[_Turning the chair on the nearer side of the fireplace so that it faces the fire._] The cook wasn't punctual! [_Installing herself in the chair._] _Ah, la, la! Ces cuisinieres causent la moitie des ennuis sur cette terre!_ PHILIP. Oh, yes, the cook was punctual. [_His manner hardening a little._] The truth is, we are waiting for a Mr. Dunning. LADY FILSON. Mr.----? SIR RANDLE. Mr.----? OTTOLINE. [_From her chair, where she is almost completely hidden from the others--comfortably._] Good gracious! Who's Mr. Dunning, Philip? [JOHN _and the waiter open the big doors. The dining-table, round which the chairs are now arranged, is prettily lighted by shaded candles._ PHILIP. [_To_ JOHN, _sharply._] John---- JOHN. Yessir? PHILIP. Tell the cook to keep the dinner back for a little while. Do you hear? JOHN. [_Astonished._] Keep dinner back, sir? PHILIP. Yes. And when Mr. Dunning calls--[_distinctly_] Dunning---- JOHN. Yessir. PHILIP. I'll see him. Show him in. JOHN. Yessir. PHILIP. You may serve dinner as soon as he's gone. I'll ring. [JOHN _and the waiter withdraw into the kitchen, whereupon_ PHILIP, _after watching their departure, deliberately closes the big doors._ ROOPE, _who has been picking at his nails nervously, rises and steals away to the left, and_ SIR RANDLE, _advancing a step or two, exchanges questioning glances with_ LADY FILSON. OTTOLINE. [_Laughingly._] What a terrible shock! I was frightened that Philip had sprung a strange guest upon us. [_As_ PHILIP _is shutting the doors._] _Vous etes bien mysterieux, Phil?_ Why are we to starve until this Mr. Dunning has come and gone? PHILIP. Because if I tried to eat without having first disposed of the reptile, Otto, I should choke. LADY FILSON. [_Bewildered._] Reptile? OTTOLINE. Philip! PHILIP. [_At the chair beside the smoking-table--to_ LADY FILSON.] I apologize very humbly for making you and Sir Randle, and dear Ottoline, parties to such unpleasant proceedings, Lady Filson; but the necessity is forced upon me. [_Coming forward._] Mr. Dunning is one of those crawling creatures who conduct what are known as confidential inquiries. In other words, he's a private detective--an odd sort of person to present to you!---- LADY FILSON.