Yes, yes. I tried to forget it was there. But the chairs and tables seemed to dance before me and every object in the room had a voice crying out, "Kitty, you silly woman, get back your Bills from that demon who is plaguing you!" I put my fingers in my ears and then the voices were shut up in my brain, and still they shrieked, "Kitty, get back your Bills! Get back your Bills!" I snatched up this paper and ran from the room. Even then if I had met you, Julian, I should have been safe; but whenever Old Nick wants to play the deuce with a married lady he begins by taking her husband for a stroll, and so I fell into Lebanon's clutches--and I--I--I'm done for! [She sinks into a chair.] SIR JULIAN TWOMBLEY. Katherine, those Bills must be returned to the creature, Lebanon. LADY TWOMBLEY. Yes. And--and--pa, dear, you'll never speak kindly to me after this, will you? SIR JULIAN TWOMBLEY. I trust I shall be invariably polite to you, Katherine. LADY TWOMBLEY. Oh-h-h! We shall be whitewashed in the Bankruptcy Court eventually, I suppose? SIR JULIAN TWOMBLEY. All in good time, Katherine. LADY TWOMBLEY. And then--what then? SIR JULIAN TWOMBLEY. Then we must hope for a cottage, and a small garden where we can grow our own vegetables and learn wisdom. LADY TWOMBLEY. Our--own--vegetables. And years hence, pa, sometimes when I am sitting over my knitting, you'll forget the past, and play your flute again, and be happy? SIR JULIAN TWOMBLEY. Katherine! [He takes his flute from his pocket and breaks it into pieces across his knee.] Never, never again, Katherine. [As he is leaving her.] One pang of remorse I can spare you, Katherine. LADY TWOMBLEY. Don't! SIR JULIAN TWOMBLEY. You believe you have betrayed a solemn secret of the Government to that unprincipled money-lender. LADY TWOMBLEY. Of course. SIR JULIAN TWOMBLEY. That you have _not_ done. LADY TWOMBLEY. Pa! SIR JULIAN TWOMBLEY. No, Katherine. Overhearing his shameful proposition, and fearing your weakness, I had time to hasten to my room, conceal all important papers, and scribble the memorandum you abstracted. LADY TWOMBLEY. Why, then---- SIR JULIAN TWOMBLEY. That writing records the exact reverse of the truth. LADY TWOMBLEY. And--and Joseph? SIR JULIAN TWOMBLEY. In the language of the vulgar--Mr. Lebanon is sold. [He goes out.] LADY TWOMBLEY. Julian! Ah! [Staring at the paper.] The exact reverse of the truth! Then the Rajputana Canal----Julian, why should you be first blackened and then whitewashed because of your vagabond wife? A cottage--our our own vegetables! Never! Why shouldn't _I_ have _my_ delicate little financial operations in the City? Oh, my gracious! [DRUMDURRIS and BROOKE enter.] BROOKE TWOMBLEY. Hullo, Mater--what! LADY TWOMBLEY. Brooke! Keith! You boys must drive me over to Strachlachan Junction. I must telegraph to London backwards and forwards all day. Keith, put me into communication with your Stockbroker in town! EARL OF DRUMDURRIS. Aunt!