Nevertheless, let me tell you. It may interest you. _(Makes appropriate gestures.)_ Here was the stove, here the piano. Three-fingered Jack played the fiddle. It was Old Dan Tucker that we danced. Remember? _(She shakes her head.)_ There was the doorway to the front, always open. Through it came the clatter of chips, the rattle of roulette balls, the calls of the gamekeepers. And there was the rear door. It opened upon the street. When it opened the frost came through, in a cloud of vapor, rolling along the floor and hiding the feet and legs of the dancers to the knees. And we danced, you and I, we danced Old Dan Tucker. FREDA _(Innocently.)_ How interesting! Tell me, that--that what you described, it is a--a dance-hall? Am I right? CAPT. EPPINGWELL _(With firm conviction.)_ I remember when you came in through the door. The frost rolled in with you, and you wore the most magnificent furs in all the Klondike. And you danced in moccasins, in little red moccasins. Remember? FREDA _(Still innocently.)_ Ah, those furs! Is there a woman in the land who has not heard of them and envied their possessor, this woman you take me for--and I know who you mean--this--this dance-hall artist, this--this Freda Moloof. And how often have you danced with her?--with me, I mean. CAPT. EPPINGWELL _(Shaken for the moment.)_ Once. That one night. But I have seen her several times. Who has not? FREDA Her? Me, you mean. CAPT. EPPINGWELL _(With renewed and emphatic conviction.)_ Yes, and one other thing. That accent! _(Gripping her by the arm.)_ Freda, it is you! FREDA At last I am discovered. Confess, sir, it took you some time. CAPT. EPPINGWELL I do confess you puzzled me not a little. But what are you doing here? It's daring, to say the least. FREDA _(Nonchalantly.)_ Oh, I was weary for a change. I was yawning my head off. So I thought I'd come up and see if you and your select friends danced Old Dan Tucker as well as we danced it that--that night. CAPT. EPPINGWELL But if you are discovered? FREDA Only you could discover me. CAPT. EPPINGWELL _(With due hesitancy.)_ There is trouble brewing, Freda. Frankly, I believe it would be better for you to go. _(Freda laughs long, a mocking, silvery laughter which perplexes and bewilders him.)_ Come, come. What's the matter? _(Freda continues to laugh.)_ What's struck you so funny? FREDA _(Quieting down, but holding hand to side.)_ It is better than I dreamed. CAPT. EPPINGWELL What is better? FREDA My make-up. Capt. Eppingwell _(In doubt.)_ Make-up? FREDA The make-up under my make-up, if you please. CAPT. EPPINGWELL _(With a faint glimmer of conviction this time.)_ But the accent! You can't get away from it. FREDA Far be it from me to get away from it. On the contrary, I sought after it, and I flatter myself that I got it pretty close to the original. I'd like to meet this Freda. I'll wager my accent is nearer hers than her own is. CAPT. EPPINGWELL