BELINDA. Mr. Baxter, Mr. Baxter, you may come in now; he has withdrawn. (_Moves down a little and then back to_ L. _of the door again_.) Mr. Baxter, I have unhanded him. (_She opens the door and going in, finds the room empty_.) Oh!
(BAXTER _comes quickly through the swing doors_.)
BAXTER (_meeting_ BELINDA _coming out of the cupboard_). Ah, (_they both start_) there you are! (_Crossing down to_ R. _end of_ C. _table, he puts down his hat_.)
BELINDA (_turning with a start_). Oh, how you frightened me, Mr. Baxter! I couldn't think what had happened to you. (_She closes the door_.) I thought perhaps you'd been eaten up by one of the umbrellas.
BAXTER. Mrs. Tremayne, I have some wonderful news for you. I have found Miss Robinson's father.
BELINDA (_on his_ L., _hardly understanding_). Miss Robinson's father?
BELINDA. Oh, you mean--(_Points to direction when TREMAYNE has gone_.) Oh yes, he told me his name was Robinson--Oh, but he's no relation.
BAXTER. Wait! I saw his arm. By a subterfuge I managed to see his arm.
BELINDA (_her eyes opening more and more widely as she begins to realize_). You saw--
BELINDA (_coming down to him faintly as she holds out her own arm_). Show me.
BAXTER (_very decorously indicating_). There!
(BELINDA _holds the place with her other hand, and still looking at_ MR. BAXTER, _slowly begins to laugh--half-laughter, half-tears, wonderingly, happily, contentedly_.)
BELINDA (_moving to_ R. _of table and sitting_). And I didn't know!
BAXTER (_moving to back of table_). Mrs. Tremayne, I am delighted to have done this service for your niece----
BELINDA (_to herself_). Of course, _he_ knew all the time.
BAXTER (_to the world_). Still more am I delighted to have gained the victory over Mr. Devenish in this enterprise.
BELINDA. Eighteen years--but I _ought_ to have known.
BAXTER (_at large_). I shall not be accused of exaggerating when I say that the odds against such an enterprise were enormous.
BELINDA. Eighteen years---- And now I've eight whole _hours_ to wait!
BAXTER (_triumphantly_). It will be announced to-night. "Mr. Devenish," I shall say, "young fellow----" (_He arranges his speech in his mind_.)
BELINDA (_nodding to herself mischievously_). So I was right, after all! (_Slowly and triumphantly_.) He _does_ look better without a beard!