_Rose._
[_Starting to her feet, heroically and defiantly. _] And what I wish to
say, Sir William, is this. I wish to avow, to declare before the world,
that Arthur and I have had many lengthy interviews while he has been
stationed against those railings over there; I murmuring to him softly
from my bedroom window, he responding in tremulous whispers----
_Sir William._
[_Struggling to his feet_]. You--you tell me such things---! [_All
rise._]
_Miss Gower._
The Square, in which we have resided for years----! Our neighbors----!
_Sir William._
[_Shaking a trembling hand at Arthur. _] The--the character of my
house---!
_Arthur._
Again I am extremely sorry, sir--but these are the only confidential
conversations Rose and I now enjoy.
_Sir William._
[_Turning upon Clara and De Foenix._] And you, Captain de Foenix--an
officer and a gentleman! and you, Clara! this could scarcely have been
without your cognizance, without, perhaps, your approval----!
[_Charles, in plush and powder and wearing luxuriant whiskers, enters,
carrying two branch candlesticks with lighted candles._]
_Charles._
The cawd-table, Sir William?
_Miss Gower._
[_Agitatedly._] Yes, yes, by all means, Charles; the card-table, as
usual. [_To Sir William._] A rubber will comfort you, soothe you----
[_Charles carries the candlesticks to the card-table, Sir William and
Miss Gower seat themselves upon a couch, she with her arm through his
affectionately. Clara and De Foenix get behind the screen; their scared
faces are seen occasionally over the top of it. Charles brings the
card-table, opens it and arranges it, placing four chairs, which he
collects from different parts of the room, round the table. Rose and
Arthur talk in rapid undertones._]
_Rose._
Infamous! infamous!
_Arthur._
Be calm, Rose, dear, be calm!
_Rose._
Tyrannical! diabolical! I cannot endure it.
[_She throws herself into a chair. He stands behind her, apprehensively,
endeavoring to calm her._]
_Arthur._
[_Over her shoulder._] They mean well, dearest----
_Rose._
[_Hysterically._] Well! ha, ha, ha!
_Arthur._