I won't hide from you that it means almost certain death. But there's no other way of saving ourselves. On the other hand, if you show perfect courage at the moment the Arabs attack and the Turkana find that we've given them the slip, you may escape. If you do, I promise nothing shall be said of all that has happened here. GEORGE. All right. I'll do that. And I thank you with all my heart for giving me the chance. ALEC. I'm glad you've accepted. Whatever happens you'll have done a brave action in your life. [_He holds out his hand to_ GEORGE, _who takes it_.] I think there's nothing more to be said. You must be ready to start in half an hour. Here's your revolver. Remember that one chamber's empty. You'd better put in another cartridge. GEORGE. Yes, I'll do that. [_He goes out._ DICK. D'you think he has any chance of escaping? ALEC. If he has pluck he may get through. DICK. Well! ALEC. To-morrow we shall know if he has that last virtue of a blackguard--courage. DICK. And if he hasn't, it's death you're sending him to? ALEC. Yes. It's death! END OF THE SECOND ACT THE THIRD ACT SCENE: _A smoking-room at_ LADY KELSEY'S, _leading by an archway into a drawing-room at the back. On the right is a glass door which leads into the garden. On one side is a sofa; on the other a table with cigarettes, matches, whiskey, sodas, etc._ LADY KELSEY _is giving a dance, and the music of the Lancers is heard vaguely from the ball-room as the curtain rises_. MRS. CROWLEY _and_ SIR ROBERT BOULGER _are sitting down_. LADY KELSEY _comes in with the_ REV. JAMES CARBERY. LADY KELSEY. Oh, you wretched people, why aren't you dancing? It's too bad of you to hide yourselves here! MRS. CROWLEY. We thought no one would find us in the smoking-room. But why have you abandoned your guests, Lady Kelsey? LADY KELSEY. Oh, I've got them all comfortably settled in the Lancers, and I'm free to rest myself for a quarter of an hour. You don't know what agonies I've been suffering the whole evening. MRS. CROWLEY. Good gracious me! Why? LADY KELSEY. I'm so afraid Alec Mackenzie will come. BOULGER. You needn't worry about that, Aunt Alice. He'll never venture to show his face. LADY KELSEY. I didn't know what to do. It was impossible to put the dance off. It's too dreadful that these horrible revelations should.... CARBERY. [_Supplying the word._] Transpire. LADY KELSEY. Yes, transpire on the very day I've at last persuaded Lucy to come into the world again. I wish Dick would come. BOULGER. Yes, he'll be able to tell us something. MRS. CROWLEY. But will he? CARBERY. Wherever I go people are talking about Mr. Mackenzie, and I'm bound to say I've found nobody who has a good word for him. BOULGER. [_Bitterly._] Humpty-dumpty's had a great fall. CARBERY. I wonder if I might have a cigarette? MRS. CROWLEY. I'm sure you might. And if you press me dreadfully, I'll have one, too.