_Mr. Toov._ Not yet, dear love, not yet. He's getting it out of his great coat in the hall. _Curph._ (_starting up from behind_ ALTHEA). I think, if you will allow me, _I_'ll go and speak to him first. It strikes me that I may know the lady who was in that box, and I'm naturally anxious to avoid any---- [_He goes out._ END OF SCENE XIX. SCENE XX.--_A few minutes later._ _Mrs. Toov._ (_to herself, in a fever_). Why doesn't he come back? What are those two plotting together? Oh, if Mr. WILDFIRE imagines he will get a hold over me, so as to obtain my consent to---- I'd sooner tell Pa everything! (_To_ CURPHEW, _who reenters, smiling_.) W--where is--the other? _Curph._ The other? Oh, _he_'s gone. I made myself known to him; and you would have been surprised, my dear Mrs. TOOVEY, at the immense effect my professional name had upon him. When he realised I was WALTER WILDFIRE he was willing to do anything for me, and so I easily got him to entrust his find to me. _Mr. Toov._ (_inquisitively_). And what is it--a fan, or a glove? There would be no harm in showing it to _us_, eh? _Curph._ Well, really, it's so very unlikely to compromise anybody that I almost think I _might_. Yes, there can't be any objection. [_He takes something out of his pocket, and presents it to_ Mr. T. _Mr. Toov._ (_mystified_). Why, it's only a hairpin! What a scrupulously honest young man that is, to be sure! _Mrs. Toov._ (_relieved_). Only a hairpin? (_Then, uneasily, to_ CURPH., _in an undertone_.) Where is--you know what? Have you kept it to use for your own advantage? _Curph._ (_in the same tone_). I am a very bad man, I know; but I don't blackmail. You will find it behind the card-basket in the hall. [Mrs. T. _goes out_; ALTH. _draws_ CURPH. _aside_. _Alth._ CLARENCE, I--I _must_ know; how did you come to have a--a hairpin? where did it come _from_? (_As he softly touches the back of her head._) Oh! it was _mine_, then? _What_ a goose I am? _Mr. Toov._ (_as_ Mrs. T. _returns_). Why, CORNELIA, my love, so you've _found_ your spectacles! Now where did you leave them _this_ time, my dear, eh? _Mrs. Toov._ Where I shall not leave them _again_ in a hurry, THEOPHILUS! _Mr. Toov._ Don't you be too sure of that, my love. By the way, Mr. CURPHEW, that lady of your acquaintance--_you_ know, the one who made all this disturbance at the Eldorado--is she at all _like_ Mrs. TOOVEY, now? _Curph._ (_after reflection_). Well, really, there _is_ a resemblance--at a distance! _Mr. Toov._ (_peevishly_). Then it's annoying--very annoying; because it might compromise my poor dear wife, you know. I--I wish you could give her a quiet hint to--to avoid such places in future! _Curph._ Do you know, Sir, I really think it will be _quite_ unnecessary. [PH[OE]BE _enters to announce dinner_.