_Mr. Toov._ (_entering_). CORNELIA, my love, don't trouble to do more than is absolutely necessary to keep the button secure--because I'm rather in a hurry. It doesn't matter, so long as it looks respectable! _Mrs. Toov._ (_with an effort to restrain her feelings_). I daresay it is quite respectable enough, Pa, for where you are going. _Mr. Toov._ Quite, indeed, my dear. But it would never have done to go and call on CHARLES with a button off the back of my coat--no, no. It was fortunate you noticed it in time, my love. _Mrs. Toov._ I hope it will prove so, THEOPHILUS. (_To herself._) And this monster of duplicity is Pa! Oh, I wish I could tell him what I thought of him, but not yet--we will have our reckoning later! _Mr. Toov._ (_after putting on his coat_). Then I think I must be going. Any message I can take to CHARLES? _Mrs. Toov._ Yes, tell him that I trust he will profit by his good Uncle's example, and that I expect him to dinner on Monday. I may require to have a serious talk with him myself, if your account of this evening is not perfectly satisfactory. _Mr. Toov._ I'll tell him, my love, but there's no reason to make yourself uneasy about CHARLES--he'll behave himself--he'll behave himself. (_To himself, as he goes out._) I must go and see CHARLES now. Oh dear, I do feel so apprehensive about this visit to the Eldorado.--If I could put it off.--But I can't continue to hold those shares without some knowledge---- And Mr. CURPHEW made such a point of my going. No, I must go. I--I don't see how I can get out of it! _Mrs. Toov._ (_alone_). There he goes, looking so meek and lamblike! Who would suspect, to see him, that that black coat of his was buttoned round a whited sepulchre? Oh, Pa, Pa! That after all these years of blameless life you should suddenly be seized with a depraved desire for unhallowed amusement like this! While I am at the CUMBERBATCHES, engaged in discussing the affairs of the Zenana Mission, you and CHARLES will be---- Stop. How do I know he is going with CHARLES at all? If he is capable of deceiving me in one respect, why not in all? (_She takes out the slip and looks at it._) Mr. TOOVEY and party! _What_ party? May not Pa have been leading a--a double life all these years for anything I can tell? He is going to the Eldorado to-night with _somebody_--that's clear. Who is it? I shall never be easy till I know. And why should I not? There's the meeting, though. I might have a headache. Yes, that will do. (_She goes to her writing-table._) No, I won't write. I can make some excuse to ELIZA when I see her. And instead of going to the CUMBERBATCHES this evening, I can easily slip up to Waterloo and ask my way to this place. There will be no difficulty in that. Yes, I will go, whatever it costs me. And when Pa goes into this Box C of his, he will find his "party" is larger than he expected! END OF SCENE VII. * * * * * PLAYING THE DEUCE AT THE HAYMARKET.