[_Turning._] No, no! Mrs. Cloys—— MRS. CLOYS. [_Facing_ OLIVE _firmly_.] Mrs. Allingham, I think, when we look back upon this evening, that you and I will be able to congratulate ourselves upon a considerable exercise of politeness. But there are signs that neither of us is equal to a prolonged strain. OLIVE. I beg your pardon; I will be patient. You need have no misgivings on my account. MRS. CLOYS. [_Formidably._] Perhaps not; but I am beginning to be acutely conscious of my own weakness. [_Looking round._] Fletcher—— OLIVE. [_Angrily._] Oh, oh! [_She paces the room_; JOHN _joins her, and is seen expostulating_. MRS. CLOYS _joins_ SIR FLETCHER. JOHN. Olive, Olive, be reasonable! OLIVE. I will be, when you and your friends are honest with me. [_She leaves him, as_ QUAIFE _enters with a note upon a salver_. SIR FLETCHER PORTWOOD. [_Looking at his watch._] Oh, Allingham, the hotel people were to send a carriage up for us; perhaps you’ll get your servant—— JOHN. Certainly. [_To_ QUAIFE.] Quaife—what’s that? [_Upon entering_, QUAIFE _has encountered_ MRS. ALLINGHAM; _her eyes fall upon the letter on the salver_. OLIVE. [_Under her breath, staring at the letter._] Ah-h-h! QUAIFE. Ma’am? OLIVE. [_Drawing back and speaking to_ QUAIFE.] Well, give it to Mr. Allingham. QUAIFE. A boy has brought this, sir—waiting for an answer. [JOHN _is about to take the letter; when he sees the writing upon the envelope he hesitates for a moment and draws his hand back; then he picks up the letter deliberately_. JOHN. [_To_ QUAIFE, _calmly_.] Wait; I’ll ring. [QUAIFE _retires_. OLIVE. [_Pointing to the letter._] Isn’t that letter from Mrs. Fraser? JOHN. [_After opening the letter._] Yes. [_He reads the letter to himself._] Poor little lady! This is bad news. SIR FLETCHER PORTWOOD. [_Agitatedly._] Really, Mr. Allingham, really? JOHN. Don’t you know? She has left her husband. SIR FLETCHER PORTWOOD. Er—yes, sir, we do know it—certainly we know it. I was almost the last person she spoke to before she quitted her mother’s house. She is deeply attached to me. [_Buttoning his coat._] Where is she? Where is she? JOHN. I gather she is waiting not very far from this house——