It's so serious that I can't help thinking something will happen. Whenever I've got in a really tight fix something has turned up and put me on my legs again. Last time, Aunt Elizabeth had an apoplectic fit. But of course it wasn't really very profitable because mourning is so desperately expensive.
Gerald
Why don't you marry?
Lady Frederick
Oh, my dear Gerald, you know I'm always unlucky at games of chance.
Gerald
Charlie Mereston's awfully gone on you.
Lady Frederick
That must be obvious to the meanest intelligence.
Gerald
Well, why don't you have him?
Lady Frederick
Good heavens, I'm old enough to be his mother.
Gerald
Nonsense. You're only ten years older than he is, and nowadays no nice young man marries a woman younger than himself.
Lady Frederick
He's such a good fellow. I couldn't do him a nasty turn like that.
Gerald
How about Montgomerie? He simply stinks of money, and he's not a bad sort.
Lady Frederick
[Surprised.] My dear boy, I hardly know him.
Gerald
Well, I'm afraid it means marriage or bankruptcy.
Lady Frederick
Here's Charlie. Take him away, there's a dear. I want to talk to Paradine.
Enter Paradine Fouldes with Mereston.
Fouldes
What, still here, Lady Frederick?
Lady Frederick
As large as life.
Fouldes
We've been taking a turn on the terrace.
Lady Frederick
[To Mereston.] And has your astute uncle been pumping you, Charlie?
Fouldes
Eh, what?
Mereston
I don't think he got much out of me.
Fouldes
[Good-naturedly.] All I wanted, dear boy. There's no one so transparent as the person who thinks he's devilish deep. By the way, what's the time?
Gerald
About eleven, isn't it?
Fouldes
Ah! How old are you, Charlie?
Mereston
Twenty-two.
Fouldes
Then it's high time you went to bed.
Lady Frederick
Charlie's not going to bed till I tell him. Are you?