CRAMPTON (rising in angry alarm). McComas! (Calls to Valentine.) Valentine! (Again, fiercely.) Valentine!! (Valentine turns.) This is a plant, a conspiracy. This is my family--my children--my infernal wife. VALENTINE (coolly). On, indeed! Interesting meeting! (He resumes his study of the menu.) CRAMPTON. Meeting! Not for me. Let me out of this. (Calling to the waiter.) Give me that coat. WAITER. Yes, sir. (He comes back, puts Valentine's stick carefully down against the luncheon table; and delicately shakes the coat out and holds it for Crampton to put on.) I seem to have done the young gentleman an injustice, sir, haven't I, sir. CRAMPTON. Rrrh! (He stops on the point of putting his arms into the sleeves, and turns to Valentine with sudden suspicion.) Valentine: you are in this. You made this plot. You-- VALENTINE (decisively). Bosh! (He throws the menu down and goes round the table to look out unconcernedly over the parapet.) CRAMPTON (angrily). What d'ye-- (McComas, followed by Philip and Dolly, comes out. He vacillates for a moment on seeing Crampton.) WAITER (softly--interrupting Crampton). Steady, sir. Here they come, sir. (He takes up the stick and makes for the hotel, throwing the coat across his arm. McComas turns the corners of his mouth resolutely down and crosses to Crampton, who draws back and glares, with his hands behind him. McComas, with his brow opener than ever, confronts him in the majesty of a spotless conscience.) WAITER (aside, as he passes Philip on his way out). I've broke it to him, sir. PHILIP. Invaluable William! (He passes on to the table.) DOLLY (aside to the waiter). How did he take it? WAITER (aside to her). Startled at first, miss; but resigned--very resigned, indeed, miss. (He takes the stick and coat into the hotel.) McCOMAS (having stared Crampton out of countenance). So here you are, Mr. Crampton. CRAMPTON. Yes, here--caught in a trap--a mean trap. Are those my children? PHILIP (with deadly politeness). Is this our father, Mr. McComas? McCOMAS. Yes--er-- (He loses countenance himself and stops.) DOLLY (conventionally). Pleased to meet you again. (She wanders idly round the table, exchanging a smile and a word of greeting with Valentine on the way.) PHILIP. Allow me to discharge my first duty as host by ordering your wine. (He takes the wine list from the table. His polite attention, and Dolly's unconcerned indifference, leave Crampton on the footing of the casual acquaintance picked up that morning at the dentist's. The consciousness of it goes through the father with so keen a pang that he trembles all over; his brow becomes wet; and he stares dumbly at his son, who, just conscious enough of his own callousness to intensely enjoy the humor and adroitness of it, proceeds pleasantly.) Finch: some crusted old port for you, as a respectable family solicitor, eh?