SELINA: I am going to write a revue called _Whispers_ as a lightning conductor for papa’s vulgarer jokes. NINIAN: Why _Whispers_? SELINA: Because it sounds so indiscreet. Haven’t you noticed that no one ever listens until one drops one’s voice? NINIAN: I should have thought it was easier to hear people who raised their voices. SELINA: Don’t you see? Then one doesn’t want to hear them. NINIAN: You are all too clever for me. But I really don’t know where it leads you to. MRS. MARTINEAU: It has made Lord William and Mr. Molyneux the two most sought-after men in London. LORD WILLIAM: It has helped Emily to avoid marriage and enabled her to lead her own life with admirable indiscretion. SELINA: It has made me a comfort to my father in his old age. LADY EMILY: We have only one regret. It has not prevented Ann and Tim from being saints. NINIAN: Ann has no temptations and Tim is indoors too much. [_He caresses ANN’S hair and she shudders a little._ MOLYNEUX: And it is delightful just being ourselves. LORD WILLIAM: How is the dear vicar—still pro-Semite? ANN: What a memory you’ve got, Uncle Bill. MOLYNEUX: And my friend, Mrs. Sidebotham? LADY EMILY: Si_de_botham, please. ANN: She told me that you had said something very funny to her last time you met, and that unfortunately she has forgotten it, and couldn’t you remember what it was? MOLYNEUX: A most insulting woman to think that I have a limited supply of labelled witticisms. LADY EMILY: The last time we were altogether there was that young politician. TIM: Jordan? LADY EMILY: Yes, that’s the man. SELINA: Do you remember how we teased him? TIM: I only remember your asking him if he took things seriously. SELINA: It was a delicate way of suggesting that he took himself seriously. LORD WILLIAM: That was abundantly clear without any hint from you, my dear. MOLYNEUX: He certainly didn’t fit into our airy conversation. SELINA: He was like a porpoise among gold fish. LORD WILLIAM: But we agreed that it was a mistake to waste malice on the dead. ANN (_with a muffled cry_): The dead? LORD WILLIAM: His reputation has come to an untimely end. He is, however, I believe, in excellent health. LADY EMILY: What did his reputation die of? LORD WILLIAM: Guess. MOLYNEUX: I suggest drink. NINIAN: He was never quite a gentleman. SELINA: Do gentlemen always have strong heads? MOLYNEUX: They sometimes have a good wine. MRS. MARTINEAU: Was that it? Do tell us about it. Did he get very drunk? SELINA: As Ninian would say, he couldn’t carry his liquor like a gentleman. MOLYNEUX: Nor can most gentlemen. MRS. MARTINEAU: But he can’t have ruined himself so quickly for such a common failing. MOLYNEUX: Shall we assume that he drugged? LADY EMILY: Or gambled? SELINA: Another gentlemanly vice. MOLYNEUX: We can pretend, if you prefer it, that he lost his temper when he lost, and crowed when he won. MRS. MARTINEAU: I suggest a woman.