_THEODORE now comes out of the house, also looking harassed. Lucy turns to him inquiringly. He shakes his head sadly._
No word. He must have reached town long ago, unless he had tire trouble.... It's a bad sign, Lucy, a bad sign. He would surely telephone us.
Oh, if he _only_ hadn't missed their train!
Uncle Everett is the only one who could have brought them to their senses.
It may not be too late. He took our fastest car, our best chauffeur.
Detectives are to watch all the steamers to-morrow. John telephoned at once.
But to-morrow will be too late! And, oh! when it all comes out in the newspapers! The ghastly head-lines--"well-known scientist, beautiful daughter of a prominent family!" Oh! What will people say?
[_JOHN, hurried and worried, rushes out shouting for LUCY._
Any news? Any news? [_THEODORE and LUCY give him gestures of despair._] Then it's too late. [_He, too, paces to and fro in fury. Then bracing up._] Well, I found Rex, over at the Golf Club. Terribly cut up. But listen; not a drink, not one!... Where's Jean? Got to see her at once.
Locked herself up in her room, John, crying her little heart out!
Rex is a changed man, I tell you. We've got to patch it up, and we've got to do it _quick_!
But, John! When the Bakers hear about Helen ... Rex marry into our family? Never! We're disgraced, John, disgraced!
But they're not _going_ to hear about Helen. No one knows, and no one _will_. Helen has simply returned to Paris to complete her scientific research. My press-agent--he's attending to all that.
But questions, gossip, rumor--it's bound to come out in time!
In time; but meanwhile, if Jean marries Rex, the Bakers will _have_ to stand for it. What's more, they'll make _other_ people stand for it. Backed by the Bakers, no one will _dare_ turn us down.... Our position in the world, my business relations with the old man--_everything hangs on little Jean_ now. Tell her I've simply got to see her. [_LUCY hesitates._] Hurry! Rex is coming over later. [_He catches sight of the table, festoons, etc._] Heavens! What's all this tomfoolery?
Uncle Everett's orders--he wouldn't stop to explain. He left word to summon the whole family for dinner.
John! You must not, shall not, force Jean to marry this man.