With an amused look at OLIVIA, DAN holds out his hands. Without warning, BELSIZE claps a pair of handcuffs over his wrists, DAN stares at them a moment, then sits on the sofa and starts to pull at them furiously over his knee. He beats at them wildly, moaning and crying like an animal. He subsides gradually, looks at the others and rises.
DAN (muttering, holding his knee): Hurt meself….
BELSIZE: That's better…. Better come along quietly….
He goes up towards the hall. DAN _follows him, and takes his hat from the occasional table. As puts it on he catches sight of his face in the mirror.
(To the others, crisply, during this_) I've a couple of men outside.
I'll send 'em in. See that nothing's disturbed…. Coming, old chap?
DORA: What's 'e doin'?
MRS. TERENCE: He's lookin' at himself in the glass….
A pause.
DAN (speaking to the mirror): This is the real thing, my boy. Actin'…. That's what she said, wasn't it? She was right, you know … I've been playin' up to you, haven't I? I showed you a trick or two, didn't I?… But this is the real thing. (Swaying) Got a cigarette?… (Seeing OLIVIA) You're not goin' to believe what she said? About helpin' me?
BELSIZE (humouring him): No. (Putting a cigarette between DAN'S lips and lighting it) Plenty of women get a bit hysterical about a lad in your position. You'll find 'em queuing up all right when the time comes. Proposals of marriage by the score.