[_Surprised._] By Jove! SOPHY. [_Simply._] Eh? QUEX. Er--I was wondering what she can have put in that little box. SOPHY. Yes, _I_ wonder. [_Pulling at the lid._] It's locked. QUEX. I fancy it has one of those Bramah locks which snap. I may have a key-- [_He produces his key-ring and, promptly selecting a key, unlocks the box._] Fortunate coincidence. [_She opens the box and takes out the first thing that presents itself--the blue silk garter with the diamond buckle._ SOPHY. [_Scandalised._] Oh, my gracious! I _beg_ your pardon. [_She leaves him hurriedly and hides the box in the cabinet._ QUEX. [_Quietly to_ FRAYNE.] Chick, she has passed the souvenirs on to Miss Fullgarney! FRAYNE. [_Bitterly._] How like a woman! QUEX. Some women. FRAYNE. [_In disgust._] Pah! QUEX. Yesterday she was alluring. FRAYNE. [_Waving the past from him._] Yesterday--[_with a slight hiccup_] hic! [_Turning away apologetically._] The heat in this room-- [_He walks away, as_ SOPHY _returns to_ QUEX. QUEX. [_To_ SOPHY.] Well, I must not detain you longer, Miss Fullgarney. But there is, of course, one point upon which I should like to feel completely assured. You have seen Miss Eden--? SOPHY. No; not since last evening. QUEX. [_Anxiously._] When do you--? SOPHY. [_Looking away._] I'm rather expecting her to pop in here during the day. QUEX. Quite so. And--and then--? SOPHY. [_Facing him candidly._] Your lordship told me last night that your little visit to the Duchess was a perfectly innocent one? QUEX. Absolutely innocent. [_Hesitatingly._] I fear I cannot go further than that. FRAYNE. [_Fanning himself with his handkerchief._] By gad, why not, Harry? We are in Miss Fullgarney's hands. [_To_ SOPHY.] His lordship went to her Grace's apartment solely to return some gifts which he had accepted from her in the--ah--dim, distant past, and to say adieu. SOPHY. [_Witheringly._] Ah, I knew _she_ was a double-faced thing; [_looking at_ QUEX _relentingly_] but p'r'aps one _has_ been a little down on _you_. QUEX. [_Meekly._] You have it in your power to atone for that amply. SOPHY. [_Half-feelingly, half-sullenly._] At any rate, you behaved, in the end, like a gentleman to me last night. And so--when I see Miss Muriel-- QUEX. Yes? SOPHY. [_Deliberately._] I am going to tell her a lie. QUEX. [_With some emotion._] Miss Fullgarney, I--I-- SOPHY. Oh, I said I'd do what I can for you. [_Uncomfortably._] And this is all I _can_ do. QUEX. [_Light-heartedly._] All! SOPHY. Just to give you a chance. QUEX. Chance! [_Drawing a deep breath._] You place my happiness beyond danger. SOPHY. [_Impulsively, offering him her hand._] I wish you luck, my lord. [_He takes her hand and wrings it._ FRAYNE. [_Who has opened the window for air._] Hallo! SOPHY. [_Turning nervously._] What--? FRAYNE. [_Looking out._] Isn't this your friend, Captain Bastling? QUEX. Bastling? FRAYNE. At that window?