[He disappears, closing the door after him. The knocking outside is repeated, then the door opens and Miss Dyott enters. She is dressed in her burlesque queen costume, her face is pale. She carries the head, broken off at the neck, of a terra-cotta bust of a woman.]
MISS DYOTT.
I have broken a bust now. It is an embarrassing thing to break a bust in the house of comparative strangers. Oh, will it never be daylight? Does the milkman never come to Portland Place? I have been listening at the keyhole of Vere's room—not a sound. He can sleep with the ruin of Volumnia College upon his conscience while I—[sinking into a chair.'] Ah, I realize now the correctness of the poet's observation—"Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown!" [Queckett comes quietly from the dark room, much terrified'.]
QUECKETT.
Rankling's in there—asleep. In the dark I sat on him. Oh, what a narrow escape I've had! [Coming behind Miss Dyott and suddenly seeing her.] Caroline! Scylla and Charybdis! [He bolts back into the dark room.] Miss Dyott. [Rising alarmed.] What's that? [Mrs. Rankling enters in a peignoir.]
MRS. RANKLING.
I heard something fall. [Seeing Miss Dyott.] Mrs. Queckett! [Distantly.] Instructions were given that everybody should be called at eight. I had arranged that a more appropriate costume should be placed at your disposal. [Seeing the broken bust.] Ah, what has happened?
MISS DYOTT.
I knocked over the pedestal.