Only that, somewhere under that patch, old Fakrash is lying, snugly curled up inside his bottle. PRINGLE. [_Incredulously._] What! HORACE. I happen to know, because I dropped it there myself this afternoon inside a kit-bag. PRINGLE. Well, I must say I'm glad you've got rid of him. And--er--you can rely on me to keep quiet about it for the future. HORACE. [_Drily._] My dear chap, I feel _sure_ I can. PRINGLE. [_Going up to the door on right above the arch._] Good-night. [_Disconsolately._] I shall go and get something to eat at an "A.B.C." HORACE. [_Going up with him._] Good-night, old fellow. It's rough on you, but I did my _best_! PRINGLE. [_Turning on him with resentment._] You needn't have told 'em I'd had _three_ teeth out! Good-night. [_He goes out, HORACE closing the door after him. Waltz music from restaurant on right. After he has gone, MR. WACKERBATH and the others turn from the river as the SECOND WAITER enters and places a slice of melon on each plate._ MR. WACKERBATH. Oh, ready, eh? [_The FIRST WAITER enters and intimates that dinner is served._] Then shall we sit down, Mrs. Futvoye? [_He goes to the chair at the top of the table with his back to the balcony, and places MRS. FUTVOYE on his right._] Professor--[_as MRS. WACKERBATH takes the chair at the bottom of the table, facing the river_]--on my wife's left, please. Sylvia, my dear, next to me. [_SYLVIA takes the chair on MR. WACKERBATH'S left; HORACE still standing._] And you, Mr. Ventimore----[_Observing that there are two places._] Stay, there's _something_ wrong. Oh, of course! [_To the FIRST WAITER._] Take away that chair, it won't be wanted now--the other gentleman has gone. FIRST WAITER. Gone! De gentleman vat give so moch trouble? He vill not come back? MR. WACKERBATH. Come back? [_To HORACE._] You don't think your friend is likely to do _that_, eh, Mr. Ventimore? SYLVIA. Oh, I _hope_ not! [_The others assent fervently._ HORACE. [_Pausing in the act of taking the sixth chair._] It's all right. My friend--[_with a glance at the bridge on the left_]--the gentleman who gave so much trouble, is--[_with a slow smile of deep satisfaction_]--not in the least likely to come back! [_He sits down by SYLVIA as another and a louder burst of waltz music is heard from the restaurant and the curtain falls._ THE END. PRINTED BY BALLANTYNE & COMPANY LTD AT THE BALLANTYNE PRESS TAVISTOCK STREET COVENT GARDEN LONDON