I shall take a turn round the Square, and then come home again! I will not be influenced by a mere child! A man of my responsible position--a magistrate--supping slily at the Hotel des Princes, in Meek Street--it's horrible. CIS. Now, then--we'll creep downstairs quietly so as not to bring Wyke from his pantry. [_Giving MR. POSKET paper._] You stick that up prominently, while I blow out the candles. [_CIS blows out the candles on the piano._ MR. POSKET. [_Reading._] "Your master and Mr. Cecil Farringdon are going to bed. Don't disturb them." I will not be a partner to any written document. This is untrue. CIS. No, it isn't--we are going to bed when we come home. Make haste, Guv. MR. POSKET. Oh, what a boy. [_Pinning the paper on to the curtain._ CIS. [_Turning down the lamp, and watching MR. POSKET._] Hallo, Guv! hallo! You're an old hand at this sort of game, are you? MR. POSKET. How dare you! CIS. [_Taking MR. POSKET'S arm._] Now, then, don't breathe. MR. POSKET. [_Quite demoralised._] Cis! Cis! Wait a minute--wait a minute! CIS. Hold up, Guv. [_WYKE enters._] Oh, bother! WYKE. [_To MR. POSKET._] Going out, sir? MR. POSKET. [_Struggling to be articulate._] No--yes--that is--partially--half round the Square, and possibly--er--um--back again. [_To CIS._] Oh, you bad boy! WYKE. [_Coolly going up to the paper on curtains._] Shall I take this down now, sir? MR. POSKET. [_Quietly to CIS._] I'm in an awful position! What am I to do? CIS. Do as I do--tip him. MR. POSKET. What! CIS. Tip him. MR. POSKET. Oh, yes--yes. Where's my money? [_CIS takes two coins out of MR. POSKET'S pocket and gives them to him without looking at them._ CIS. [_To MR. POSKET._] Give him that. MR. POSKET. Yes. CIS. And say--"Wyke, you want a new umbrella--buy a very good one. Your mistress has a latch-key, so go to bed." MR. POSKET. Wyke! WYKE. Yes, sir. MR. POSKET. [_Giving him money._] Go to bed--buy a very good one. Your mistress has a latch-key--so--so you want a new umbrella! WYKE. All right, sir. You can depend on me. Are you well muffled up, sir? Mind you take care of him, Master Cis. CIS. [_Supporting MR. POSKET; MR. POSKET groaning softly._] Capital, Guv, capital. Are you hungry? MR. POSKET. Hungry! You're a wicked boy. I've told a falsehood. CIS. No, you haven't, Guv--he really does want a new umbrella. MR. POSKET. Does he, Cis? Does he? Thank heaven! [_They go out._ WYKE. [_Looking at money_] Here! What, twopence! [_Throws the coins down in disgust._] I'll tell the missus. END OF THE FIRST ACT. THE SECOND ACT _The scene is a supper-room at the Hotel des Princes, Meek Street, with two doors--the one leading into an adjoining room, the other into a passage--and a window opening on to a balcony._ _ISIDORE, a French waiter, is showing in CIS and MR. POSKET._ CIS. Come on, Guv--come on. How are you, Isidore? ISIDORE. I beg your pardon--I am quite well, and so are you, zank you. CIS.