Certain people of importance.
SCENE.--_Smoking-room of the Deychi Club. Time_, 10.30 P. M. _of a
stuffy night in the Rains. Four men dispersed in picturesque attitudes
and easy-chairs. To these enter_ BLAYNE _of the Irregular Moguls, in
evening dress_.
BLAYNE. Phew! The Judge ought to be hanged in his own store-godown. Hi,
_khitmatgar! Poora_ whiskey-peg, to take the taste out of my mouth.
CURTISS. (_Royal Artillery_.) That's it, is it? What the deuce made you
dine at the Judge's? You know his _bandobust_.
BLAYNE. 'Thought it couldn't be worse than the Club; but I'll swear he
buys ullaged liquor and doctors it with gin and ink (_looking round the
room_). Is this all of you tonight?
DOONE. (_P. W. D._) Anthony was called out at dinner. Mingle had a pain
in his tummy.
CURTISS. Miggy dies of cholera once a week in the Rains, and gets drunk
on chlorodyne in between. 'Good little chap, though. Any one at the
Judge's, Blayne?
BLAYNE. Cockley and his _memsahib_ looking awfully white and fagged.
'Female girl--couldn't catch the name--on her way to the Hills,
under the Cockleys' charge--the Judge, and Markyn fresh from
Simla--disgustingly fit.
CURTISS. Good Lord, how truly magnificent! Was there enough ice? When I
mangled garbage there I got one whole lump--nearly as big as a walnut.
What had Markyn to say for himself?
BLAYNE. 'Seems that every one is having a fairly good time up there in
spite of the rain. By Jove, that reminds me! I know I hadn't come across
just for the pleasure of your society. News! Great news! Markyn told me.
DOONE. Who's dead now?
BLAYNE. No one that I know of; but Gaddy's hooked at last!
DROPPING CHORUS. How much? The Devil! Markyn was pulling your leg. Not
GADDY!
BLAYNE. (Humming.) 'Yea, verily, verily, verily! Verily, verily, I say
unto thee.' Theodore, the gift o' God! Our Phillup! It's been given out
up above.
MACKESY. (_Barrister-at-Law_.) Huh! Women will give out anything. What
does accused say?
BLAYNE. Markyn told me that he congratulated him warily--one hand held
out, t'other ready to guard. Gaddy turned pink and said it was so.
CURTISS. Poor old Gaddy! They all do it. Who's _she?_ Let's hear the
details.
BLAYNE. She's a girl--daughter of a Colonel Somebody.
DOONE. Simla's stiff with Colonels' daughters. Be more explicit.