, _a handsome fellow of six-and-twenty; by_ CAPTAIN MONTGOMERIE, ADMIRAL CARLISLE, _and_ ROSE, _his daughter_. LADY FREDERICK _is a handsome Irish woman of thirty to thirty-five, beautifully dressed. She is very vivacious, and light-hearted. She has all the Irish recklessness and unconcern for the morrow. Whenever she wants to get round anybody she falls into an Irish brogue, and then, as she knows very well, she is quite irresistible._ CAPTAIN MONTGOMERIE _is a polished, well-groomed man of thirty-five, with suave manners_. THE ADMIRAL _is bluff and downright_. ROSE _is a pretty ingénue of nineteen_. LADY MERESTON. Here they are. LADY FREDERICK. [_Enthusiastically going to him with open arms._] Paradine! Paradine! Paradine! MERERSTON. Oh, my prophetic soul, mine uncle! FOULDES. [_Shaking hands with_ LADY FREDERICK.] I heard you were at the Casino. LADY FREDERICK. Charlie lost all his money, so I brought him away. LADY MERESTON. I wish you wouldn't gamble, Charlie dear. MERERSTON. My dear mother, I've only lost ten thousand francs. LADY FREDERICK. [_To_ PARADINE FOULDES.] I see you're in your usual robust health. FOULDES. You needn't throw it in my face. I shall probably be very unwell to-morrow. LADY FREDERICK. D'you know Admiral Carlisle? This is my brother Gerald. FOULDES. [_Shaking hands._] How d'you do? LADY FREDERICK. [_Introducing._] Captain Montgomerie. CAPTAIN MONTGOMERIE. I think we've met before. FOULDES. I'm very pleased to hear it. How d'you do. [_To_ MERERSTON.] Are you having a good time in Monte Carlo, Charles? MERERSTON. A 1, thanks. FOULDES. And what do you do with yourself? MERERSTON. Oh, hang about generally, you know--and there's always the tables. FOULDES. That's right, my boy; I'm glad to see that you prepare yourself properly for your duties as a hereditary legislator. MERERSTON. [_Laughing._] Oh, shut it, Uncle Paradine. FOULDES. I rejoice also to find that you have already a certain command of the vernacular. MERERSTON.