"Will you allow me to remain behind for a few minutes with Miss Jimmie after the others have gone? I know I am presuming a lot, but I cannot leave you till I have asked you the most important question a man can put to a woman. Farncombe." LILY. [_Breathless._] Written here-- on my note-paper-- while I was out of the room! It came on me like a thunder-clap! Ah! Ah! Ah! [_JEYES sits upon the settee, staring at the carpet._] And Morrie Cooling and Lal will tell you that I hadn't a notion that Lord Farncombe was to be at the supper last night, or any of the boys; not a notion. I blackguarded 'em both for deceiving me, and causing me to deceive _you_. [_Taking the scent-atomizer from the table and spraying her face with it._] Now! What have you to say now! Ah! Ah! Ah! JEYES. [_Huskily._] Why-- why the devil did you let Jimmie go? Why did you let her go? It was knowing that you and Farncombe were alone that-- that made me---- LILY. Oh, if I'd suspected that a private detective was hovering around, I'd have kept the whole lot of my friends! As it was, Jimmie was looking dead, and--! [_in disdain._] Pah! [_There is a pause and then JEYES sits upright and draws his hand wearily across his eyes._ JEYES. [_To LILY._] Well, I-- I beg your pardon. [_LILY continues to spray herself energetically._] I'm not so completely _scum_ as not to see that I ought to beg your pardon. [_Humbly._] I beg your pardon. LILY. [_Softening by degrees._] You-- you drive me mad sometimes-- positively frantic! JEYES. [_Partly to himself._] Mad! [_To FARNCOMBE._] And you, Farncombe-- I hope you'll accept my apologies. I offer them unreservedly. [_FARNCOMBE bows, somewhat stiffly._ LILY. [_To JEYES, protruding her lower lip._] I-- I didn't mean half I said, Nicko; I didn't mean half of it. [_Eyeing FARNCOMBE askance as she replaces the atomizer._] And I-- I'm ashamed of myself for losing my self-control as I did. [_There is another pause and then JEYES gets to his feet and silently returns the note to LILY. She looks up at him piteously and puts the note back into her bosom. Then he takes out his key-ring, removes the latch key from it, and throws the key on to the table. Having done this, he drags his cap from his pocket and makes for the door on the left. As he passes LILY, she rises and gently plucks at his sleeve._] Nicko-- Nicko---- JEYES. [_In a thick voice._] Eh? LILY. Won't you-- won't you give Lord Farncombe-- some explanation----? JEYES. Explanation----? LILY. Of the sort of terms we've been on, you and I, He-- he must be-- rather puzzled-- [_turning away to the table._] Oh, it's due to you as well as to me! JEYES. [_Dully._] Just as you please. [_With a hard laugh._] Ho, ho! Yes, perhaps it _is_ due to me that he should learn a little more about me than he's been able to gather from personal observation-- and from your eloquent but summary description. [_Under his breath, screwing up his cap._] Idler-- waster-- loafer----! LILY.