[_To herself._] I shall give Gwendoline and Ermyntrude the two that are downstairs.
H'm! You're not alone, are you, Jack? Mallory. No--they're coming up.
The old gentleman takes his time with the stairs.
[_ With forced ease._] Poor old gentleman! Who the deuce--!
The fact is, there's been a big Navy dinner tonight at the Whitehall Rooms. The enthusiasm became rather forced--Britannia rules the waves, and all that sort of thing--so I gladly thought of finishing up with you. I've brought my nephew--hallo, here he is. [_Mr. Saunders enters. He is a pretty boy, almost a child, in the uniform of a naval cadet._] My nephew--Horatio Nelson Drake Saunders, of the Training Ship "Dexterous."
[_ With the airs of a little man, but in a treble voice._] How do you do? Awfully pleased to come here.
[_Laughing, to Saunders._] I say, you shouldn't have left the old gentleman.
[_Laughing._] He sent me up to count how many more stairs there were.
[_Impatiently._] Jack, I don't put the question on theological grounds, but who is the old gentleman?
Oh, I beg your pardon--and his. We persuaded an old acquaintance of yours to join us--Admiral Rankling.
[_Peggy makes a bolt out of the room. Saunders goes to the door, and returns with Rankling. Rankling is in evening dress, overcoat, and muffler, and is much out if breath._]
Ah, Mr. Queckett, how do you do? We haven't met anywhere lately; I've been away, you know.
I am delighted to renew our acquaintance, Admiral Rankling.
[_Puffing._] Mr. Mallory suggested that we should smoke our last cigar at your lodgings. I can't stay, for I've a long distance to drive home. At least, I suppose I have, for I really don't know quite where we are. What quarter of London have you brought me to, Mr. Mallory? Oh, thank ye! [_He turns to Saunders, who is offering to remove his overcoat. The door is slightly opened, and the heads of all the girls are seen. _]
[_Hastily to Mallory._] He doesn't know where he is!
He isn't aware he lives a hundred and fifty yards off!
Hush, don't tell him! Jack, don't tell him! I'll explain why by-and-by.
[_Queckett turns to assist Saunders who, mounted on a chair, is struggling ineffectually to relieve Rankling of his overcoat._]
[_To himself._] There's a wild look about poor Queckett I don't like. It's his lonely bachelor life, I suppose. Curious place too--he used to be such a swell in the Albany. [_Looking about him. The door shuts and the heads disappear._]