[_Producing a newspaper._] Here’s a rag which dares to give illustrations—“Sketches in Court.” MRS. CLOYS. Have you contrived to get among them? SIR FLETCHER PORTWOOD. [_Opening the paper._] I happen to _be_ among them. But the fool of an artist has completely missed my salient points—— JUSTINA _runs in with_ THEOPHILA’S _letter, opened, and the wedding-ring_. JUSTINA. Aunt! oh, I say! What do you think? Theo’s gone! SIR FLETCHER PORTWOOD. She’s gone out for a walk. [_To_ MRS. CLOYS.] Here it is. That’s from an old photograph; I don’t wear that sort of collar _now_. JUSTINA. [_Advancing between_ MRS. CLOYS _and_ SIR FLETCHER.] What are you talking about? Look here! [_Reading._] “’Tina, hand enclosed to my husband when he comes back for me to-night after dinner.” [_Showing the ring._] It’s her wedding-ring. [_Reading._] “He believes that what that creature charged me with is true, and wants to take me away and hide me. All is up with me. Oh, those pipers at Locheen are playing into my brain again. Good-bye all.—THEO. P.S.—Jack Allingham would not treat a woman so like dirt.” MRS. CLOYS. [_Agitatedly._] I can’t hear you. [_Taking the letter from_ JUSTINA.] Let me see it. JUSTINA. What shall we do? We must do something. Uncle! SIR FLETCHER PORTWOOD. [_Confused._] We must certainly do something, at once. Er—it _is_ her wedding-ring, I suppose? JUSTINA. [_Impatiently._] Oh——! Aunt! SIR FLETCHER PORTWOOD. [_Encountering_ CLAUDE.] Don’t stand there, Claude, looking precisely like an owl! MRS. CLOYS. [_Returning the letter to_ JUSTINA.] Jump into a cab; you must take that to Mr. Fraser. JUSTINA. [_Hurrying to the door._] All right. [_Pausing._] What shall I do if I don’t find him at home? SIR FLETCHER PORTWOOD. If, if, if! Why throw obstacles? JUSTINA. I’m not throwing them. I merely say, what if he’s out, or hasn’t gone back to Lennox Gardens at all? SIR FLETCHER PORTWOOD. This is a moment for action! CLAUDE. [_Sitting at the writing-table._] Ha, ha! what a hideous mockery the whole world is! Life——! SIR FLETCHER PORTWOOD. Let us have none of your sickening optimism, sir! and in the presence of your aunt and sister. MRS. CLOYS. [_Holding out her hand for the letter._] Show it to me again. [JUSTINA _brings the letter to_ MRS. CLOYS, _who begins reading_.] “Hand enclosed to my husband when he comes back for me to-night after dinner.” JUSTINA.