So I took a room at the Hotel des Princes--when I want to put a man up he goes there. You see, Guv, it's _you_ I've been considering more than myself. MR. POSKET. But you are a mere child. CIS. A fellow is just as old as he feels. I feel no end of a man. Hush, they're coming down! I'm off to tell Wyke about the rickety four-wheeler. MR. POSKET. Cis, Cis! Your mother will discover I have been out. CIS. Oh, I forgot, you're married, aren't you? MR. POSKET. Married! CIS. Say you are going to the club. MR. POSKET. But that's not the truth, sir! CIS. Yes it is. We'll pop in at the club on our way, and you can give me a bitters. [_Goes out._ MR. POSKET. Good gracious, what a boy! Hotel des Princes, Meek Street! What shall I do? Tell his mother? Why, it would turn her hair grey. If I could only get a quiet word with this Mr. Achille Blond, I could put a stop to everything. That is my best course, not to lose a moment in rescuing the child from his boyish indiscretion. Yes, I must go with Cis to Meek Street. _Enter AGATHA POSKET and CHARLOTTE, elegantly dressed._ AGATHA POSKET. Have you sent for a cab, Æneas? MR. POSKET. Cis is looking after that. AGATHA POSKET. Poor Cis! How late we keep him up. _CIS comes in._ CIS. Wyke has gone for a cab, ma dear. AGATHA POSKET. Thank you, Cis darling. CIS. If you'll excuse me, I'll go to my room. I've another bad headache coming on. AGATHA POSKET. [_Kissing him._] Run along, my boy. CIS. Good-night, ma. Good-night, Aunt Charlotte. CHARLOTTE. Good-night, Cis. AGATHA POSKET. [_To herself._] I wish the cab would come. [_AGATHA POSKET and CHARLOTTE look out of the window._ CIS. [_At the door._] Ahem! Good-night, Guv. MR. POSKET. You've told a story--two, sir! You said you were going up to your room. CIS. So I am--to dress. MR. POSKET. You said you had a bad headache coming on. CIS. So I have, Guv. I always get a bad headache at the Hotel des Princes. [_Goes out._ MR. POSKET. Oh, what a boy! AGATHA POSKET. [_To herself._] When will that cab come? MR. POSKET. Ahem! My pet, the idea has struck me that, as you are going out, it would not be a bad notion for me to pop into my club. AGATHA POSKET. The club! You were there last night. MR. POSKET. I know, my darling. Many men look in at their clubs every night. AGATHA POSKET. A nice example for Cis, truly! I particularly desire that you should remain at home to-night, Æneas. MR. POSKET. [_To himself._] Oh, dear me! CHARLOTTE. [_To AGATHA POSKET._] Why not let him go to the club, Agatha? AGATHA POSKET. He might meet Colonel Lukyn there. CHARLOTTE. If Colonel Lukyn is there we shan't find him in Cork Street! AGATHA POSKET. Then we follow him to the club. CHARLOTTE. Ladies never call at a club. AGATHA POSKET. Such things have been known. _WYKE enters._ WYKE. [_Grinning behind his hand._] The cab is coming, ma'am. AGATHA POSKET. Coming? Why didn't you bring it with you? WYKE.