[_Pleasantly seating himself and taking off his helmet._] Well, ladies, I don't know that I can tell you much to amuse you--however-- RANKLING. Be quiet, sir--we will not be entertained! JAFFRAY. [_Carrying a hose from the window to the door. _] Really, gentlemen, I must say I've never heard Mr. Goff treated so hasty at any conflagration. [_He carries the hose out._] RANKLING. A fireman full of anecdote! I decline to appreciate any reminiscence whatever. So do we all! REGINALD. Certainly! MALLORY. All of us! GOFF. It was in July, '79, ladies--my wife had just brought my tea to the Chandos Street Station--[_Jaffray re-enters and goes to the window._] MALLORY. Will you be silent, sir? REGINALD. Get up and do something! SAUNDERS. Go away! JAFFRAY. The Escape, ladies and gentlemen--that window--one at a time. [_There is a general movement and hubbub. Goff rises, he and Jaffray disappear by the window on the left. Mallory throws open the other window, and Jaffray appears outside and receives Dinah, Gwendoline, Ermyntrude, Peggy, and Jane as they escape._] RANKLING. Mr. Mallory--Mr. Saunders--good evening! [_Reginald disappears by the right-hand window. Saunders goes after him, Mallory is about to follow when Queckett enters hurriedly. Queckett is in a tall hat, a short covert coat, and carries gloves and an umbrella. He is flourishing a letter._] QUECKETT. [_Pulling Mallory back._] Jack--Jack! MALLORY. Hallo! QUECKETT. I'm going back to save some valuables. Directly you get down post that letter. Oh, Jack, it's so important. MALLORY. [_Looking at the letter._] To the Eagle Fire Insurance Company. QUECKETT. Quite so--slipped my memory. [_Mallory disappears. Jaffray follows him. _] RANKLING. [_Hurrying to Queckett._] My dear Queckett, it is the commander's duty to be the last to leave the ship--you are master here. Thank you for your hospitality. Good-night. QUECKETT. My dear Rankling, thank you for coming to see me. Good-night. [_Jaffray appears at the window._] JAFFRAY. It's all right, gentlemen--there's a kind lady down below who is taking everybody into her house for the night--Mrs. Rankling of Portland Place. RANKLING. Mrs. Rankling--that's my wife! [_Queckett disappears._] JAFFRAY. Is she, sir? Glad to hear it. Then they are all your visitors till to-morrow. RANKLING. Confound it, sir, where do I live? JAFFRAY. Just at the corner here, sir--a hundred yards off. RANKLING. Then where am I now? JAFFRAY. Miss Dyott's boarding school, sir--Volumnia College. RANKLING. What! [_He and Jaffray go out by the window on the right as Goff enters by the window on the left._] GOFF. Where is he? [_Calling at the door._]Sir, here's the lady of the house--rode up on an engine from Piccadilly--make haste--she says she will come up the ladder. [_Queckett enters quickly, dragging after him several boxes of cigars. _] QUECKETT.