Oh, Ma! Tell him and——

MRS PERKINS

Of course I’ll tell ’im. (She menaces Miss Perkins surreptitiously.) It’s my daughter’s newfangled ideas of ventilation. She would ’ave it so. It’s been that way a fortnight. No—let’s see—to-day’s Tuesday. Nigh on a month.

STRANGER

Damnation! Where is it? Where’s the diamond?

MRS PERKINS

(With a shriek of exultation.) The diamond!

STRANGER

Yes, let me tell you then. Your lives are in danger. You’ve got the Grand Cham’s diamond.

MR PERKINS