me. (rises) You shall not ask me for the document you want; but you shall have it.

Philip. Ah, you don’t understand——

Lady C. A letter with my signature. I understand.

Philip. But——

Lady C. I only ask one favour in return.

Philip. Whatever I can do——

Lady C. Once whilst you were away, I was so foolish as to write to you. Whether or not my note was forwarded, I don’t know; but if you received it——

Philip. I did.

Lady C. Please to return it to me; that is all I ask. (slight pause) Well?

Philip. I regret——

Lady C. Surely you will do that?

Philip. I can’t.

Lady C. Can’t! Why? (slight pause)

Philip. (drops his head) I have destroyed it.

Lady C. Ah! (turns up and sits at desk) Sit down a moment whilst I write the letter. (writes rapidly)

Philip. It would be to no purpose.

Lady C. Oh, I will make it to the purpose. (writing)

Philip. Ah, if you only understood my situation!

Lady C. Pray sit down. (continues writing)

Philip. (sits on the end of lounge facing the audience—aside) How shall I tell her who it is requires it? (rises—aloud) Lady Carlyon——

Lady C. (writing) In one moment.

Philip. (sits—aside) How am I to say it? (pause—during which Lady Carlyon finishes and folds up the letter)

Lady C. (rising and advancing) There is the letter. (puts it in his hand)

Philip. It is of no use. (rises)

Lady C. It is signed.

Philip. That is the very reason. How can I show your signature——

Lady C. You have my leave. The guardian is a gentleman, I hope.

Philip. Undoubtedly.

Lady C. Then he will not betray me.

Philip. But you don’t know—— (door opens, L.)

Lady C. My husband! hush!

Re-enter Sir George, L. Philip hides behind his back the hand which holds the letter.

Sir G. Rose has gone up stairs, but I’ve sent word you want her. Are you no better? You’re upset to-night.

Philip. It is my fault, Sir George. I’ve just been telling your wife of my difficulties.

Sir G. You couldn’t have done better. I’m sure she will agree with me, that you should get the signature required. That is the only difficulty in the matter.

Philip. But it is insurmountable. If I had the signature, how could I use it?

Sir G. Not without permission.

Philip. No!

Lady C. But you have permission!

(quickly and inadvertently)

Sir G. What?

Lady C. (aside) I’ve said too much.

Sir G. How did you get it? There’s no post at this hour.

Philip. (with his disengaged hand produces Rose’s envelope from his pocket) In the letter which you gave to me——

Sir G. Oh—ah!

Philip. And which I have just opened.

Sir G. The letter in the lady’s handwriting.

Philip. Of her own accord, she releases me——

Sir G. This is a marvellous coincidence.

Philip. (shows letter) But here the letter is.

Sir G. How alike you women write! I could almost have sworn that envelope was in my niece’s hand.

Lady C. How could that be?

Sir G. Why not?

Lady C. Rose write to Philip, whom she doesn’t know!

Sir G. Not know?

Lady C. They never saw each other till to-night.

Sir G. You said Philip had told you——

Philip. All but that.

Sir G. You have not told my wife it’s Rose you are engaged to?

Lady C. Rose!

Sir G. You may well look surprised. It seems they met on board the “Kangaroo.”

Lady C. He is engaged to Rose?

Philip. Yes.

Lady C. Then the guardian is——

Sir G. I. (touches his breast, advances one step forward, and puts out his hand) Give me the letter. (Lady Carlyon and Philip both recoil one step—pause—they stand breathless, gazing at Sir George) You hesitate.

Philip. Sir George, you must make some allowances. This letter is addressed to me, and I should not be justified in letting it go out of my possession.

Sir G. How, then, do you propose to satisfy me?

Lady C. Might he not read it?

Sir G. Thank you, my dear, for the suggestion. That will meet the difficulty.

Philip. Then, I will read it. (reads nervously, the letter trembling in his hands) “I hear you are going to be married. Good-bye, Philip. You need not fear that I shall trouble you again; I have your happiness too much at heart; but if I should, this letter puts me at your mercy. Should the necessity arise, you have my leave to give it to whoever has the right to ask for it.—Yours, for the last time——”

Sir G. Stop. Is the letter signed?

Philip. In full.

Sir G. Now, give it me.

Philip. Sir George——

Sir G. The ground is cut from under you. You are expressly authorised to give that letter to whoever has the right to ask for it. I have the right——

Philip. But you never will exercise it!

Sir G. Now. I have a reason.

Philip. Lady Carlyon!

Sir G. I accept the arbiter. Lady Carlyon, am I right or wrong?

Lady C. (in a low voice and with an effort) Right.

Sir G. The award’s against you.

Lady C. Give him the letter.

Philip. But——

Sir G. Sir, I demand it! (Philip gives it him) I want it for a very special