TRANTO. It can be a posthumous article, in a black border. HILDEGARDE. Indeed! And why shouldn't Sampson Straight transfer his services to another paper? There are several who'd jump at him. TRANTO. I never thought of that. HILDEGARDE. Naturally! TRANTO. He shall live. (_A pause_. Tranto _bows, and exit, back_.) (Hildegarde _subsides once more on to the sofa_.) _Enter_ Culver, _in his velvet coat, L_. CULVER (_softly, with sprightliness_). Hello, Sampson! HILDEGARDE. Dad, please don't call me that. CULVER. Not when we're alone? Why? HILDEGARDE. I--I--Dad, I'm in a fearful state of nerves just now. Lost my temper and all sorts of calamities. CULVER. Really! I'd no idea. I gathered that the interview between you and your mother had passed quite smoothly. HILDEGARDE. Oh! _That!_ CULVER. What do you mean--'Oh! _That!_'? HILDEGARDE (_standing; in a new, less gloomy tone_). Papa, what are you doing out of bed? You're very ill. CULVER. Well, I'd managed to dress before your mother and Johnnie came. As soon as they imparted to me the glad tidings that baronetcies were off I felt so well I decided to come down and thank you for your successful efforts on behalf of the family well-being. I'm no longer your father. I'm your brother. HILDEGARDE. It was Johnnie did it. CULVER. It wasn't--_I_ know. HILDEGARDE (_exasperated_). I say it _was!_ (_Apologetically_). So sorry, dad. (_Kisses him_). Where are they, those two? (_Sits_). CULVER. Mother and John? Don't know. I fancy somebody called as I came down. HILDEGARDE. Called! Before lunch! Who was it? CULVER. Haven't the faintest. _Enter_ John, _back_. JOHN (_proudly_). I say, good people! New acquaintance of mine! Just looked in. Met him at the Automobile this morning with Skewes. I was sure you'd all give your heads to see the old chap, so I asked him to lunch on the chance. Dashed if he didn't accept! You see we'd been talking a bit about politics. He's the most celebrated man in London. I doubt if there's a fellow I admire more in the whole world--or you either. He's knocked the mater flat already. Between ourselves, I really asked him because I thought he might influence her on this baronetcy business. However, that's all off now. What are you staring at? CULVER. We're only bursting with curiosity to hear the name of this paragon of yours. As a general rule I like to know beforehand whom I'm going to lunch with in my own house. JOHN. It's Sampson Straight. HILDEGARDE (_springing up_). _Sampson Str_-- CULVER (_calmly_). Keep your nerve, Hilda. Keep your nerve.