_Mrs. Toov._ You ought to know by this time that we are plain people and do not not follow the senseless fashion of dressing ourselves up for a family dinner, but I am glad you came early, all the same, CHARLES, as I should like a little talk with you before your Uncle comes in. We had better go into the study. (_To herself, as she leads the way._) Now I shall get it out of him! END OF SCENE XV. [Illustration: "Dear, dear me!"] SCENE XVI.--_In the Study._ _Mrs. Toovey_ (_fixing_ CHARLES _with her eye_). What is this I hear of your proceedings last Saturday night, CHARLES? Come, you can't deceive _me_, you know! _Charles._ I never made any secret about my proceedings. I told Uncle we might probably drop into the Eldorado or somewhere after dinner. _Mrs. Toov._ (_to herself, in consternation_). The Eldorado? they _did_ go there then! If only they didn't see me! (_Aloud._) Yes, CHARLES, go on. And while you were there, did you see anyone you--you thought you recognised? _Charles_ (_to himself_). She's heard! (_Aloud._) I should rather think I _did_, Aunt. Never was more surprised in my life. _Mrs. Toov._ (_with a groan_). And--and was your _Uncle_ surprised, too, CHARLES? _Charles._ Uncle? I haven't told _him_ yet. _Mrs. Toov._ But he was _there_, CHARLES, with you; he must have seen--whatever you did! Or didn't he? _Charles._ At the Valhalla? my _dear_ Aunt! _Mrs. Toov._ Who's talking about a Valhalla? I mean the _Eldorado_, of course; that was where you _said_ you went! _Charles._ No--no, we couldn't get in at the El.; all the stalls gone, so we went to the Val. instead. Just the same sort of thing. _Mrs. Toov._ (_to herself, relieved_). To the Val.! What a fright I've had for nothing! (_Aloud._) I quite understand, CHARLES. You took your Uncle to a place called the Val., _not_ the--er--El. What did you _see_ there? that's the point! _Charles._ I didn't take Uncle there; I was with a man from our office when I saw him. I must have seen him there often enough, but somehow I never spotted him before. It was the make-up, the _disguise_, you know, wig and moustache, and all that. _Mrs. Toov._ Do you mean to say your Uncle attends music-halls disguised in a wig and moustache? CHARLES, who was he _with_? I _will_ know! _Charles_ (_in fits of laughter_). Uncle? At the Val. in disguise? now, is it _likely_? I thought you knew all about it, or I shouldn't have said a word! _Mrs. Toov._ You have said too much to stop _now_, CHARLES. It is useless to try to turn it off like that. If it was not Pa you recognised at this Val. place, who _was_ it? _Charles_ (_to himself_). If I don't tell her she'll only go on suspecting poor old Uncle THEO. (_Aloud._) Well, you're bound to find it out sooner or later; and I admire him all the more for it myself. I'd no idea he had it _in_ him. Shows how mistaken you may be in fellows. _Mrs. Toov._ I've yet to learn who and what you are talking about, CHARLES!