SCENE. _The scene is laid in_ JOHN KARSLAKE'S _study and smoking-room. There is a bay window on the left. A door on the left leads to stairs and the front of the house, while a door at the back leads to the dining-room. A fireplace and a mantel are on the right. A bookcase contains law and sporting books. On the wall is a full-length portrait of_ CYNTHIA. _Nothing of this portrait is seen by audience except the gilt frame and a space of canvas. A large table with writing materials is littered over with law books, sporting books, papers, pipes, crops, a pair of spurs, &c. A wedding ring lies on it. There are three very low easy-chairs. The general appearance of the room is extremely gay and garish in colour. It has the easy confusion of a man's room. There is a small table on which, lying open, is a woman's sewing-basket, and, beside it, a piece of rich fancy work, as if a lady had just risen from sewing. Laid on the further end of it are a lady's gloves. On a chair-back is a lady's hat. It is a half hour later than the close of Act III. Curtains are drawn over the window. A lamp on the table is lighted, as are, too, the various electric lights. One chair is conspicuously standing on its head._ NOGAM _is busy at the larger table. The door into the dining-room is half open._ SIR WILFRID. [_Coming in from the dining-room._] Eh--what did you say your name was? NOGAM. Nogam, sir. SIR WILFRID. Nogam? I've been here thirty minutes. Where are the cigars? [NOGAM _motions to a small table near the entrance door._] Thank you. Nogam, Mr. Karslake was to have followed us here, immediately. [_He lights a cigar._ NOGAM. Mr. Karslake just now 'phoned from his club [SIR WILFRID _walks toward the front of the room._], and he's on his way home, sir. SIR WILFRID. Nogam, why is that chair upside down? NOGAM. Our orders, sir. VIDA. [_Speaking as she comes in._] Oh, Wilfrid! [SIR WILFRID _turns._ VIDA _coming slowly toward him._] I can't be left longer alone with the lobster! He reminds me too much of Phillimore! SIR WILFRID. Karslake's coming; stopped at his club on the way! [_To_ NOGAM.] You haven't heard anything of Mrs. Karslake--? NOGAM. [_Surprised._] No, sir! SIR WILFRID. [_In an aside to_ VIDA, _as they move right to appear to be out of_ NOGAM'S _hearing._] Deucedly odd, ye know--for the Reverend Matthew declared she left Phillimore's house before _he_ did,--and she told them she was coming here! [NOGAM _evidently takes this in._ VIDA. Oh, she'll turn up. SIR WILFRID. Yes, but I don't see how the Reverend Phillimore had the time to get here and make us man and wife, don't y' know--