He and his lordship were at breakfast when I left, ma’am; in less than half-an-hour, I should say. LESLIE. Tell the servants. [_WEAVER goes out._] IRENE. Leslie, the thought that you are to be thrown into the society of this man is unendurable to me. LESLIE. And yet you are speaking of the man you are going to marry. IRENE. Certainly, but by my marriage I hope to lose much of his society. But you--oh, your husband is to blame, to blame! LESLIE. Hush, Irene! You do Mr. Renshaw an injustice. Look. [_She hands IRENE DUNSTAN’S letter._] Will, Dun has come back! Janet, be glad for my sake! IRENE. [_Reading the letter._] “Dear One. Weaver will explain my mode of arrival. Dangars I once knew fairly well, and somehow he won’t be shaken off now. As there appears to be an engagement between him and your friend Miss Stonehay I have asked him to be our guest for a couple of days, thinking you may consider it a kindness to her; but please don’t extend the term, as he is not quite the man I wish my wife to count among her acquaintances.” [_JANET and WILFRID stroll away._] LESLIE. [_To herself._] My husband home again--home again--home again! But, oh, why hasn’t he come back to me alone! IRENE. Leslie, I perceive I _have_ done Mr. Renshaw an injustice. But surely you had some further motive in sharing with me the privilege of enjoying Mr. Renshaw’s estimate of the gentleman who is to be my husband? LESLIE. Yes, I had. I _will_ convince you of the contempt in which honest men hold such as Lord Dangars. IRENE. [_Crushing the letter in her hand._] Thank you--I---- Leslie! you are right--save me--save me! LESLIE. Irene! IRENE. I knew that my next meeting with Lord Dangars could not be long delayed, and I taught myself to think of it coldly and callously. But, now that the moment has come, and I am to lay my hand in his and look him in the face--a woman willing to sell herself--every nerve in my body is on fire with the shame of it and I can’t, I can’t fall so utterly! LESLIE Dear Irene, I knew I should save you! IRENE. Ah, but can you? I am such a coward; I haven’t the courage of your good instincts. If you don’t help me I shall falter and be lost! LESLIE. But I can help you. _I_ will make an appeal to your mother. IRENE. That’s hopeless, hopeless! LESLIE. Then I will face Lord Dangars himself. IRENE. You! LESLIE. Yes, with my husband. Ah, Irene, there are good men still to fight the battles of weak women, and I promise you my dear husband’s aid. [_WILFRID and JANET re-appear, talking earnestly._] IRENE. Hush! LESLIE. [_Quietly to IRENE._] Go back to your mother and tell her I will see her in answer to her letter. [_LESLIE and IRENE go into the villa._] JANET PREECE. [_To WILFRID._] No, no, please, don’t speak to me like that! I mustn’t listen to you, indeed I mustn’t. WILFRID BRUDENELL.