[_He breaks off to glance over his shoulder into the further room._ PHILIP. Go on. Nobody'll hear you. John's out. ROOPE. What happened was this. I overtook 'em at the bottom of the stairs, and begged 'em to let me go back with them to Ennismore Gardens. Lady Filson and I got into one cab, Sir Randle and Madame de Chaumie into another. Bertram Filson slunk off to his club. At Ennismore Gardens we had the most depressin' meal I've ever sat down to, and then Madame Ottoline proposed that I should smoke a cigarette in her boudoir. [_Distressed._] Oh, my dear Phil----! PHILIP. W-w-what----? ROOPE. I can't bear to see a woman in tears; I can't, positively. PHILIP. [_Between his teeth._] Confound you, Robbie, who can! Don't brag about it. ROOPE. At first she swept up and down the room like an outraged Empress. Her skirts created quite a wind. I won't attempt to tell you all the bitter things she said---- PHILIP. Of me? ROOPE. And of _me_, dear excellent friend. PHILIP. [_Grimly._] For your share in the business. ROOPE. [_With a nod._] The fatal luncheon in South Audley Street. However, she soon softened, and came and knelt by the fire. And suddenly--you've seen a child fall on the pavement and cut its knees, haven't you, Phil?---- PHILIP. Of course I have. ROOPE. That's how she cried. I was really alarmed. PHILIP. The--the end of it being----? ROOPE. [_Dismally._] The end of it being that she went off to bed, declaring that she recognizes that the breach between you is beyond healing, and that she's resolved never to cross your path again if she can avoid it. PHILIP. [_Laying his pipe aside._] Ha! [_Scowling at_ ROOPE.] And so this is the result of your self-appointed mission, is it? ROOPE. [_Hurt._] That's rather ungrateful, Phil---- PHILIP. [_Starting up and walking away to the left._] P'sha! ROOPE. If you'd heard how I reasoned with her----! PHILIP. [_Striding up and down._] What had I better do? It's good of you to be here so early. [ROOPE _rises._] I'm _not_ ungrateful, Robbie. Advise me. ROOPE. [_Stiffly._] I assume, from your tone, that what you _wish_ to do is to--er----? PHILIP. To abase myself before her; to grovel at her feet and crave her pardon for my behaviour of last night. What else should I want to do, in God's name!