MR. F. (_who gets out, and follows in the direction of the light, grumbling to himself_). Hallo!--not past the park yet--here's the railings! Well, if I keep close to them, I shall--(_He suddenly collides with a bench_). Phew! Oh, confound it! (_He rubs his shins._) Now, if it hadn't been for Fanny, I--Where's that linkman? Hi!--you there!--stop! (THE LIGHT STOPS.) Look here--I want you to come to my carriage, and show my man the way out of this! VOICE FROM BEHIND THE RAILINGS. We got to find our _own_ way out fust, Guv'nor. We're _inside_! A BELATED REVELLER (_lurching up to_ MR. F.) Beg your pardon, bur cou' you dreck me nearesht way--er--Dawshon Plashe? MR. F. (_savagely_). First turning to the right, third to the left, and then straight on till you come to it! THE B. R. I'm exsheedingly 'blished; (_confidentially_) fact ish, I'm shuffrin' shli' 'fection eyeshi', an' I 'shure you, can't shee anyshing dishtingly to-ni'. (_He cannons against a lamp-post, to which he clings affectionately, as a Policeman emerges from the gloom._) POLICEMAN. Now then, what are you doing 'ere, eh? THE B. R. Itsh all ri', P'lishman, thish gerrilman--(_patting lamp-post affectionately_)--has kindly promished shee me home. MR. F. Hang it! Where's Peacock and the brougham? (_He discovers a phantom vehicle by the kerb, and gets in angrily._) Now, look here, my dear, it's no earthly good--! OCCUPANT OF THE BROUGHAM. (_who is not_ FANNY). Coward, touch a defenceless woman if you dare! I have nothing on me of any value. Help! Police! [MR. F., _seeing that explanation is useless, lets himself out again, precipitately, dodges the_ POLICEMAN, _and bolts, favoured by the fog, until all danger of pursuit is passed, at the end of which time he suddenly realizes that it is perfectly hopeless to attempt to find his own carriage again_. _He gropes his way home, and some hours later, after an extemporised cold supper, is rejoined by his Wife._ MRS. F. (_cheerfully_). So _there_ you are, Marmaduke! I wasn't anxious--I felt sure you'd find your way back somehow! MR. F. (_not in the best of tempers_). Find my way back! It was the only thing I could do. But where have _you_ been all this time, Fanny? MRS. F. Where? Why, at the Blewitts, to be sure. You see, after you got out, we had to keep moving on, and by and by the fog got better, and we could see where we were going to,--and the Blewitts had put off dinner half an hour, so I was not so _very_ late. Such a _nice_ dinner! Everybody turned up except _you_, Marmaduke--but I _told_ them how it was. Oh, and old Lady Horehound was there, and said a man had actually got into her brougham, and tried to wrench off one of her most valuable bracelets!--only she spoke to him so severely that he was struck with remorse, or something, and got out again! And it was by the Park, _close_ to where you left me. Just fancy, Marmaduke, he might have got into the carriage with _me_, instead!