Pardon me. [SIR JULIAN's flute gives a squeak.]
The arrangements for this morning are quite complete, Sir Julian.
The arrangements for the opening of the new street.
Oh, to be sure; I open the new street to-day. Why on earth shouldn't a new street be opened by a policeman during the night, quietly?
[The DOWAGER LADY DRUMDURRIS, fashionably dressed for out-of-doors, enters.]
[In a flutter.] Julian, good-morning. A glorious day for the ceremony, Mr. Melton. Is everything arranged?
I have a motive for asking. I and my family accompany Sir Julian and Lady Twombley to lend weight and support.
[To SIR JULIAN.] You leave here at twelve, reaching the new street at half-past. You speak from the cluster of lamps by St. Jude's Church.
Your speech will be terse, elegant, and vigorous, I hope, Julian?
I hope so. Have you written it, Melton? [MELTON hands him the sheets of paper.] Thank you. The usual thing, I suppose?
Thank you. There's nothing like the usual thing. [Referring to the speech.] "By opening up these majestic avenues London takes beer----"
I beg your pardon. "----takes air into her system and keeps her place in the race with her sister cities." Excellent.
You are thinking of the christening of a ship, Lady Drumdurris.
I have to see Superintendent Snudden now as to the police arrangements.
I'll see that the carriage closes easily.
Thank you. And Lady Twombley might take an extra sunshade.
[MELTON goes out. The DOWAGER closes the door carefully after him.]
[Reading.] "I can conceive no position more agreeable to a Minister of the Crown than that which----"
You wonder why I am with you at this early hour. I need hardly say I have a motive.
Knowing that you were not going down to Browning Street this morning, and that Lady Twombley and Imogen were to take Euphemia shopping in Bond Street, I grasped the chance of seeing you alone. Julian, what has happened to your wife?
It began two or three months ago. She's not the woman she was at the commencement of the season.
Being her husband, it is natural you should not. Her variable temperament! At one moment she looks as if she would like to bury everybody, me especially; the next she is laughing in a manner I must designate as positively provincial.
