LADY MARDEN. A dispensation of Providence, George. One can look at it in no other light.
GEORGE. Dead! (Suddenly annoyed) Really, Mr. Pim, I think you might have told us before.
MR. PIM. But I—I was telling you—I—
GEORGE. If you had only told us the whole story at once, instead of in two—two instalments like this, you would have saved us all a good deal of anxiety.
MR. PIM. Really, I—
LADY MARDEN. I am sure Mr. Pim meant well, George, but it seems a pity he couldn't have said so before. If the man was dead, why try to hush it up?
MR. PIM (lost again). Really, Lady Marden, I—
GEORGE (getting up). Well, well, at any rate, I am much obliged to you, Mr. Pim, for having come down to us this afternoon. Dead! De mortuis, and so forth, but the situation would have been impossible had he lived. Good-bye! (Holding out his hand) Good-bye!
LADY MARDEN. Good-bye, Mr. Pim.
MR. PIM. Good-bye, good-bye! (GEORGE takes him to the door.) Of course, if I had—(to himself) Telworthy—I think that was the name. (He goes out, still wondering.)