LATIMER (_with a sigh_). Yes, I’m afraid I am. And yet I look very young. Sometimes I think I look too young. DOMINIC. Yes, sir. LATIMER. Miss Anne has just asked me to be her father. DOMINIC. Very considerate of her, I’m sure, sir. LATIMER. Yes.... To prevent similar mistakes in the future, I think I shall wear a long white beard. DOMINIC. Yes, sir. Shall I order one from the Stores? LATIMER. Please. DOMINIC. Thank you, sir.... Is Miss Anne leaving us, sir? LATIMER. Yes.... Don’t overdo the length, Dominic, and I like the crinkly sort. DOMINIC. Yes, sir.... One of our most successful weeks on the whole, if I may say so, sir. LATIMER (_thoughtfully_). Yes.... Well, well, we must all do what we can, Dominic. DOMINIC. That’s the only way, isn’t it, sir? (_They stand looking at each other. Just for a moment DOMINIC is off duty. That grave face relaxes; the eyes crease into a smile. MR. LATIMER smiles back.... Very gently they begin to laugh together; old friends; master and servant no longer. “Dear, dear! These children!” says DOMINIC’S laugh. “How very amusing they are, to be sure!” LATIMER’S laugh is a little rueful; a moment ago he, too, was almost a child. Yet he laughs. “Good old DOMINIC!”_ _Suddenly the front-door bell rings. Instinctively they stiffen to attention. They are on duty again. They turn and march off, almost, as it were, saluting each other; MR. LATIMER to his quarters, DOMINIC to his bolts and bars. He draws the curtains and opens the big front door._) A MANLY VOICE. Oh, is this—er—an hotel? DOMINIC. A sort of hotel, your Grace. HIS GRACE (_coming in, a lady on his arm_). My chauffeur said—we’ve had an accident—been delayed on the way—he said that—— (_Evidently another romantic couple. Let us leave them to MR. LATIMER._) THE TRUTH ABOUT BLAYDS CHARACTERS Oliver Blayds. Isobel (_his younger daughter_). Marion Blayds-Conway (_his elder daughter_). William Blayds-Conway (_his son-in-law_). Oliver Blayds-Conway } Septima Blayds-Conway } (_his grandchildren_). A. L. Royce. Parsons. * * * * * _A room in OLIVER BLAYDS’ house in Portman Square._ * * * * * This play was first produced at the Globe Theatre on December 20, 1921, with the following cast: _Oliver Blayds_ Norman McKinnel. _Isobel_ Irene Vanbrugh. _Marion Blayds-Conway_ Irene Rooke. _William Blayds-Conway_ Dion Boucicault. _Oliver_ Jack Hobbs. _Septima_ Faith Celli. _A. L. Royce_ Ion Swinley. _Parsons_ Ethel Wellesley. ACT I