MRS. BEN DIXON No--at least, not that I know of. I mean that's not the worst that I've found out. I couldn't tell that poor child, but, Cherry, I'm ruined. He's swindled me out of all my fortune--all the money that Travers left me. I haven't a penny left to call my own. ADAM CHERRY. Belinda! For Heaven's sake don't say he's a swindler. MRS. BEN DIXON. Why not? He is my own husband. I suppose I can say what I like about him. Let's have _some_ consolation. (_Noticing Cherry's distraction._) What's the matter with you? ADAM CHERRY. (_Wildly._) He's got £8,000 of my money. Nearly all I have. I've put it all into a company of his. MRS. BEN DIXON. (_Aghast_.) You? Oh, why did I bring you down here? Oh, you poor lamb! Oh, what a miserable woman I am! (_Enter Theodore._) THEODORE TRAVERS. Ah, step-mater, I've been looking all over the place for you. (_Noticing the open paper on the floor where Cherry has dropped it, and, taking in the facts, he looks from one to the other. Then picks up paper, folds it, and puts in his pocket._) Finding out the truth about Ben, I see. Always a very painful matter finding out the truth about people. MRS. BEN DIXON. Theodore, your step-father's a scoundrel. THEODORE TRAVERS. Don't put him down to me, mater. He wasn't my selection. _You_ chose him for me. MRS. BEN DIXON. Why did you ever let me marry him? _You_ must have seen through him. _You're_ the old experienced person. Why didn't you warn your poor silly step-mother? Why didn't you stop me? THEODORE TRAVERS. My dear Bella, if I were to advise everybody, and they were to follow my advice, the world would become so intensely sensible as to be utterly uninteresting. Besides, there's really nothing much to be upset about. You see, fortunately, the lady was a _strong_ woman. Now, if she had been a _weak_ one, why---- MRS. BEN DIXON. That's not all, Theodore. I could have got over that. I shouldn't have been the first woman to find out that a man's respectable only so long as he thinks you can see him. But he's ruined me, Theodore. He's lost all my money for me. THEODORE TRAVERS. (_Whistles._) And found it for himself, I suppose. MRS. BEN DIXON. That's just what _I_ suppose too. And not content with that, he's cheated poor old Cherry here out of £8,000. THEODORE TRAVERS. (_Looks across at Cherry, who is standing utterly crushed._) "The Anti-Alcoholic and Mineral Water Union, Limited?" ADAM CHERRY. (_With a groan._) Yes, I signed the application for 200 shares not an hour ago. He said he'd see that they were allotted to me. THEODORE TRAVERS. I should say you could rely upon them. Are they settled for? ADAM CHERRY. I expect so by now. He suggested that I should telegraph to my brokers at the same time. THEODORE TRAVERS.