LARK. (_aside_) Woodcock's gone and bungled the business--I knew he would. (_MRS. LARKINGS tears open the envelope_) She's opened it; it's all over with me! MRS. L. (_reading_) "To see you is to love you." (_suddenly_) Eh! can it be? yes! yes! (_with an exclamation of joy, and throwing her arms round LARKINGS_) Oh, my dear, darling Christopher! LARK. (_suffering pain in his arm, and trying to disengage himself--aside_) Confound it! how she's hurting me! MRS. C. What do you mean? MRS. L. That I'm the happiest woman in the world--that Christopher is innocent! (_throws her arms again round him_) LARK. Don't! don't! MRS. C. Innocent? MRS. L. Yes, as a lamb! the letter isn't in his handwriting--look! (_giving letter to MRS. C., and making another spring at LARKINGS, who keeps her off_) MRS. C. (_reading letter_) "To see you is to----" (_suddenly, and with a violent scream_) Ah! MRS. L. _and_ LARK. (_startled_) What's the matter? MRS. C. (_after a pause gives another louder scream_) Ah! the wretch! the monster! MRS. L. Who? who? MRS. C. Woodcock! the handwriting is _his!_ (_LARKINGS laughs aside_) Ah! (_another loud scream_) LARK. Hush! you'll alarm the neighbourhood. MRS. C. (_L. C._) I don't care--I must scream! I shall die if I don't scream! take me somewhere where I can scream! MRS. L. Hush! for Caroline's sake. MRS. C. True! she must know nothing--and yet I must scream. I'll go out in the street and scream. MRS. L. Hush! had you not better take poor Caroline home on some pretext or other! MRS. C. I will! and then I'll come back and kill Woodcock. I'll send for a cab this moment! MRS. L. Pray be cautious. MRS. C. I will! but I shall suffocate if I don't scream--I have it--I'll scream in the cab! (_hurries out, C._) MRS. L. (_with an imploring look at LARKINGS_) Oh, can you forgive me? LARK. (_in a patronizing tone_) Yes, yes! MRS. L. Dearest, best of Christophers-- (_suddenly embracing him again_) LARK. Don't! don't! MRS. L. How could I suspect you? but isn't this dreadful conduct of Mr. Woodcock's! actually before the honeymoon is over! LARK. Very shocking, indeed. MRS. L. The man ought to be put in the pillory! LARK. At the very least. MRS. L. Ah! (_tenderly_) you wouldn't deceive your fond confiding wife? (_affectionately putting her arm in his wounded one_) LARK. (_making a grimace_) Not for the world! _Enter DAVID, L._ DAVID. (_in a flurried manner_) Oh please, ma'am, a policeman has just rang at our bell---- MRS. L. A policeman? DAVID. Yes, ma'am; seeing we hadn't gone to bed, he called to say that as he was going over Primrose Hill, about a quarter of an hour ago (_LARKINGS pricks up his ears_) he picked up this card case, ma'am! (_LARKINGS hastily fumbles in all his pockets_) LARK. (_aside_) Mine, by Jupiter!