[_Recovering herself, and speaking with a contemptuous smile._] So her Grace has packed herself off to Mrs. Eden's room. [_Firmly._] Who rang for me, please? QUEX. _I_ rang. SOPHY. You? what for? QUEX. Oh, you and I are going to have a cosy little chat together. SOPHY. [_Haughtily._] I don't understand you. QUEX. We'll understand one another well enough, in a minute. [_He lights another cigarette and seats himself upon the settee. She moves to the back of a chair, eyeing him distrustfully._ QUEX. Now then! You've been at the key-hole, have you? SOPHY. [_Slightly embarrassed._] Y--yes. QUEX. [_Sharply._] Eh? SOPHY. [_Defiantly._] Yes; you know I have. QUEX. Ah. And I should like to know a little more, while we are upon the delicate subject of spying. When I found you behind the cypress-hedge this evening before dinner-- SOPHY. Well? QUEX. You had just at that moment returned to the Italian garden, you said. SOPHY. Yes, so I said. QUEX. As a matter of fact, you had been there some time, I presume? SOPHY. A minute or two. QUEX. Heard anything? SOPHY. [_Laughing maliciously._] Ha, ha, ha! I heard her Grace say, "to-night"--[_faintly mimicking the_ DUCHESS] "to-night!" [_With a curl of the lip._] That was enough for me. QUEX. Quite so. You told a deliberate lie, then, when I questioned you? SOPHY. Yes. QUEX. Earlier in the evening, that manicure game of yours--nothing but a damned cunning trick, eh? SOPHY. I beg you won't use such language. QUEX. A trick, eh? SOPHY. Certainly. QUEX. You wanted--what did you want? SOPHY. [_Disdainfully._] A kiss, or a squeeze of the waist--anything of that sort would have done. QUEX. Oh, would it? You didn't get what you wanted, though. SOPHY. No; I suppose you were frightened. QUEX. [_Angrily._] What! SOPHY. Too many people about for you. QUEX. [_Stifling his annoyance._] Tsch! If I had--[_with a wave of the hand_] what course would you have taken, pray? SOPHY. [_With an air of great propriety._] Complained at once to Lady Owbridge. QUEX. As it is--what do you think of doing now? SOPHY. About you and her Grace? QUEX. [_Scowling._] Yes. SOPHY. Oh, tell the ladies in the morning, first thing. QUEX. [_Again putting a check upon himself._] Ha, ha! Why do you behave in this contemptible way? SOPHY. It isn't contemptible. QUEX. Isn't it? SOPHY. Not under the circumstances. QUEX. What circumstances? SOPHY. [_Hotly._] A wicked man like you engaged to a sweet girl like Miss Muriel! QUEX. I see. [_Politely._] You don't approve of the engagement? SOPHY. Should think not! QUEX. Always done your best to poison Miss Eden's mind against me, I expect? SOPHY. Always let her know my opinion of you. And I was right! QUEX. Right? SOPHY. This very day, poor thing, she was saying how proud she is of you because you've turned over a new leaf for her sake; and I told her what _your_ promises are worth. Yes, I was right! And now I can prove it!