[_Rubbing his head._] Why the deuce couldn't he have kept his twopenny thunderbolt in his pocket for a few hours, instead of launching it to-night and spoiling our _sole a la Morny_ and our _ris de veau_----! OTTOLINE. [_Gradually composing herself and regaining her dignity_]. P-P-Philip---- PHILIP. [_Coming to the smoking-table._] Eh? OTTOLINE. [_Passing her handkerchief over her lips._] Need you--need you see this man to-night? Can't you stop him coming--or send him away? PHILIP. Not see him----? OTTOLINE. Why--why should you stoop to see him at all? Why shouldn't the matter be allowed to drop--to drop? PHILIP. Drop! OTTOLINE. It--it's too monstrous; too absurd. [_To_ BERTRAM, _with a laugh._] Ha, ha, ha! Bertie--Bertie dear---- BERTRAM. [_Sullenly._] Yes? OTTOLINE. Ha, ha! I almost scared you out of your wits, didn't I? BERTRAM. You've behaved excessively rudely---- LADY FILSON. Bertram--Bertram---- BERTRAM. I mean to _say_, mother! What becomes of family loyalty----? OTTOLINE. [_To_ BERTRAM, _coaxingly._] Forgive me, Bertram. I'm ashamed of my violent outburst. Forgive me---- ROOPE. [_Who has been effacing himself behind the table on the left, appearing at the nearer end of the table._] Er--dear excellent friends--[SIR RANDLE _and_ LADY FILSON _look at_ ROOPE _as if he had fallen from the skies, and_ BERTRAM _stares at him resentfully._] dear excellent friends, if I may be permitted to make an observation---- PHILIP. [_To_ ROOPE.] Go ahead, old man. ROOPE. In my opinion, it would be a thousand pities not to see Mr. Dunning to-night, and have done with him. [_Cheerfully._] The fish is ruined--we must resign ourselves to that; [_sitting in the chair on the extreme left_] but the other dishes, if the cook is fairly competent---- SIR RANDLE. [_Advancing._] Mr. Roope's opinion is my opinion also. [_Ponderously._] As to whether Lady Filson and my daughter should withdraw into an adjoining room---- LADY FILSON. _I_ feel with Philip; we couldn't sit down to dinner with this cloud hanging over us---- SIR RANDLE. [_Sitting in the chair by the smoking-table._] Impossible! I must be frank. Impossible! ROOPE.