GEOFFREY. (_He looks at him_.) It’s got to be a fight! (_A moment_. _He returns to his writing_.) Telephone Hake that I shall be dining at the Reform Club. CURTAIN. THE THIRD ACT SCENE:—_A room in the Town Hall_, _Poplar_. _A high_, _bare_, _cold room_, _unfurnished except for cane-bottomed chairs ranged against the walls_. _French windows right give on to a balcony overlooking the street_. _Door in back opens upon a stone passage_. _A larger door opens into another room_, _through which one passes to reach the room in which the counting of the votes is taking place_. _A fire burns_—_or rather tries to burn_. _The room is lighted from the centre of the ceiling by an electric sun_. _A row of hat-pegs is on the wall between the two doors_. _The time is about_ 9 _p.m._ (_People entering from the street wear coats or cloaks_, _&c._, _the season being early spring_. _If passing through or staying in the room_, _they take off their outdoor things and hang them up_, _putting them on again before going out_.) (JAWBONES _is coaxing the reluctant fire by using a newspaper as a blower_. _He curses steadily under his breath_. _The door opens_. GINGER _enters_; _she is dressed in cheap furs_.) JAWBONES. Shut the door, can’t yer! GINGER. Don’t yer want a draught? JAWBONES. No, I don’t. Not any more than I’ve got. GINGER. (_She shuts the door_.) ’Ave they begun counting the votes? JAWBONES. Been at it for the last three-quarters of an hour. GINGER. Who’s going to win? JAWBONES. One of ’em. (LADY MOGTON _has entered_. _She has come from the room where they are counting the votes_.) Shut that door! (_He glances over his shoulder_, _sees his mistake_.) Beg pardon! (_To himself_.) Thought ’twas the other fool! LADY MOGTON. (_She shuts the door_. _To_ GINGER.) Have you seen Mrs. Chilvers? GINGER. Not since the afternoon, your ladyship. LADY MOGTON. She is coming, I suppose? GINGER. I think so, your ladyship. LADY MOGTON. It’s very cold in here, Gordon. JAWBONES. Yes, my lady. Not what I call a cosy room. LADY MOGTON. (_To_ GINGER.) Jump into a cab. See if you can find her. Perhaps she has been detained at one of the committee-rooms. Tell her she ought to be here. GINGER. Yes, your ladyship. (_She crosses_, _opens door_.) JAWBONES. Shut the door. GINGER. Oh, shut— (_She finds herself face to face with a_ MESSENGER _carrying a ballot-box_.) I beg yer pardon! (_She goes out_, _closes door_.) LADY MOGTON. (_To the_ MESSENGER.) Is that the last? MESSENGER. Generally is. Isle of Dogs! (_He goes into the other room_.) LADY MOGTON. (_To_ JAWBONES.) Do you know where Mr. Chilvers is? (_There comes a bloodthirsty yell from the crowd outside_.) JAWBONES. Not unless that’s ’im. (_He finishes for the time being with the fire_. _Rises_.) (JANET _enters_.)