MAUD _has barely finished speaking when the two gentlemen enter. Indeed there is nothing else for them to do, though it had been understood that the introductory scene was to run to something further than three brief remarks. One of the gentlemen has red hair, the other is flaxen-polled, but in two points they closely resemble each other: both have remarkably thick black eyebrows and fierce black moustaches. Also both wear hats of clerical shape――probably the latest thing, since they are obviously not parsons, but men-about-town, and dressed with extreme fastidiousness. The red-haired gentleman limps painfully and leans upon an umbrella. Mr. Drummond, who seems to recognize this particular property, follows his progress with ill-concealed anxiety. He displays still further uneasiness as one of the hats is dropped carelessly on a chair――suggesting that it may be sat upon later, in a passage of comic relief._ FIRST GENTLEMAN (_with winning affability_): You must excuse us coming in like this, but my friend has sprained his ankle, and as we were nearer your house than any other, we just dropped in here. I am Captain Victor De Lancy, and this is my great friend Reginald Ashley. Played together on the village green and all that sort of thing――what? Allow me to introduce you, Reginald, to Miss Angelina Ravenshawe, the heiress, and Miss Maud Vivien, her friend――cousin, I mean――no, friend. ANGELINA (_shyly_): I’m glad to see you, Balm――Reginald. REGINALD (_fingering his moustache_): Charmed, I’m sure! One meets so few heiresses! (_He staggers and catches hold of the back of a chair; then gradually sinks down upon the curate’s hat, only to recover himself when Mr. Drummond, no longer able to restrain his emotion, utters a cry of anguish. The hat is revealed, still unharmed, as in a conjuring trick, and the curate, recognizing too late that all this is intentional and performed for his especial benefit, endeavours to look as amused as the rest of the audience._) CAPTAIN DE LANCY (_under his breath, to_ ANGELINA): Ask him to sit down on the couch, stupid! ANGELINA: Won’t you sit down on the couch, Balm――Reg――Mr. Ashley. I see you’ve sprained your ankle very badly indeed. REGINALD (_gallantly_): I don’t regret it, Miss Ravenshawe, since it has given me the pleasure of making your acquaintance. MAUD (_dubiously_): I’m afraid Mr. Ashley won’t be well enough to go away for a long time. ANGELINA: I think so too. Will you, Mr. Ashley? REGINALD (_shortly_): Certainly not. MAUD: Angelina dear, you’d better call your father and mother. I know they want to meet Captain De Lancy and Mr. Ashley. They’ve seen them in church.