ROBERTS, rather faintly, and coming reluctantly forward: ‘I—I have it, Mr. Bemis.’ He produces it from one waistcoat pocket and hands it to Bemis. Then, visiting the other: ‘And what’s worse, I have my own. I don’t know how I can ever explain it, or atone to you for my extraordinary behaviour. Willis thought you might finally see it as a joke, and I’ve done my best to pass it off lightly—’ WILLIS: ‘And you succeeded. You had all the lightness of a sick hippopotamus.’ ROBERTS: ‘I’m afraid so. I’ll have the chain mended, of course. But when I went out this evening I left my watch on my dressing-table, and when you struck against me in the Common I missed it, and supposed I had been robbed, and I ran after you and took yours—’ WILLIS: ‘Being a man of the most violent temper and the most desperate courage—’ ROBERTS: ‘But I hope, my dear sir, that I didn’t hurt you seriously?’ BEMIS: ‘Not at all—not the least.’ Shaking him cordially by both hands: ‘I’m all right. Mrs. Roberts has healed all my wounds with her skilful needle; I’ve got on one of your best neckties, and this lace handkerchief of your wife’s, which I’m going to keep for a souvenir of the most extraordinary adventure of my life—’ LAWTON: ‘Oh, it’s an old newspaper story, Bemis, I tell you.’ WILLIS: ‘Well, Aunt Mary, I wish Agnes were here now to see Roberts in his character of _moral_ hero. He ‘done’ it with his little hatchet, but he waited to make sure that Bushrod was all right before he owned up.’ MRS. ROBERTS, appearing: ‘Who, Willis?’ WILLIS: ‘A very great and good man—George Washington.’ MRS. ROBERTS: ‘I thought you meant Edward.’ WILLIS: ‘Well, I don’t suppose there _is_ much difference.’ MRS. CRASHAW: ‘The robber has been caught, Agnes.’ MRS. ROBERTS: ‘Caught? Nonsense! You don’t mean it! How can you trifle with such a subject? I know you are joking! Who is it?’ YOUNG BEMIS: ‘You never could guess—’ MRS. BEMIS: ‘Never in the world!’ MRS. ROBERTS: ‘I don’t wish to. But oh, Mr. Bemis, I’ve just come from my own children, and you must be merciful to his family!’ BEMIS: ‘For your sake, dear lady, I will.’ BELLA, between the _portières_: ‘Dinner is ready, Mrs. Roberts.’ MRS. ROBERTS, passing her hand through Mr. Bemis’s arm: ‘Oh, then you must go in with me, and tell me all about it.’