[_To MAUD, in a low voice, witheringly._] Oh, you're doing something, are you? MAUD. [_In the same tone, passing GLADYS._] Yes, setting you an example, my girl. [_Encountering FARNCOMBE._] Beg pardon. [_MAUD withdraws, closing the door, and FARNCOMBE stands looking at LILY, who is talking to JIMMIE. GLADYS carries the tray to the tea-table._ LILY. [_Become aware of FARNCOMBE'S presence and nodding to him._] How d'ye do? FARNCOMBE. [_Moving a step or two towards her._] I-- I've been here before this afternoon. I ventured to bring you some flowers. LILY. [_Going to him and shaking hands with him formally._] Nobody told me. Awfully kind of you. Where have they put them? FARNCOMBE. [_Lifting his basket of flowers from off the piano and showing it to her._] Here. LILY. Pretty. [_Pulling out a carnation._] Stick it up there again. [_He replaces the basket._] You're Lord Farncombe, aren't you? FARNCOMBE. Yes. LILY. [_With a glance at the others._] Know anybody here? FARNCOMBE. [_Looking round the room._] Nearly everybody, I fancy. [_He advances to VON RETTENMAYER, who comes to meet him. LILY sits upon the settee by the piano and fastens the carnation in her dress. GLADYS goes out._] Karl----! VON RETTENMAYER. My dear Eddie! FARNCOMBE. [_Bowing to DE CASTRO, who is now seated beside JIMMIE on the settee in front of the writing-table._] How are you, Mr. de Castro? [_To JEYES, who is standing by the chair at the writing-table gnawing his moustache and watching LILY and FARNCOMBE sourly._] How are you, Captain Jeyes? [_Turning to BLAND._] How are you, Mr. Bland? [_To LILY._] I've been talking to Mrs. Upjohn and Mr. Roper already. LILY. [_Looking across to JIMMIE._] Miss Birch-- Lord Farncombe. JIMMIE. [_Nodding to FARNCOMBE._] How d'ye do? FARNCOMBE. [_Going to JIMMIE and shaking hands with her._] I-- I needn't say that I am one of Miss Birch's warmest-- most profound---- JIMMIE. [_Smiling at him._] That's all right; don't you bother about that. [_MAUD returns, carrying a pair of silken slippers. VON RETTENMAYER, who has come to LILY, makes a dart at the slippers and takes them from MAUD._ VON RETTENMAYER. Aha! Permid me. MAUD. Now, Baron----! [_Slapping his arm._] Ha, ha, ha----! [_He pushes MAUD out of the room, she resisting laughingly, and closes the door._ VON RETTENMAYER. [_Holding the slippers aloft._] Gendlemen! Homage to Beaudy! Vollow me! Zam! Vinzent! Rober! Neego! Eddie! [_The men put themselves behind him, in single file, in the order in which he calls them, with the exception of JEYES, who deliberately sits at the writing-table, and FARNCOMBE, who is embarrassed. JIMMIE claps her hands and MRS. UPJOHN, who is pouring out tea, laughs herself into a fit of coughing._] Ta, ta, ra, ra, ta, ta! Boum, boum! LILY. Baron, you great baby! VON RETTENMAYER. Quig! Marge! ROPER. [_Calling to FARNCOMBE._] Come along, Farncombe! JIMMIE. [_Giving FARNCOMBE a shove._] Go on!