I mean to know who he is. MRS. CURTIS (_pleading_) Please! If you found him, you’d only see a total stranger to you. But he _wouldn’t_ be a stranger to quite a lot of people in this hotel that _I_ know. INGOLDSBY (_now shaking his head_) I’m afraid I don’t see it. MRS. CURTIS (_in a faltering voice_) He’s just here for one day and we--we didn’t want anyone to know it. I had so many engagements I could only take a short walk in the country with him this morning and--and promise to meet him here at five this afternoon. LANCELOT (_who has been staring at her painfully_) But--but--see here! MRS. CURTIS Yes, I tried to get you to run away and dance with some nice young thing. LANCELOT (_pathetically_) So you could be here with--him? MRS. CURTIS I--I believe so. LANCELOT (_dismally_) Oh, my! INGOLDSBY Madam, what you say doesn’t excuse this person’s eavesdropping. THE MYSTERIOUS VOICE (_belligerently_) Why doesn’t it? A lady’s got a right to keep her engagement a secret as long as she wants to, hasn’t she? There are people in this hotel that would know all about it if they saw her with me. (_With some bitterness._) That’s why she said to meet her here, because it’s so quiet! INGOLDSBY That doesn’t excuse-- THE MYSTERIOUS VOICE It’s more your fault than anybody else’s. I was awake all last night on a noisy train, and I was quietly _asleep_ here--till you woke me up. INGOLDSBY Till _who_ woke you up? THE MYSTERIOUS VOICE Till _you_ did. I never knew a man that made so much noise about proposing a second marriage. JESSIE (_amazed_) Oh, Mamma! MRS. BRIGGS (_with severe dignity_) I’ll speak to you and Mr. Rupert Smith after dinner. Henry, I don’t see the propriety of continuing an argument with this interloper, whoever he may be. (_She takes Ingoldsby’s arm._) JESSIE No. Let’s _do_ get away from here! (_She moves toward the left entrance with Rupert._) INGOLDSBY (_looking back, as he follows with Mrs. Briggs; speaks reprovingly_) I hope you have some shame for your conduct, sir. THE MYSTERIOUS VOICE Bless you, my children! INGOLDSBY (_infuriated_) Now, I’ll-- (_He turns to go back._) MRS. BRIGGS (_restraining him_) Henry! (_They go on the left entrance. Jessie and Rupert have passed out into the corridor._) LANCELOT Did he say “a lady’s got a right to keep her--her _engagement_--a secret”? MRS. CURTIS Yes. LANCELOT To--to--to you? MRS. CURTIS Yes, dear. LANCELOT (_piteously_) Oh--oh, pshaw! MRS. BRIGGS (_calling back_) Lancelot! LANCELOT (_meekly_) Yes’m. (_He goes dismally across to the left entrance and pauses. Ingoldsby and Mrs. Briggs have withdrawn, preceding him._) MRS. CURTIS (_as he pauses_) What is it, Mr. Briggs? LANCELOT (_swallowing_) Noth--nothin’. (He goes out.) MRS. CURTIS (_turning, after a moment’s faintly smiling meditation_) You poor thing!