Mollen. (waving his arm) My child, you know my opinion of feminine intuition! In my book I class it under the head of popular fallacies. (with a change of voice, and sudden energy) Rosamund, I imagine the moment to be almost ripe for my grand coup! (takes Lady Claude's hands and sits her R. C. on his L.)
Lady C. What will you do?
Mollen. (sitting R.) I shall now proceed to work on the clay. I will provoke Everard to frenzy.
Lady C. How?
Mollen. He knows of course of the month of probation—he builds on that. To-day he shall learn that Balsted proposes, at the earliest possible moment, to lead Margaret to the altar!
Lady C. (doubtfully) You will tell him that?
Mollen. I will. And the result? A scene between the two young people before which the most passionate episodes of Romeo and Juliet pale into insignificance! For I shall also tell Margaret that you have fallen desperately in love with Everard!
Lady C. (protesting) Papa! You will never say that!
Mollen. Discreetly—by nods and jerks—oh, you may trust me! And there ensues—in chemical parlance—a liberation of two gases—that meet—and explode!
Lady C. (rise, up C.) Oh, I hope that they'll explode soon! See, there he is—under the trees! He is waiting.