[_Proudly._] I didn't believe it. BOULGER. [_Bitterly._] You must be blinded by your--friendship for Alec Mackenzie. I never read anything more convincing. LUCY. I could hardly believe him guilty of such an odious crime if he confessed it with his own lips. BOULGER. Of course, he won't do that. DICK. Did I ever tell you how I made acquaintance with Alec? In the Atlantic--about three hundred miles from land. MRS. CROWLEY. What a perfectly ridiculous place for an introduction. DICK. I was a silly young fool in those days, and I habitually played the giddy goat. In the course of which, I fell overboard and was proceeding to drown when Alec jumped in after me. It was an incautious thing to do, because he very nearly got drowned himself. LUCY. That's not the only heroic thing he's done. DICK. No, it's one of his hobbies to risk his life to save unnecessary and useless people. But the funny thing is that ever since he saved mine, he's been quite absurdly grateful. He seems to think I did him an intentional service and fell into the water on purpose to give him a chance of pulling me out. LUCY. [_With a long look at_ DICK.] It's very kind and good of you to have told that story. [_The_ BUTLER _comes in and announces_ ALEC MACKENZIE. BUTLER. Mr. Mackenzie. ALEC. [_Blandly._] Ah, I thought I should find you here, Lady Kelsey. LADY KELSEY. [_Shaking hands with him._] How d'you do? We've just been talking of you. ALEC. Really? LADY KELSEY. It's so late, we were afraid you wouldn't come. I should have been dreadfully disappointed. ALEC. It's very kind of you to say so. I've been at the Travellers', reading various appreciations of my own character. LADY KELSEY. [_Somewhat embarrassed._] Oh, I heard there was something about you in the papers. ALEC. There's a good deal. I really had no idea the world was so interested in me. LADY KELSEY. It's charming of you to come to-night. I'm sure you hate dances! ALEC. Oh, no, they interest me enormously. I remember, one of the Kings of Uganda gave a dance in my honour. Ten thousand warriors in war-paint. I assure you it was most impressive. DICK. My dear fellow, if paint is the attraction you really need not go much farther than Mayfair. ALEC. [_Pretending for the first time to notice_ BOULGER.] Ah, there's my little friend Bobbie. I thought you had a headache? LADY KELSEY. [_Quickly._] I'm afraid Bobby is dreadfully dissipated. He's not looking at all well. ALEC. [_Good-humouredly._] You shouldn't keep such late hours, Bobbie. At your age one wants one's beauty sleep. BOULGER. It's very kind of you to take an interest in me. My headache has passed off. ALEC. I'm very glad. What do you use--Phenacetin? BOULGER. It went away of its own accord--after dinner. ALEC.