Mereston
Of course not.
Fouldes
Has it escaped your acute intelligence, my friend, that I want to talk to Lady Frederick?
Mereston
Not at all. But I have no reason to believe that Lady Frederick wants to talk to you.
Gerald
Let's go and have a game of pills, Charlie.
Mereston
D'you want to be left alone with the old villain?
Fouldes
You show no respect for my dyed hairs, young man.
Lady Frederick
I've not seen him for years, you know.
Mereston
Oh, all right. I say, you're coming for a ride to-morrow, aren't you?
Lady Frederick
Certainly. But it must be in the afternoon.
Fouldes
I'm sorry, but Charles has arranged to motor me over to Nice in the afternoon.
Mereston
[To Lady Frederick.] That'll suit me A 1. I had an engagement, but it was quite unimportant.
Lady Frederick
Then that's settled. Good-night.
Mereston
Good-night.
[He goes out with Gerald. Lady Frederick turns and good-humouredlyscrutinises Paradise Fouldes.
Lady Frederick
Well?
Fouldes
Well?
Lady Frederick
You wear excellently, Paradine.
Fouldes
Thanks.
Lady Frederick
How do you manage it?
Fouldes
By getting up late and never going to bed early, by eating whatever I like and drinking whenever I'm thirsty, by smoking strong cigars, taking no exercise, and refusing under any circumstances to be bored.
Lady Frederick
I'm sorry you had to leave town in such a hurry. Were you amusing yourself?
Fouldes
I come to the Riviera every year.
Lady Frederick
I daresay, but not so early.
Fouldes
I've never surrendered so far to middle age as to make habits.
Lady Frederick
My dear Paradine, the day before yesterday, Lady Mereston, quite distracted, went to the post office and sent you the following wire: "Come at once, your help urgently needed. Charlie in toils designing female, Maud." Am I right?
Fouldes