[Responding to her embrace.] Otto—Otto——!
Ottoline.
[Breaking from him.] Oh——!
[She hurries to the outer door. He follows her quickly, closing the vestibule door after him. Then the outer door is heard to shut, and the curtain falls. After a short interval, the curtain rises again, showing all the doors closed and the study in darkness save for the light of the fire. The bell rings, and again there is an interval; and then the vestibule door is opened by John—attired for waiting at table—and Bertram brushes past him and enters. Bertram is in evening dress.
Bertram.
[As he enters, brusquely.] Yes, I know I'm a little too soon. I want to speak to Mr. Mackworth—before the others come, I mean t'say——
[John switches on the light of a lamp by the vestibule door. It is now seen that Bertram is greatly flustered and excited.
John.
[Taking Bertram's hat, overcoat, etc.] I'll tell Mr. Mackworth, sir. He's dressin'.
[John, eyeing Bertram wonderingly, goes to the door of the bedroom. There, having switched on the light of another lamp, he knocks.