[_Shaking hands with VON RETTENMAYER._] Glad to see yer, Baron. VON RETTENMAYER. Zo good of you to haf me. SMYTHE. Excuse me; I'm just going to wash my hands. VON RETTENMAYER. [_Detaining him._] Bardon me-- one moment---- SMYTHE. Eh? VON RETTENMAYER. [_Dropping his voice._] May I dake the liberdy of indulging in a liddle griticism on your eggcellent blay? SMYTHE. Certainly. VON RETTENMAYER. [_Drawing SMYTHE away from the tables._] Gome here. [_His mouth close to SMYTHE'S ear._] The zecond aggd! SMYTHE. Second act; what's the matter with it? VON RETTENMAYER. The pard where the gharming Miss Barradell is ghanging her gostume---- SMYTHE. Yes? VON RETTENMAYER. That is where the biece reguires lifding-- [_with a gesture_] lifding. SMYTHE. Lifting? VON RETTENMAYER. Mr. Davish-- Mr. Balk-- eggsdremely glever; [_slipping his arm through SMYTHE'S_] but if you could zee your way glear to gif Enid-- Miss Mongreiff-- anoder dance---- SMYTHE. [_Nodding._] Ah, h'm, h'm. VON RETTENMAYER. It would remove the zolitary imberfection. SMYTHE. Er-- I'll think it over. [_Releasing himself._] I'm just going to wash my hands. We'll talk about it later. VON RETTENMAYER. Schoensten Dank. [_Going to the men on the left._] Aha, Mr. Gooling! My dear Steward-- my dear Jerry----! [_As SMYTHE is again making for the door on the left, MRS. STIDULPH enters from the landing with COLONEL STIDULPH._ SMYTHE. [_To MRS. STIDULPH._] Ha, Dolly! [_Kissing her._] How are you, my dear? MRS. STIDULPH. [_A mature but still beautiful woman, gorgeously dressed and wearing showy jewels-- with a lofty air._] How are you, Carlton? SMYTHE. [_To STIDULPH._] How d'ye do, Arthur? Delighted to see yer. MRS. STIDULPH. Lucky I'm able to come to you to-night. It's so difficult to catch me in the season. SMYTHE. Been in front? MRS. STIDULPH. M'yes; [_in a tone of boredom_] oh, yes. SMYTHE. What, don't you like it? MRS. STIDULPH. Oh, I don't say I _dis_like it; [_shrugging her shoulders_] but one can't forget what one _used_ to do here in the old days. STIDULPH. [_An elderly, distinguished-looking man with a meek voice and a courteous but rather nervous manner._] I've had a most enjoyable evening, Carlton. So bright; so very bright! MRS. STIDULPH. [_To STIDULPH, sneeringly._] Oh, anything pleases _you_; _you'd_ laugh at Punch and Judy. SMYTHE. I'm just running away to wash my hands. [_Looking towards the men on the left._] You know Von Rettenmayer? MRS. STIDULPH. Know him! Why, he was about in my time! [_Crossing to VON RETTENMAYER, followed by STIDULPH._] Karl! VON RETTENMAYER. My dear lady! [_Kissing her hand perfunctorily._] What bliss! [_Shaking hands with STIDULPH._] Golonel! MRS. STIDULPH. [_Shaking hands with DE CASTRO._] How are you, Sam? DE CASTRO. Ah, Dolly! [_To STIDULPH._] Hullo, Arthur! COOLING. [_Presenting HENEAGE and GRIMWOOD to the STIDULPHS._] Mr. Stewart Heneage-- Mr. Gerald Grimwood----