(_Stiffly_.) I think not, madam. I was his wife for ten years. MRS. BEN DIXON. Ten! Ah, poor soul, no wonder you look sad. I've been it for eighteen months. I hope you mean to be firm, Mrs. Wheedles? MRS. WHEEDLES. I shall do my duty as a woman. MRS. BEN DIXON. I'm glad to hear you say so. I hope he'll get two years. MRS. WHEEDLES. (_Sighing._) Ah, so happy as we used to be, too. ADAM CHERRY. If you take my advice, you'll make him fork out something to divide between you, and then let him go. MRS. BEN DIXON. Now look here, Cherry, don't you suggest anything of the kind. Don't you interfere between us and our husband. MRS. WHEEDLES. _My_ husband, madam. MRS. BEN DIXON. Oh, all right, your husband. I'm sure you're quite welcome to him. I've saved a good deal more out of the wreck than I expected to, thanks to Theodore; and we shouldn't get anything out of him if we tried. He's deceived me and he's deceived Mrs. Wheedles--as simple and trusting a woman as ever breathed, I should say, from the look of her. I want to think of him as doing some hard work for once in his life. MRS. WHEEDLES. You're quite right, ma'am. He doesn't deserve any mercy at our hands--a good wife I was to him--none of your flighty sort. (_Begins to cry. Bell heard._) ADAM CHERRY. There he is, I expect. I must see him first. You just step in there (_indicating door_) and wait till I've gone out and closed the door behind me. That will be your cue. (_The two women retire towards inner room._) I shall be in the little room the other side of the passage if you want me. (_Ben Dixon's voice is heard in passage. Cherry nods and signs the two women to disappear. They do so, closing the door behind them._) (Enter Ben Dixon. He is dressed for travelling, bag and umbrella. He enters, beaming as usual, and laying down his hat, bag, and umbrella on chair by door, advances to Cherry and shakes hands with him with one hand while holding his watch in the other. ) MR. BEN DIXON. My dear Cherry, I've only just ten minutes. Is the lady here? ADAM CHERRY. Oh, yes, but--but I'm afraid she'll want to talk to you for more than ten minutes. MR. BEN DIXON. (_Makes a clicking noise with his tongue._) I'm really afraid I cannot spare her any more. I must catch the afternoon mail from Charing Cross. ADAM CHERRY. (_Quickly_.) Going abroad? MR. BEN DIXON. Yes, Mr. Cherry. ADAM CHERRY.' Anything to do with the "Anti-Alcoholic and Mineral Water Union?" MR. BEN DIXON. Partly so. ADAM CHERRY. Ah! I thought you'd be having to travel soon in connection with that affair. I'll send the lady to you at once, anyhow. (_Moving towards door at back._) MR. BEN DIXON. Do, Mr. Cherry; do. And if she's got the cash ready--or a cheque, it really ought not to take long, you know. ADAM CHERRY. I'll leave you to explain the situation to her yourself.