No, no; not a highly-wrought performance. Simply a line, asking her to receive you. [PHILIP _rises listlessly._] Send it along by messenger. [_With growing enthusiasm._] Look here! I'll take it! PHILIP. [_Gloomily, his hand on Roope's shoulder._] Ho, ho! You--you indefatigable old Cupid! ROOPE. [_Looking at his watch._] Quarter-past-ten. [_Excitedly._] Phil, I bet you a hundred guineas--[_correcting himself_] er--well--five pounds--I bet you five pounds I'm with you again, with a favourable reply, before twelve! PHILIP. [_Clapping_ ROOPE _on the back._] Done! [_Crossing to the writing-table._] At the worst, I've earned a fiver. ROOPE. [_As_ PHILIP _sits at the table and takes a sheet of paper and an envelope from a drawer._] May I suggest----? PHILIP. [_Dipping his pen in the ink._] Fire away, old chap. ROOPE. [_Seeking for inspiration by gazing at the ceiling._] H'm--[_Dictating._] "Forgive me. I forgive you. When may I come to you?" [_To_ PHILIP.] Not another word. PHILIP. [_As he writes._] By George, you've got the romantic touch, Robbie! If you'd been a literary bloke, what sellers _you'd_ have written! ROOPE. [_Behind the smoking-table, smoothing his hair complacently._] Funny, your remark. As a matter of fact, I _used_ to dabble a little in pen-and-ink as a young man. PHILIP. [_Reading, a tender ring in his voice._] "Forgive me. I forgive you. When may I come to you?" [_Adding his signature._] "Philip." ROOPE. Admirable! PHILIP. [_Folding and enclosing the note--catching some of_ ROOPE_'s hopefulness._] In the meantime I'll array myself in my Sunday-best--[_moistening the envelope_] on the chance---- ROOPE. Do; at once. [_Putting on his hat._] She _may_ summon you by telephone---- PHILIP. [_Addressing the envelope._] She gave me a scarf-pin yesterday--such a beauty. [_Softly._] I'll wear it. [_Rising and giving the note to_ ROOPE.] Bless you, old boy! [ROOPE _pockets the note, grasps_ PHILIP_'s hand hurriedly, and bustles to the vestibule door._ ROOPE. My quickest way is the Tube to Bayswater, and then a taxi across the Park---- [_He has entered the vestibule--omitting to close the door in his haste--and has opened the outer door when_ PHILIP _calls to him._ PHILIP. [_Standing behind the smoking-table--with a change of manner._] Robbie---- ROOPE. Hey? PHILIP.