SYBIL. Then we must not detain Mr. Shand, Auntie. COMTESSE [who unless her heart is touched thinks insincerity charming]. Only one word. I heard you speak last night. Sublime! Just the sort of impassioned eloquence that your House of Commons loves. JOHN. It’s very good of you to say so. COMTESSE. But we must run. Bon soir. [SYBIL bows as to some one far away.] JOHN. Good-night, Lady Sybil. I hear you think I’m vulgar. [Eyebrows are raised.] COMTESSE. My dear Mr. Shand, what absurd--- JOHN. I was told she said that after hearing me speak. COMTESSE. Quite a mistake, I--- JOHN [doggedly]. Is it not true? SYBIL [‘waking up’]. You seem to know, Mr. Shand; and as you press me so unnecessarily--well, yes, that is how you struck me. COMTESSE. My child! SYBIL [who is a little agitated]. He would have it. JOHN [perplexed]. What’s the matter? I just wanted to know, because if it’s true I must alter it. COMTESSE. There, Sybil, see how he values your good opinion. SYBIL [her svelte figure giving like a fishing-rod]. It is very nice of you to put it in that way, Mr. Shand. Forgive me. JOHN. But I don’t quite understand yet. Of course, it can’t matter to me, Lady Sybil, what you think of me; what I mean is, that I mustn’t be vulgar if it would be injurious to my career. [The fishing-rod regains its rigidity.] SYBIL. I see. No, of course, I could not affect your career, Mr Shand. JOHN [who quite understands that he is being challenged]. That’s so, Lady Sybil, meaning no offence. SYBIL [who has a naughty little impediment in her voice when she is most alluring]. Of course not. And we are friends again? JOHN. Certainly. SYBIL. Then I hope you will come to see me in London as I present no terrors. JOHN [he is a man, is JOHN]. I’ll be very pleased. SYBIL. Any afternoon about five. JOHN. Much obliged. And you can teach me the things I don’t know yet, if you’ll be so kind. SYBIL [the impediment becoming more assertive]. If you wish it, I shall do my best. JOHN. Thank you, Lady Sybil. And who knows there may be one or two things I can teach you. SYBIL [it has now become an angel’s hiccough]. Yes, we can help one another. Good-bye till then. JOHN. Good-bye. Maggie, the ladies are going. [During this skirmish MAGGIE has stood apart. At the mention of her name they glance at one another. JOHN escorts SYBIL, but the COMTESSE turns back.] COMTESSE. Are you, then, THE Maggie? [MAGGIE nods rather defiantly and the COMTESSE is distressed.] But if I had known I would not have said those things. Please forgive an old woman. MAGGIE. It doesn’t matter. COMTESSE. I--I dare say it will be all right. Mademoiselle, if I were you I would not encourage those tete-a-tetes with Lady Sybil. I am the rude one, but she is the dangerous one; and I am afraid his impudence has attracted her. Bon voyage, Miss Maggie. MAGGIE. Good-bye--but I CAN speak French. Je parle francais. Isn’t that right?