_Mr. Toovey_ (_entering, in a frock-coat, carrying a tall hat_). Er--CORNELIA, my love, you don't happen to know where the--the latchkey is kept, do you? _Mrs. Toovey._ The latchkey, THEOPHILUS! One has never been required in this house _yet_. What can you possibly want with a latchkey? _Mr. Toov._ (_to himself_). These performances go on till a somewhat advanced hour, I've no doubt, and I might feel it my duty to stay as long as---- (_Aloud._) I--I only thought it would save PH[OE]BE sitting up for me, my dear. _Mrs. Toov._ You need not trouble yourself about that, THEOPHILUS. I will sit up for you, if necessary. _Mr. Toov._ (_quaking_). But you forget your Zenana Mission, my love; you will be out yourself this evening! _Mrs. Toov._ (_severely_). I shall be back by a reasonable hour, Pa,--and so will _you_, I should hope. _Mr. Toov._ I hope so, my love, I'm sure, but--but I may have a good deal to say to CHARLES, you know. _Mrs. Toov._ (_to herself_). There's some mystery about that wretched boy, I'm certain. If I could only find out what was in that letter. I wonder if it's in Pa's pocket--I'll soon see. (_Aloud._) Turn round, Pa. Ah, I _thought_ as much; one of your coat-tail buttons is as nearly off as it can be! _Mr. Toov._ (_innocently_). Dear me! My Sunday coat, too. I never observed it. Could you just fasten it on a little more securely? [Illustration: "Eldorado Palace of Varieties. Admit Mr. Toovey and Party to Box C. This portion to be retained."] _Mrs. Toov._ If you take off your coat. I can't do it with you prancing about in front of me, Pa. (_Mr. T. takes off his coat._) Now, I can't have you in my drawing-room in your shirtsleeves--suppose somebody called! Go into your study and wait there till I've done. (_Mr. T. departs submissively._) Now if the letter isn't in one of these pockets, it must be in---- (_She discovers the envelope._) There it is. _Now_ I shall know what CHARLES---- I'm sure his poor dear mother would wish to be informed. (_She opens the letter._) "Eldorado Palace of Varieties. Admit Mr. TOOVEY and party to Box C. This portion to be retained." (_She tears off a perforated slip._) I _will_ retain it! So THEOPHILUS has been deceiving me--_this_ is his business with CHARLES! _This_ is why he kept that programme! And he's allowing himself to be misled by his own nephew! They're going to this music-hall to-night, together! He shall _not_ go--never while I--stop, let me think--yes, he _shall_ go--he shall fill up the measure of his iniquity, little dreaming that I have the clear proof of his deceit! (_She thrusts the slip she has torn off into her workbox, and replaces the envelope with the remainder of the order in the pocket._) There. He won't notice that anything is missing. He's coming back. I must control myself, or he will be on his guard. [_She pretends to secure the button with unsteady fingers._