Cedric. I don't know. How do people's judgments alter? I gradually saw the force of what you'd said. Of course a man's marriage must come in front of everything else! Of course the idea of letting any business matter interfere with the honeymoon is monstrous! I cannot imagine how it was I couldn't see that yesterday. The only explanation is that up to yesterday I'd never lived for anything except my job. Force of habit! One has to get a bit used to a new state of affairs. I suppose it was the sudden shock of the news that sent me a bit off the track. Look here, Flora, you don't want me to go on in this strain. You don't want me to grovel. I'm not the grovelling sort ... I was mistaken.
Flora. (In a new quiet tone.) Cedric, what happened in your mother's study after I went upstairs last night?
Cedric. Nothing whatever. I cleared out instantly afterwards. I've been here ever since, and I haven't spoken to a soul except Charlie. Why?
Flora. Nothing.
Cedric. But why do you say "Nothing" like that?
Flora. Cedric, I was just wondering how this conversation of yours really did come about. It occurred to me that perhaps something might have happened—in business——
Cedric. (Nervous.) How—"something"—in business?
Flora. Something—I don't know—something that would leave you free after all for a full month, so that in being converted you wouldn't have to sacrifice anything at all.
Cedric. But how could anything have happened?
Flora. I don't know, but with that telephone so handy in your mother's study—— All manner of things happen nowadays over the telephone—especially in the middle of the night.