[_Petrified._] Oh, my goodness gracious! [_Mallory comes and bends over Rankling, listening to his breathing; he then goes to Peggy._]
He's dropped off. Where is Mrs. Paulover?
I've a plan for disposing of the old gentleman. Try the other side.
I'm going to. [_Turning and clutching Mallory._] But, oh, Mr. Mallory, what do you think I've done?
I've made a mistake about the doors and--I have unlocked Mr. Queckett! [_She goes out quickly, Mallory thinks for a moment, then bursts into a fit of silent laughter._]
I love that girl! [_Reginald appears at the further door, gesticulating._]
[_In a hoarse whisper. _] Where is my wife? I cannot live longer without her! Where is Dinah?
Hush! She'll be here in a minute. Come out of there and lend me a hand. [_Saunders, Gwendoline, and Ermyntrude enter on tiptoe. To Reginald._] Now then--gently. [_Mallory and Reginald each take an end of the sofa and carry Rankling out through the door into the dark room._]
[_Breathlessly._] If they bump him, all's lost! [_Mallory and Reginald re-appear._]
Turn the key. Reginald turns the key as Dinah and Peggy enter cautiously.
My wife! [_Reginald rushes down to Dinah and embraces her frantically. There is a general cry of relief as Mallory embraces Peggy, and Gwendoline throws her arms round Saunders. Suddenly there is the sound of some one stumbling downstairs, accompanied by a smothered exclamation._]
[_Peeping out at the door._] Here's Uncle Vere got loose. He has fallen downstairs.
Oh, bother! Come along, Dinah. [_Reginald and Dinah, Saunders, Ermyntrude, and Gwendoline go out quickly._]
[_To Mallory._] Rather bad taste of your nephew and those girls to run after a newly-married couple, isn't it?
No; but we don't want to be bothered with your old friend, Queckett, do we?
Is the conservatory heated? [_Taking his arm._] I don't mind if it isn't. [_They disappear into the conservatory. The door opens and Queckett, his face pale and haggard, enters, still wearing his hat and the short covert coat over his evening dress, and carrying his gloves and umbrella._]
To whom am I indebted for being let out? Was it by way of treachery, I wonder? Somebody has been sitting up late, or rising early! Who is it? [_Sniffing and looking about him, then going straight to the mantelpiece, taking up the tumbler and smelling the contents._] I am anxious not to do any one an injustice, but that's Peggy. Oh, what a night I've passed! I have no hesitation in saying that the extremely bad behaviour of Caroline--of the lady I have married--and the ungovernable rage of Rankling, are indelibly impressed upon me. [_Looking round nervously._] Good gracious! I am actually in the room where Rankling announced his intention of ultimately dislocating my vertebræ. I shall certainly not winter in England. [_The clock strikes seven, he looks at his watch._] Seven. It will be wise to remain here till the first gleam of daylight, and then leave the house--unostentatiously. I will exchange no explanations with Caroline. I shall simply lay the whole circumstance of my injudicious, boyish marriage before my brother Bob and the other members of my family. Any allowance which Caroline may make me shall come through them. [_There is a sound of something falling and breaking outside the room._] The deuce! What's that? [_Going on tip-toe over to the door, and peeping out._] Somebody has knocked something over. [_Snatching up his hat, gloves, and umbrella._] I sha'n't wait till daybreak if they're breaking other things. [_He hurries to the other door, opens it, looks out, and closes it quickly.'_] People sitting on the stairs! Is this a plot to surround me? The conservatory? [_He goes quickly to the conservatory doors, opens them, then draws back closing them quickly._] Two persons under a palm tree. [_There is a knock at the door on the rights_] Oh! [_Seeing the door leading to the dark room._] Where does that lead to? [_He tries the door, unlocks it and looks in._] A dark room! Oh, I'm so thankful!