(_Cherry, Jack, and Ted have been talking together. They have not yet looked at Ben Dixon. On hearing this, Cherry starts and looks rounds then whips out the photo of Wheedles from his pocket, and looks from it to Ben Dixon. Ted and Jack look over Cherry's shoulder._) MR. BEN DIXON. (_Sweetly._) Only shaved, Sweety. (_Looks round at them all_). How do you like me? TED MORRIS. (_In an excited whisper_). By Jove! it _is_---- ADAM CHERRY. Quiet. Curtain. THE THIRD ACT. _Cherry's sitting-room at Mrs. Wheedles'. A comfortable, old-fashioned room furnished in good substantial style. Cherry and Mrs. Wheedles discovered. Cherry smoking pipe in his easy chair before fire. Mrs. Wheedles sits uncomfortably on extreme edge of the other easy-chair._ MRS. WHEEDLES. And you really think, he'll come? ADAM CHERRY. Tolerably sure of it, Mrs. Wheedles. I flatter myself I baited the hook pretty artfully. I wrote him that if he could call here about four o'clock to-day I could introduce him to a lady who I knew took great interest in his schemes, and that I thought some advantage might result from the meeting. (_Chuckles_.) And so I hope it will. MRS. WHEEDLES. And he said he would? ADAM CHERRY. He replied that he would not allow such an opportunity for benefiting the human race to escape him for worlds, and that he would be here to the minute. MRS. WHEEDLES, (_Glances at clock over mantel_.) It's twenty minutes to four now. ADAM CHERRY. (_Looks at his watch._) Ah, that's five minutes fast. Mrs. Ben Dixon's rather late though. She said she'd be here at half-past three. MRS. WHEEDLES. How has she taken it, poor woman? ADAM CHERRY. Well, of course it's a very unpleasant position for her, but, between ourselves, I fancy she will be very glad if it turns out that he _is_ your husband, and, consequently, not hers. I expect that's why she's so anxious to be in the "show," as she calls it. She says she wants to see the truth for herself, and fix him down. MRS. WHEEDLES. She hasn't said a word to him about it, I suppose? ADAM CHERRY. She hasn't had a chance--yet. They quarrelled over money matters (_groans to himself_) and other things, and she left him before she ever heard of this. MRS. WHEEDLES. Ah, she could never really have loved him, Mr. Cherry. (_Wipes away a tear._) ADAM CHERRY. I'm inclined to agree with you there, Mrs. Wheedles. (_He crosses to window, looking at his watch._) I wish she'd come. MRS. WHEEDLES. (_Crying._) Such a good man as he was--before he went wrong. (_Bell heard._) She starts up. Oh Lord, that's him, I feel it in my bones. ADAM CHERRY. (_Looking out of window._) Your bones have misled you, Mrs. Wheedles. It's Mr. Travers, and--(_looking out further_), no, it isn't big enough for Mrs. Ben Dixon. MRS. WHEEDLES. Oh dear, it gave me quite a spasm. I wish I didn't feel in such a fluster. (_The door at back is opened by a maid, and Theodore enters followed by Primrose. Mrs. Wheedles slips quietly out._)