I can get out of these beastly clothes, drive to Strachlachan Junction, and wire to town before feedin' time. The city is on the eve of a financial earthquake! Joseph's name will be a 'ouse'old word from Mile End to Kensington! Lady Twombley, we meet at the hop to-morrow night for the last time--in Society. [Boisterously.] Whoop! Dash Society! [He performs a few steps of a Highland dance.] Excuse my humour. [He goes out.] LADY TWOMBLEY. The Bills! The Bills! They mustn't lie there. [As she goes to the table SIR JULIAN, looking very white and dishevelled, enters, and, standing opposite to her, takes up the Bills and presents them to her.] LADY TWOMBLEY. Pa! SIR JULIAN TWOMBLEY. Lady Twombley! LADY TWOMBLEY. Oh, my gracious! [She drops on her hands and knees at SIR JULIAN'S feet.] LADY TWOMBLEY. You've found me out, pa! You've found me out! SIR JULIAN TWOMBLEY. I have found you out. LADY TWOMBLEY. How did you manage it? SIR JULIAN TWOMBLEY. By degrading myself to the position of an eavesdropper. LADY TWOMBLEY. That's pretty mean, pa--ain't it? [Seeing that he is examining the Bills she puts up her hands and seizes them.] LADY TWOMBLEY. Ah! Don't tot 'em up! Don't tot 'em up! SIR JULIAN TWOMBLEY. Katherine, when I first saw you, three-and-twenty years ago, you were standing over a tub in the tiled yard of your father's farm wringing out your little sister's pinafores. LADY TWOMBLEY. [Weeping.] Oh-h-h! SIR JULIAN TWOMBLEY. Could I have looked forward I should have known that you would one day wring my feelings as you do now. LADY TWOMBLEY. Pa, I've fallen into the hands of the unscrupulous. SIR JULIAN TWOMBLEY. Woman! LADY TWOMBLEY. Oh, don't call me that, pa! SIR JULIAN TWOMBLEY. The unscrupulous! You have lost the right to ever again use that serviceable word. LADY TWOMBLEY. What do you mean? SIR JULIAN TWOMBLEY. How do you come by those Bills? LADY TWOMBLEY. Julian, you know! [Going toward him on her knees frantically.] Ah, don't stare like that! [Putting her arms round him.] Husband! Dear husband, you are glaring like an idiot! Listen! [She shakes him violently.] Listen! When that reptile tempted me I ran upstairs intending to tell you all. I did. Oh, pa, don't stare at nothing! I knocked at your door; there was a drumming in my ears, and I fancied your voice answered me telling me to enter. Oh, try winking, pa, try winking! Your room was empty--left unguarded, the door unlocked. I entered. Wink, pa; for mercy's sake, wink! I sank into a chair to wait for your coming, [Taking the written paper from her pocket.] and there, on your table, right before my eyes, I saw this thing like a white ghost. SIR JULIAN TWOMBLEY. A memorandum in my writing that the concession for the Rajputana Canal is to be granted. LADY TWOMBLEY.