[_To_ ROOPE.] My good sir, in the whole of our experience--mine and Mr. Sillitoe's--we've never come across a neater bit of hankey-pankey--[_to_ PHILIP] no offence--and if Merrifield hadn't smelt a rat---- ROOPE. But--but--but--the cost of it all, my dear Mr. Dunning! I don't know much about these things--the expense of manufacturing many thousands of copies of Mr. Mackworth's new book----! SIR RANDLE. [_Alertly._] Quite so! Surely, if we were to be deceived, a simpler method could have been found----? ROOPE. [_With energy._] Besides, what has Mr. Titterton to gain by the deception? SIR RANDLE. True! True! What has _he_ to gain----? PHILIP. [_Who is sitting with his hands hanging loosely, utterly bewildered--rousing himself._] Good God, yes! What has Titterton to gain by joining me in a blackguardly scheme to--to--to----? DUNNING. [_To_ SIR RANDLE _and_ ROOPE.] Well, gentlemen, in the first place, it's plain that Titterton was too fly to risk being easily blown upon---- BERTRAM. He was prepared to prove that the books _have been_ manufactured and delivered, I mean t'say---- DUNNING. And in the second place, on the question of expense, the speculation was a tolerably safe one. LADY FILSON. [_Keenly._] Speculation? DUNNING. Madarme dee Showmeeay being, according to my instructions--[_to_ LADY FILSON, _after a glance in_ OTTOLINE_'s direction_] no offence, ladies--[_to_ SIR RANDLE _and_ ROOPE] Madarme dee Showmeeay being what is usually termed a catch, Mr. Mackworth would have been in a position, after his marriage, to reimburse Titterton---- [PHILIP _starts to his feet with a cry of rage._ PHILIP. Oh----! ROOPE. [_Jumping up and hurrying to_ PHILIP_--pacifying him._] My dear Phil--my _dear_ old chap---- PHILIP. [_Grasping_ ROOPE_'s arm._] Robbie----! [SIR RANDLE _rises and goes to_ LADY FILSON. _She also rises as he approaches her. They gaze at each other with expressionless faces._ ROOPE. [_To_ PHILIP.] Where does Titterton live? PHILIP. Gordon Square. ROOPE. [_Pointing to the telephone._] Telephone--have him round---- PHILIP. He's not in London. ROOPE. Not----? PHILIP.