CYNTHIA. Jack, some day you'll get the blind staggers from conceit. No, I'm not in love with you, Mr. Karslake, but I shouldn't be at all surprised if she were. She's just your sort, you know. She's a man-eating shark, and you'll be a toothsome mouthful. Oh, come now, Jack, what a silly you are! Oh, yes, you are, to get off a joke like that; me--in love with-- [_She looks at him._ JOHN. Why are you here? [_She laughs and begins to play her game._] Why are you here? CYNTHIA. Guess! [_She laughs._ JOHN. Why are you-- CYNTHIA. [_Quickly._] Why am I here! I'll tell you. I'm going to be married. I had a longing, an irresistible longing to see you make an ass of yourself just once more! It happened! JOHN. [_Uncertain and discomfited._] I know better! CYNTHIA. But I came for a serious purpose, too. I came, my dear fellow, to make an experiment on myself. I've been with you thirty minutes; and-- [_She sighs with content._] It's all right! JOHN. What's all right? CYNTHIA. [_Calm and apparently at peace with the world._] I'm immune. JOHN. Immune? CYNTHIA. You're not catching any more! Yes, you see, I said to myself, if I fly into a temper-- JOHN. You did! CYNTHIA. If I fly into a temper when I see him, well, that shows I'm not yet so entirely convalescent that I can afford to have Jack Karslake at my house. If I remain calm I shall ask him to dinner. JOHN. [_Routed._] Ask me if you dare! [_He rises._ CYNTHIA. [_Getting the whip hand for good._] Ask you to dinner? Oh, my dear fellow. [JOHN _rises._] I'm going to do much more than that. [_She rises._] We must be friends, old man! We must meet, we must meet often, we must show New York the way the thing should be done, and, to show you I mean it--I want you to be my best man, and give me away when I'm married this afternoon. JOHN. [_Incredulous and impatient._] You don't mean that! [_He pushes back his chair._ CYNTHIA. There you are! Always suspicious! JOHN. You don't mean that! CYNTHIA. [_Hiding her emotion under a sportswoman's manner._] Don't I? I ask you, come! And come as you are! And I'll lay my wedding gown to Cynthia K that you won't be there! If you're there, you get the gown, and if you're not, I get Cynthia K!-- JOHN. [_Determined not to be worsted._] I take it! CYNTHIA. Done! Now, then, we'll see which of us two is the real sporting goods! Shake! [_They shake hands on it._] Would you mind letting me have a plain soda? [JOHN _goes to the table, and, as he is rattled and does not regard what he is about, he fills the glass three-fourths full with whiskey. He gives this to_ CYNTHIA _who looks him in the eye with an air of triumph._] Thanks. [_Maliciously, as_ VIDA _enters._] Your hand is a bit shaky. I think _you_ need a little King William. [JOHN _shrugs his shoulders, and, as_ VIDA _immediately speaks,_ CYNTHIA _defers drinking._