BOBBY. I don't believe about your not having any men friends. I bet there are hundreds of them, as keen on you as anything.
JANE. I wonder. It would be rather nice to think there were. That sounds horrid, doesn't it, but a girl can't help wanting to be liked.
BOBBY. Of course she can't; nobody can. I don't think it's a bit horrid.
JANE. How nice of you. (She gets up) Well, I must be going, I suppose.
BOBBY. And how long will you be with her? You'll come down again, won't you?
JANE. No, I don't think so. I'm rather tired this evening. (Holding out her hand) Good-night, Bobby.
BOBBY (taking it). Oh, but look here, I'll come and light your candle for you.
(She manages to get her hand back, and they walk to the door together.)
BOBBY. I suppose I may as well go to bed myself.
JANE (at the door). Well, if you are, we'd better put the lights out.
BOBBY. Righto. (He puts them out.) I say, what a night! (The moonlight streams through the windows on them.) You'll hardly want a candle.
(The hall is empty. Suddenly the front door bell is heard to ring. After a little interval, ALICE comes in, turns on the light, and looks round the hall. She is walking across the hall to the drawing-room when MR. KNOWLE comes in from behind her, and she turns round.)
MR. KNOWLE. Were you looking for me, Alice?
ALICE. Yes, sir. There's a gentleman at the front door, sir.
MR. KNOWLE. Rather late for a call, isn't it?
ALICE. He's in a motor car, sir, and it's broken down, and he wondered if you'd lend him a little petrol. He told me to say how very sorry he was to trouble you----
MR. KNOWLE. But he's not troubling me at all--particularly if Peters is about. I daresay you could find Peters, Alice, and if it's not troubling Peters too much, perhaps he would see to it. And ask the gentleman to come in. We can't keep him standing on the door-mat.
ALICE. Yes, sir. I did ask him before, sir.
MR. KNOWLE. Well, ask him this time in the voice of one who is about to bring in the whiskey.
MR. KNOWLE. And then--bring in the whiskey.
ALICE. Yes, sir. (She goes out, and returns a moment later) He says, thank you very much, sir, but he really won't come in, and he's very sorry indeed to trouble you about the petrol.
MR. KNOWLE. Ah! I'm afraid we were too allusive for him.